The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-20
Mother and Sweetheart Present
in Court Room.
PROMISES TO BE GOOD.
Says He Will Help His Family
When Released.
He Also Expects to Join the
Church.

With head bowed and eyes full of
tears William Eugene McCelland, the
20-year-old mail clerk who was caught
Saturday morning by postoffice inspec-
tors, stealing money and valuables from
the United States mails in the local
postoffice. stood in front of Judge John
&C. Pollock in the federal court this
morning awaiting his sentence, which
was given after a few short introduc-
tory remarks by the kindly judge. The
young man will serve two years in the
federal prison at Leavenworth COM
mencing at once-as soon as he can be
taken to that city by the United States
marshal
The sentence was given on two
counts. One count covering the steal
ing of the letters-one year. The other
count covering the embeZZling of the
This is practically the shortest sentence
that could have been expected by the
boy and his relatives.
The scene in the federal court room
this morning was pathetic to say the
least. The mother of the young boy,
his sweetheart and one or two other
relatives sat just behind him when the
sentence was inflicted. They sat up
bravely in their chairs until the judge
called the young man to the center of
the SldnQ ana commenced TO Ldlk IN d
low sympathetic voice-and then with
la flood of tears they broke down COM
pletely. McClelland himself, stood the
scene wonderfully. Tears came to his
eyes as soon as he heard the sobs of
his mother but he did not move an
inch, his eyes fixed on the carpet at his
feet.
This matter has been of more than
common interest to me- said Judge Pol
lock in opening his remarks to the boy,
st has concerned me in such a man
ner that / have postponed the sentence
in order to think the matter over grave
" and seriously. I have listened to all
of the argument on both sides and l
have placed myself in the position of
the boy and the government. There is
long life ahead of hinl-and he has
many chances to work with the world
| and for the world In giving this sem
tence I have realized the youth of this
defendant and I have made it as easy
as possible for him."
The sentence was given and explain
| ed-and turning to his friends and rel
atives the young man kissed them all
| and slowly filed out of the court room.
Since this disgrace has fallen upon
| him william McClelland had changed
| into a different mamie has realized the
| suffering of his widowed mother and his
sister-also the love of the church. He
| told a State Journal reporter that he
| has always intended to join the church
and was Wiling 10 dt any tliHe- nc
said:
at feel as though in a way this has
| done me lots of good. 1 know that
| will be a different person hereafter and
| 1 will return from the penitentiary to
work for my mother and my sister all
the rest of my life 1T will be a hard
matter to live down a crime of this
kind but / mean to do it-by the help
/ of the church and God.
| The sentence has given Judge Pollock
considerable hours of steady thinking
he said this morning that he has
never had a case of this kind and ma
ture before. The act of sending such
a young man to the penitentiary does
| not appeal to the average man and a
Judge of the federal court is no excep-
ton.
! Postmaster Rodgers told State Jour
| nal reporter this morning that young
McClelland had always been a trusted
man in the office until recently He
seemed to be a hard worker and was
always ready to enter into anything
without any demands or orders what
ever He passed his entrance examina-
tions very creditably.