Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-10-03
JUDGE IS LENIENT IN
CASE OF YOUNG MAN
Gives Him An Opportunity to Plead
For Parole and Boy Takes
1t Gladly.
FACES PRISON TERM FOR
STEALING FROM OFFICE SAFE
Admits He Was Getting Plenty of Mon
ey to Get Along and Stole Be-
cause it Was Easy.

Throwing himself upon the mercy of
the court, Frank Arthur, the young
man who was arrested recently by
Sheriff Esch on the charge of larceny
from the offices of Drs. Smith and
Fields in the United States Nation
al Bank building, and who was indict-
ed by the last grand jury, pleaded
guilty to the charge before Judge Kel-
ly yesterday afternoon and upon being
asked if he had anything to say be-
fore sentence should be pronounced,
simply murmured that he "wanted it
over with; the quicker the better"
Had it not been for the intervention
Jf Deputy District Attorney Walter
Keyes, young Arthur would have been
compelled to serve sentence Of from
to 7 years in the penitentiary with
out limitation of time, as Judge Kelly
first pronounced sentence and later
gave the boy the opportunity to plead
for parole which he did, and the
court granted same upon conditions.
Discouraged Lad.
The crime for which Arthur was in.
dicted is his first. He told Judge Kel.
ly that the temptation was too great
and that he took the money after learn.
ing the combinations of the safe when
the strong box was open, He said that
he cleared 800 a month while work.
ing as janitor in the U. s. Bank build
ing on contract which he had with
the bank officials to keep the floors
clean. He said that he took but fifty
cents at a time when he opened the
safe in the doctor s offices and that
he could have gotten along very nice
ly without it,
Arthur was frank in telling District
Attorney Hill that he robbed the safe
of little more than $l5 and while
making his statement, the young mar
appeared to be neither nervous MOI
frightened but simply discouraged and
willing to take the consequences.
Judge Shows Kindness.
Not wanting to Danish Arthur, Judge
Kelly in a fatherly manner, asked the
boy if he did not want to make some
statement that would give the court
some opportunity to consider posi-
bility of his parole. Judge Kelly ad
vised the boy kindly, telling him that
under certain circumstances the crime
which Arthur committed could be look
ed upon with lesser degree of sever
Iity and, notwithstanding the act was
strictly agaist the criminal statutes Of
the state, the court could take judicia
notice of anything pertaining to de
PENDANTS s past character in his behalf
After District Attorney Hill conduct
ed brief but thorough examination
of Arthur's ease and the defendant wai
made to swear that he would conduct
himself as a law abiding citizen of The
state and municipalities and report tt
Sheriff Esch at the end of each month
Sheriff Esch at all times fair anC
considerate when it comes to the up
lifting Of young men in difficulties
agreed to accept the young man $ re
port Sheriff Esch has kindly feelinl
for Arthur and that the young man viii
respect the sheriff's valuable aid re
mains without saying. Arthur has {
wife and two children, one of the
latter being a mere bady. He is {
latter being = mere baby. He is {
ly that he could and would 60 to worl
and earn a livelihood for his family.
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