Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-08
EMBEzzLERW WILL
kI5ERVE FIVE YEARS
Howard, Charged With Ap-
propriating Bank Funds,
Pleads Guilty.
COUNSEL MAKE PLEAS.
u. S. District Attorney Fails to See
Any Extenuatingi Circumstances in
Behalf of Accused. :.
COUNSEL MAKE PLEAS.
U. S. District Attorney Fails to See

A. Randolph Howard, former cash
ier of the Conway, Gordon and Gar
nett National Bank of Fredel1cks-
burg, was sentenced to five years IN
the penitentiary today at one O'Clock
by Judge Edmund Waddell, jr. The
sentence followed Mr.. Howard's trial
on an indictment found by the Fede-
raj Grand Jury on last Monday charg-
ing him with embezzling funds and
making false entries on the books OF
the bank.
There were seventeen counts IN the
indictment. The first eleven charg-
ing embezzlement of funds on differ
ent occasions, amounting to S30,ooO,
and the last six charging false en-
trie,. to cover up the embezzlemert OF
the money. All the money was taken
between September %, 1911, and oc-
tcber 3, 1912.
MIR. Howard, who is about AZ years
old and a man of handsome appear
ance, entered the court room at II
o'clock accompanied by his attorneys,
r. O'Connor Goulrick, w. K. Goulrick
and w. B. Carter, all of Freoerlcks-
burg. B. Lawrence Groner, United
States District attorney, stated to
the court that her understood MY.
Howard wished to enter plea OF
guilty, but in order to carry out the
provisions of the law ne thought II
would be necessary for jury to hnd a
verdict. On this account Mr.. Howard
plead not guilty to the indictment
and a jury was drawn. Immediately
after the jury wal, sworn the plea OF
not guilty was changed to one OF
guilty and the jury, without leaving
their seats brought in a verdict ac-
cordingly.
Judge Waddell asked Howard's at
rorneys if they desired to make any
statement previous to the passing OF
sentence.
w. B. Carter and T. Q'Connor Goul-
rick asked for suspension of the sent
ence on the ground that Mr.. Howard
had made restitution of all funds tax
en- from the bank, and that the SUD-
sequent liquidation of the institution
was in no wise connected with Mr..
Howard's shortage. They both spoke
of the prisoners standing in the COM
munity, and said that he certainly
wa. not guilty of intention OF dong
wrong and that his error was one OF
THE head and not of the heart. Mr.
Goulrick stated that prominent at
torney of Philadelphia had offered
Mr.. Howard a splendid position pro-
vided he could secure a suspension Oh
the sentence. He also urged Judge
Waddell not to inflict severe sent
ence on account of Mr.. Howard's wife
and two children.
C. Beverley Brown, lawyer Oh
Charleston, w. Va, made an eloquent
nlea for the suspension OF fentence.
He stated that he was native OF
Northumberland county and that Mr..
Howard had brought him to FRED
ericksburg and had not only given him
a position and treated him like a IA
- al
tber would treat son, but had ad-
yanced him money with which ne hao
oone to the University of Virginia.
He stated that there were many SIM
,1ar cases to his own in which young
men now occupying positions of trust
had received substantial help in early
days from the prisoher
Mr.. Brown said that Mr.. Howard
,v.s a man of the highest ideals and
w.. one. of the most beloved men IN
his community.
District Attorney Groner made a
brief statement to the court IN -wnien
he said that he had been deeply tucn-
ed bv the tributes to Mr.. howard
character which had beengpald by ms
attorneys and friends and ne Wisheo
that it was in his power to concur II
their request, but, he said, the Ia" s:'
fixes a penalty for the crime "ltr
which Mr. Howard is charged. ane
if there were any ameliorating cir,
cumstances surrounding the ease, the
facts should be- considered by the
pardoning power and not by the Judge
who was charged with inficting the
punishment prescribed by law. -