The San Francisco call., 1909-06-06
TURNER PLEADS
GUILTY AND is
GIVEN 3 YEARS
Former Grand Secretary OF Ma
tive Sons Sentenced for En-
bezzIing Funds OF Order
Daniel A. Ryan Pleads for
Mercy for Prisoner and Light
Sentence Is Given

ing grand secretary of the Native Sons
OF the Golden West. pleaded guilty of
cnbezzIement before Judge Cabaniss
Yesterday morning threw himself on
The mercy OF the court. and was sem
fenced TO three wears Imprisonment IN
San Quentin. Turner VIII be taken
across the bay Monday afternoon. With
continuous good conduct he may re-
duce the actual period of confinement
10 two years and four months.
That Turner planned to plead guilty
was kept close secret. only his law
eers. his family and the grand officers
of the order knew OF it, When he was
held for trial from the lower court
Wednesday, The embezzling official in
formed his former associates that he
INTENDED to plead guilty and take his
medicine The grand officers were re-
ouested TO ask the court for cIemency
on his behalf and they consented to
90 SO, although this was not made a
condition Of the entry Of the plea Of
guilty
PLEADs FOR CLEMENCY
In a fervent appeal to the court
Daniel r. Ryan. grand vice president
Hnd acting president of the order. fully
redeemed The promise TO urge leniency
for the confessed enbezzler. His voice
eurcharged with feeling. Ryan besought
"a
The defendant a. bar has practi-
cally run The course Of his life" Ryan
said There are those at home wait
fng-waiting TO hear the sentence Of
The law and OF this court The length
or The shortness Of the term viii be
1neir death OF their life
This reference 10 the wife. who has
been his CHER support during his trou-
-hle, entirely unnerve6 Turner His
head dropped on his hands and he
sobbed convulsively rs Ryan finished
This is The result OF being q good
fellow Turner said TO Louis H Moos-
er, a grand trustee of the order, as he
was led from the court by a deputy
sheriff after being sentenced
Yes. but what excuse had you for
being good fellow with money thai
old not belong TO your returned
3fooser.
The charge 10 which Turner pleaded
guilty yesterday was that OF embez-
zlinE s135-5o- His entire defalcations.
EOWeVer. amount 10 little more than
ss.700-
COURT ROOM NEARLY EMPTY
The court room was almost empty
when Turner was brought in Owing
10 misunderstanding he was not sub
5ected TO the indi gnity OF being brought
from the comfy jail with the herd OF
=
his presence was required q special
deputy conducted him IN from lngle-
side II was 11-So o'clock when he en-
Tered the court, accompanied by his
brother in law, A Caminetti, and his
lawyers A X Daggett and H s
Young
The Information was then read to
Turner and he was asked how he
pleaded
Guilty he answered, and sat down
suddenly, apparently on the verge of
collapse
Attorney Young then addressed the
court urging a light sentence.
" hat IS The fun amount Of the ap-
preparation? asked the judge.
A little more than $500" Young
answered
RYAN SPEAKS FOR TURNER
Acting Grand President Ryan then
made his appeal 10 the Judge for elem
ency- Bis remarks were as follows:
hare me great honor Of being frst grand.
Eice president Of the Naive seas Of the t;oldea
West am at present acting grand PRES
deat me grand president being engaged ia
Ire halls a. congress AZ Washington. L Lad
rs acting grand president veTy disagreeable
QUO to per1srm- when under the direction
OF the grand cc1ceTs- sVFore ont txarrs ID
F6~ ~, srresf - Cs.-rl,e u - -
Touse Was dRtfTullEed upon by una ninous vote
my own inclndea- There WAS nothing that i
pain Bu 81 my dnty 10 de so. and I
did il Eifnout besitason. When II was my
se1Tefry's Otzce ! did that with sl The force
and Tigur ~ ny cOmmsrd When ] sWore 10
los NsiTzHi felt thai had done my dury,
DOT only 10 The order Of tie Native Sons Of
R1e Golden v esI- but 10 the people OF the
state oi California But ] come before your
iiniel lo-ea lh ahofaer cap2cltF-1n the
pscity 81 citizen Of this state mereiy-and
come 10 say 70 The court that while Il Is
Lhe reputation OF this court thar II believes
no areaf
1ercrtlciess- in this particular instance in h,.-
hail 90 this man sitting here and Oh behalf
y others wbo have suffered than he has
beseech The greatest ciemency on the psrf III
your honor Ihe defendant al thr hsr hss
lrarilcal. rlin the II his life There
sentence ~ fhe law and Of this court TIE
leiirin nr The shoriness of the term wiz be
iitH eea n or faeT iifc- And J know IN a
sase of this kind. where the man is NOT
trinlnai at heart put is man OF intelligence
and ~ brains that cay penalty thar any "a
.uurn - lie penal institutions Of this stare
even though l- Dr. The minimum penalty of
The law. wouid he punishment e,.,cb -
Justice wouid be- done As nav. ss5S - ana a1a
honor 1 have no personal interest," have no
personal FEELING ] think thar The clemency
exerrised-
TURNER IS SENTENCED
Turner then stood up to receive SEN
tence- BIS eyes We're trimmed with red
caused by his tears, and he wept freely
as the Judge spoke as follows:
Their IS much In this case 70 appeal to the
sympathetic side Of the court The attitude
~ The defendant here. and the fact known
40 myself. that his reputation vas good uafil
le became involved in this wrenRdoipg are
IN bis favor consideration presented by
Mr.. Ryan also appeals strongly 70 rne-namely
that man who has passed life's meridian
and then has the misfortune 10 enrnesh HIM
self in the criminal law, always suffers mere
llsced within sight Of the penal institutions
tilan q of tougher fiber. But as araipst
~ that we can not blind ourselves TO the fact
that intrusted with the moneys be-
longing 10 any organization, more particularly
0f that character. has the absolute
trust and confidence OF his fellow members
who not keep constant touch and ward
on him, and who must rely upon his integrity
a. an even create degree than IN the case
~ 5 private employer / do not want TO be
severe unjust or harsh. but we can not
overlook the fact that this is a serious al
fair Some punishment should be inflicted II
for no other reason than that Others should
be deferred from pursuing the tortuous
course The situation is extremely sad one
for all concerned The order very properly in
my opinion. did not ignore and overlook the
shortage. as II might have done. No latitude
IS. however allowed 70 the court. and It is
simply q matter Of duty with me 10 impose
sentence. The Judgment Of the Law and the
ner be imprisoned for three years 10 San
Quentin.
While the judge was speaking Tur-
Her had been supported by Attorney
Daggett, who stood beside him holding
his arm. AS he sat down Lawyer Young
shook him by the hand. A few minutes