The San Francisco call., 1909-01-03
SOBS IN W|FPS
ARMS PLEADING
GUILTY TO THEFT
EmbezzIing Bank Cashier Gets
Eighteen Months Sentence
and Almost COlIapses
Pretty Young Spouse Comforts
Him With Lovers Kisses De.
spite Courtroom Throng

The arms OF his pretty young wife
twined lovingly about him while he
sobbed in heartbroken despair, George
w Hopkins. who embezzled between
$4,000 and $4,000 from the State saw
ings and commercial bank, of which he
was cashier at salary of 1925 month
pleaded guilty yesterday and was SEN
tensed by Judge Cook TO Is months i'm
prisonment in San Quentin.
Before passing sentence Judge Cook
had spoken of three years as the term
he was inclined to impose. Hopkins
collapsed when he heard this, having
builded confidently on the hope that he
would be admitted TO probation.
His young and extremely handsome
wife did her best to comfort and sup
port him. Putting her arms around
his shoulders she caressed and fondled
him, whispering words of cheer.
LIKE PAIR OF LOVERS
Regardless of the crowded courtroom
Mrs. Hopkins kissed her wayward hus-
band, put her hand beneath his chin
and urged him to look up at her, and
finally nestled her face up against his
and mingled her tears with those OF
the wretched man. Hopkins sat with
his forehead resting in his hand, ap-
parently unheeding his devoted wifes
attempt TO comfort him.
For nearly half an hour the two
j. 49,
court in the attitude of pair OF lovers,
suspension Of the case having been
granted to summon two witnesses. It
was as homogeneous and pathetic a
scene as the sordid precincts of the
criminal courts has ever presented
Only once did the weeping woman raise
her head from her husbands shoulder
That was when she heard Attorney Rob
ert Ferral IN appealing TO the courts
clemency in behalf OF l. W. Chang, the
murderer. refer 10 Judge Cooks record
on the bench as one ''gemmed anC
starred with acts of mercy"
Before she gave this evidence of hel
touching devotion 10 her disgracec
husband. Mrs. Hopkins testified that sh,
had given up her rings and all hel
endeavor TO make good some Of th'
shortage caused by Hopkins embezzle.
ment.
TRIED HARD TO REPAY
Hopkins testified that he and his wifi,
had stripped themselves bare of theil
possessions in order TO recoup his
shortage to some extent. He gave bach
$1,000 in cash, and belongings he sait
were worth about $1,000, but whicl
the bank officials estimated were wortl
$500. Although his salary was onl,
1925 a month, he said he was expected
to get business for the bank beside
acting as cashier.
Prosecutor Hanley resisted the pc
tition of Attorney J. J. Lerman for tn,
admission Of the defendant to proba
! ton. Lerman said the officials of tn
bank and the indemnity company wer
willing that Hopkins should be light,
punished. William w. D. Deamer. at
torney for the bank, and H. T. Peari
attorney for the Aetna indemnity com
| pany. were summoned by telephone ant
testified that heavy punishment wa
not asked for. and that they were will
ing TO leave the matter TO the dlscre
tion of the court. Judge Cook there
upon inflicted a sentence OF imprison
ment for IS months. In so doing h
said:
! 1T seems TO me that to admit to pro
baton a man who has stolen $500
would be like letting a man who stol
several hundred thousands of dollars g
with a sentence OF IS months"
This was interpreted as a reference
| to the sentence of Is months impose,
by Judge Conley, sitting for Judg
Cook, on J. Dalzell Brown, who pleade,
! guilty to embezzlement as manager o
/ the California safe deposit and trus
| company.
Hopkins started embezzling small
sums from the bank the latter part o
/ 1897 and kept IL up till November
/ last when he was arrested and con
! fessed. lie spent the money in gam
bling and high living. His appearance
was pitiable as he was sentenced. Hi
wife and a bailiff had to keep him from
/ falling TO the floor.