The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-12-31
PLEADS GUILTY TO
THEFT OF $4,000

Boise, Idaho, Dec. 26.-The doors 'bf
the Idaho state penitentiary opened
this afternoon and closed to retain
Fred M. Coleman, former deputy state
treasurer, to serve at hard labor
sentence of from two and onerhalf to
ten years. He created a sensation
by appearing before Judge Carl A.
Davis in the district court at 1880
o'clock and changing his plea Of
not guilty to guilty for the theft OF
$4,000 from the vaults of the state
treasury while deputy under o. v.
Allen, who pleaded guilty month ago
to the embezzlement of $4,000 from
the treasury and is now serving q
sentence of from five to ten years.
Coleman's trial was set for Monday
of next week. The state was in. DOS
session of strong evidence against
him.
Just before being sentenced, pitt
full scene was enacted when Coleman
said good-by to his wife and children
Tears came in Colcman's eyes whe2
Judge Davis passed sentence. Thu
minimum sentence under the law is
one year, but tho court can raise this
up to five. On the recommendation
of the county attorney, Judge Daviy
raised the minimum to two and one
half years. Coleman, on his own re.
quest, was allowed to commit himself
to the warden at tho penitentiary and
was accompanied to the prison by a
deputy sheriff. He was Immediately
entered and passed through the regu-
lation measurements and given a cell.
Before leaving for the penitentiary.
Coleman said:
Il hold no enmity toward any man
l propose to take my medicine, and,
after it is over, / intend to show the
world and my friends that l can yet
make good"
The crime for which Coleman was
committed to the state prison is sup
posed to have been committed at var
ious times during the past four years
while serving as deputy state treasur-
er under o. v. Allen, also serving a
term in the penitentiary fer embezzle-
ment Of state funds. The exact amount
charged against Coleman in this in
formation was theft of $4,000, evil
dence of which was in the form of
a check, without date but designating
the amount, which was found in the
cash drawer OF the state treasury
when that office was taken charge IF
by Governor Haines, following a de-
mand made by representatives of AL
lens bond for permission to make an
examination of the treasurer's Office.
Coleman resigned as deputy state
treasurer last August and went to
Portland, where he remained until AL
lens arrest, when he returned to
6o1se@ Before his arrival Allen
pleaded guilty. Coleman was arrested
as he stepped from an incoming train
He was arraigned on the charge of
enoezlement and enterer a plea of
not guilty His bond was fixed at
$2O,oOO, which he promptly furnished
The court set tho trial for Decembe,
~ and Coleman returned to Portland
He came back from there several davo
ago.
mere mas long been a persistent
rumor that Coleman will appear be.
tore the grand jury which is called
10 meet Monday, January 4, to inyesti.
gate conditions at the state house
and will tell all he knows about the
handling of the state funds over a
term of several years, during which
ne served as deputy state treasurer
II Is believed that his promise to make
a clean and complete statement to
inc grand jury had much to do with
the recommendation by the county at
torney,s office for mercy from the com
mittmg judge. Just what disclosures
II any, Coleman can make, other than
nave already been made through the
peas OF guilty made by him and nv
Allen. are not known. 1t is curront.
~ rumored that others than the state
treasurer and Coleman have been re-
clplents of at least portion of the
money stolen from the state tho nv
act amount of which has not yet been
made known
YOUNG POTATO CHIEF