The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-08
F. I. Faulkner, Convicted of EN-
bezzlement, Wants Freedom.
Powerful Friends Seek Clemency
for Erring Kentuckian.
BORROWED q. S. MONEY
Ship on Which His Draft Came
Sinks at Sea.
Prison Record Of Young Diplo-
mat Is Perfect.

Under the provisions of the new
one-third term parole law, Frederick
T. Faulkner, sentenced to the feeeral
prison here for five years for embez-
element, will try to obtain his release
next October. He is preparing to make
a formal petition for freedom upon
promise of good behavior, and it is
certain that powerful friends will sec
ond his application.
The crime for which he was sent
here was committed in Shanghai,
China, when Faulkner was enrolled as
clerk in the American legation, but
actually was serving as private secre-
tary to Minister Rockhill. He took
about $1,5O0 of the legations money,
expecting to restore it when a draft
from home should reach him. The
draft, it later developed. was carried
in a vessel that was lost at sea. Be
fore another check could reacn the
young man the embezzlement had been
discovered.
Americans who visited China as late
as two years ago will have no diff
Guilty in remembering Faulkner. He is
the handsome, notwithstanding youth
who was particularly courteous to
travellers, especially when they happen
ed to be Americans.
Case Kept Quiet.
He was a brilliant conversationalist,
speaking with a slight southern ac-
cent, a young man of very polished
manners, and appeared to be willing
at all times to inconvenience himself
for the accommodation of others. He
spoke Chinese readily and made q good
guide for Sightseers or shoppers in
Shanghai or Pekin. His duties at the
legation were such that he had plenty
of leisure for the entertainment of Wis
itorS. a role he very much enjoyed.
The remoteness Of this crime, its
discovery and the young mans trial,
all of which took place in China a
little more than a year ago, prevented
any great publicity of it in this coun-
ceived less notoriety than man Of
his prominent social position might
have expected.
He and his friends are working very
quietly to get the parole. The i'm
priSoned man will not discuss his case
with any visitors to the prison, and
his guards say they do not think he
talks about it to any of the other pris-
OnerS.
An Excellent Workman.
It's a long drop from a confidential
clerkship in the Office of United
States consul general to enforced SER
vice as clerk in penitentiary. But
Faulkner is an excellent workman, per
forming his duties here with The con-
scientiousness that won him the IA
Vor of Minister Rockhill.
This and the fact that even before
he left China he restored the money
he had taken will operate in his favor
when his application for parole comes
up If the parole is denied, Faulkner
viii keep on at his duties. hoping to
profit by the two-htirds time allowed
for good behavior.
Son of an aristocratic Kentucky fam
lily, Faulkner owes his predicamenU to
expensive tastes and debt. Like many
another young man, he contracted OBJ
legations he was unable to meet, his
sole trust being a kind of Micawber
hope that something would turn up.
Something did turn up, but it was not
exactly what he had expected.