The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-23
Chafes at Delay Necessary Be-
fore Sentence Is Passed.
NO BLAME ON WIFE.
Says Stories Of Her Extrava-
gance Are Not True.
Isn't Criminal at Heart and Will
Start Over.


his downfall. In a statement given to
a representative of the State Journal,
SpeeIrnan takes on his own shoulders
the burden of his trouble. He blames
no one but himself and exonerates his
wife and associates from any connec-
ton with the taking of $9,129 from the
funds of the Merchants National bank
In a straightforward. candid man
ner, Speelman related the story OF his
trouble He told how he took small
amount the first time, then his indebt-
edness with the bank grew and grew
until his troubles became nerve WrdcK-
ing and all but drove him wild. Per-
sistentIy Speelman contended that ne
didn't intend to steal. He declares
that he INTENDED to pay back every
dollar he took The bank clerk was
not sure Just how this would be done.
but somehow, he believed, it would all
be Strengthened out.
This is the first time since his ar
rest that Speelman has told with his
own lips the story of financial trouble
The reports that have been circulated
concerning his career as a fast young
bank clerk, club man and socl ely
mans mind. He brands many OF
these reports as absolutely false
Down in his heart Speelman be-
lieves the court will show len1ency IN
his case. He says he wants to reform
and make a new start, and that ne can
vet make a record for himself Spcel-
man does not want bond, he says, but
is anxious for his sentence IN the leu
eral prison to start. Since his arrest
hundreds of friends have visited MN
at his cell in the county jail Ihey
have helped him while away the long
tedious hours and he appreciates their
sympathy and evidence of trust ana
confidence.
Wants Facts to Be Known.
80 many things have been said
about this affair." declared Speelman
TODAY. as he talked with a representa-
tive of the State Journal at his cell in
the county Jail, that I think the facts
ought to be known. Many of the re-
Elections and statements have hurt me
deeply. They ought to be corrected
and set right and | guess I ought to
do it.
I'm the first place. no one is to blame
/ for this trouble but me. I am sorry
and wish it had never happened. But
i it is too late to talk about those things
now. I must pay the penalty and the
sooner I do it, the better satisfied I
/ shall be- 1 don't want to dodge one bit
of the responsibility of this affair and
don't want any innocent party to
suffer.
THE papers and many people told Of
the extravaganza of my wife. Those
stories have gone deep and they are
not true Possibly my wife spent a
/ little more money than my income jus
1
my taking tie money and n justice she
should not be blamed
| Speelman did not discuss just the
! little side details of his trouble that
/ have been reported time after time by
/ local gOssips With one sweeping state
ment he declared that these stories are
| false and carry no semblance of truth
81 don't think my friends believe
such wild tales, continued Speelman,
| land anyone who is familiar with our
manner of living and knew us init
mately will not believe them for a
minute. Why, Mrs. Speelman has sell
| dom been down town the last year.
She went but little and spent most OF
her time at home with the little girl
and her grandparents Then the sec
ond baby was born and it died few
| weeks ago.
''Then, they tell of my extravaganza
and how l spent money with a high
| hand. Such reports are grossly I'M
| true and there are no facts to bear
them out.
Remodeling Home Started 1t.
TT was when we undertook to re-
| model the NIileham home that I first
found that needed more money. These
! expenses were heavier than I had
| planned. Later 1 found it necessary to
help certain relatives and they were
! unable to repay me. OF course, [ can
say just where all the money went, but
it kept going and going until it nearly
drove me Wild. I guess that sometimes
gruff and cross and perhaps I said
| things around home that should not
| have been said. But there was never
| the serious trouble that has been talk
ed about by the gossip mongers since
my arrest
when I started, had no idea that
would encounter trouble. At heart
have never been q criminal and those
who know me best know this is true
I really didn't intend to steal and
thought that somehow I could pay the
money back and everything would &C
all right The first of the year things
looked brighter and I thought I saw
my way through. Somehow things
didn't go the way I had planned Then
came my arrest.
Doesn't Want Bond.
"At first 1 thought I wanted to gel
bond. Somehow I thought that be-
fore the day of trial I could benefit
reason I wanted bond. Since then
have thought things over and conclud-
ed that / really do not want bond a
all There is nothing to do but pay
the penalty. and I Will do that gladly
I am contented to wait until the ear
lest opportunity to go before judge
Pollock for a hearing.
Down In my heart 1 hope for IgE-
sentence. I will throw myself on the
mercy of the court and ask for such
leniencv as can be shown. Surely the
court viii not look on me as a hardened
criminal a young man and this is
my first offense. All I want now is
chance to make good when I am through
with this And I am going to ask the
court to help me-
Il only wish that I could start on my
sentence right now. The life here is
something awful I never dreamed OF
such thing before and wish that I coulc
my sentence. II it can be arranged,
want to go before the court at the Marcel