The San Francisco call., 1910-02-13
WANT TO SAVE
BARTNFTT FROM
CELL OF FfLON
Those With Money in Safe De-
pOsit and Trust Company
TO Make Effort
Rehabilitation of Wrecked Bank
Expected to Help the Con-
victed FinanCier

Depositors OF the California safe de-
post and trust company are preparing
10 extend TO Walter J. Bartnett all
possible aid with the hope Of saving
him from the penitentiary The plan
VIII assume definite shape with the re-
opening Of the bank. Bartnett is now
under q i years sentence. bat has
been allowed his freedom on bail in
order that he might effect the rehabiIi-
tation OF the wrecked institution
II he succeeds in this enterprise. as
his friends now say he Will. he may at
the same time make his way 10 liberty
The day OF decision has been fixed for
March l. II the process OF reorganiza-
ton receives the sanction Of the court
- that time Bsrtnerl viii have made
his greatest stride toward the cancel
1auOn OF his conviction.
On behalf Of Bartnett il Is said that
he Is ma king no effort 10 enlist the
sympsthies Of the depOsitors. 1t Is
upon his appeal before the higher
court that they are placing complete
confidence. say his attorneys. Never
theless they assert that their client
would be a fool i he didn't accept
such aid as the deposirors should Of
fer
CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLEMENT
Bsrtnett was found guilty Of en-
bezzling the Cotton securities. In his
trial ne endesvored TO sniff the re-
spOnsi 5iliIy 10 J. DaIZell Brown, his
associate in the management OF the
safe deposit and trust company. Dur
ing the trial il was brought out thai
the two shared IN the conduct Of the
hank
During the last year Bartnett has
de-oted all MS time 10 the reorganiza-
Iion project. Now that IL appears on
IRE verge of realization many Of the
cepositors have cast about for meth
od by which they might show
their appreciation Where they stood
10 lose almost all of chetr savings. they
now see q prospect II generous re-
rurls. In the present status OF the
case against BartneCC little can be
done Sentence has been imposed and
The issue lies with the higher court A
large proportion OF rhs deposirOrs stand
ready To sign . petition 10 the COVER
nor requesting q pardon. Such an ap-
peal VIII he made in case the upper
court ralihes the conviction.
Bartnett is "a ger 10 have his appeal
determined de believes the judgment
of the lower court VIII be thrown out
for error He wants z vindicsIion al
the hands OF the law as well as from
his former clients.
EXPECTS TO WIN APPEAL
we are relying upon our appeal, ,"
said oscar Cooper, Bsrtnetrs attorney,
and we do not believe that Bartnett
VIII ever 50 TO san Quentin We look
10 see The judgment Of the lower court
set aside. Bartnert is satisfied that
the case VIII be reversed. He desires
q oOVe aH 70 Vindica1e his good name
and al else Is Of secondary cOnsidera-
tion"
At the beginning OF the negotiations
for the opening Of Lhe bank there Was
2 strong sentiment among the depos-
irors anita gonisric 10 Bsrtnett- His
work among the eastern capitalists.
however. has brought promise OF such
5esira bic results that the great ma ior-
frv of the deposirors viii do ali in their
power To nuliSfy the conviction
H. p Wilson, who heads the syndica te
Of fnanciers that will bring new cap
frel 10 the bank. viii be in san Fran
cisco iu few days and VIII remain
here until ne brings his plans 10 fun
comp le1iou. He and his associates ere
prepared TO invest $4,000 600 in the re-
organized bank The present sJC@ k
holders have promised 10 subscribe
STo0.Or0. This VIII give the new hank
the sum Of S2.000,000 as = working
basis.
Those depositors who are not in sym
psthy with the proposed scheme Of re-
rsbiIita1iOn VIII be given an OpporJun- =
5ty 10 draw 10 per cent OF their de-
posits IT once. This distribution viii
he made personally by judah Boas
with the understanding that ne viii De
reimbursed later from the Golfers o1
the bank. The position taken by Boas
demonstrates the strength Of the senti-
naeut that has been formulated in be-
half Of the Bartnett plan.