New-York tribune., 1909-12-14
SOLDIER SENTENCED
CAPTAIN FRANKLIN
GETS 2 I-2 YEARS.
Pleads Guilty in Circuit Court
to EmbezzIing West
Point Money.

There stood last night in tfse centre OF
a group of men in a quiet room on an
upper floor of the federal building
man who had made himself soldier.
who had gone on from that to the con-
spicuous Ind monumental task Of rising
from the ranks to a commission in the
army OF the United States and who had
attained the rank of captain. He had
earned and received the highest COM
mendations from superior officers in the
army, men who are accustomed TO give
commendation tersely, if az all.
Captain Thomas Franklin. U. s A.
was the centre Of the group, and he
stood facing Judge Hand il the United
States Circuit Court, 10 whom he had
just pleaded guilty on an indictment
charging him with embezzlement Of the
funds OF the West Point Military Acad-
emy. After preliminary argument by
Captain Ansell. of West Point. counsel
for the defendant, and by United States
Attorney Wise had been ended. he faced
the Judge again 10 make a final plea
before sentence should be passed upon
him.
Il was a sOldier.' said this man. 'and
a good one. 1 made myself an officer,
and 1 made myself one Of the most eff
cient officers in my line"-. and here
Captain Franklin's voice broke
Il don't want-to keep-you waiting
continued Captain Franklin, brokenly.
AID then he sat down, unable TO say
more.
Captain AnseI took up the thread Of
his argument.
When this man took up the duties Of
treasurer and commissary officer at
West Point said Captain AnseH, his
predecessor turned over TO him eighty
odd dollars and bills for the month Of
January, 1902, that could not be paid
with the funds on hand The cadets were
in debt. and If il hadn't been for the
reputation of the academy as a going
concern ley would have been in the
hands of a receiver. He turned over to
his successor 1--WE years later 100000 in
cash and SUPPLIES on hand 10 the value
of S650OO"
The indictment against Captain Frank
lin was found by federal grand jury
in this district last June. II accused
him of the embezzlement OF small
amounts from the funds of the academy
over a period of years. a. gregating
close TO 5000
After a dcmurrer 10 the first indict-
ment had been sustained, Captain
Franklin was arrested on an amended
indictment and released in $1,000 bail
His final plea Of guilty was made yester-
day afternoon in Judge Hands cham
bers Captain Ansell moved for an ar
rest Of judgment on the legal grounds
of lack of jurisdiction. Judge Hand de-
MED the motion.
Before sentence is pronounced" said
Captain Ansell. Il would like the Court
10 know something of this mans history.
He is a Southerner. and. like many of the
men in his section OF the country, grew
up in a family impoverished by the war.
He entered the army of the United
States as a private in 1892 and through
six years OF life that tests a mans
soul he worked his way 10 a point where
a commission as second lieutenant was
awarded him. without political pull.
without money. without anything except
his own ability and clean record. tie
went to the Philippines. where he rem
dered such distinguished service that he
was commended time after time by su-
perior officers. once by General Otis in a
report to the War Department. He was
assigned 10 the China expedition as a
quartermaster because OF his ..ne record.
and was made captain in the subsist-
ence department.
An inspector general of the army
highly commended Franklins service i'm