The Mankato free press., 1916-04-07
Also Refers Very Kindly to the
Press For Treatment
WILL GO TO THE PRISON
At End of One Year He Stands
Chance of Being Paroled
From Bastile
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
ST Paul, April 5.--Companions in an
effort to loot the state treasury Robert
c. Pickit, former investment clerk in
the state auditors office, and Walter
j. Smith, former state treasurer, must
pay the penalty of their wrongful acts
by term of hard labor in the state
prison at Saltwater.
A few hours after the former state
treasurer had pleaded guilty to Sec
ond degree grand larceny Pickit ap-
peared before District Judge Dickson
and admitted his guilt to charge of
forgery in the third degree.
The Indictment to which he pleaded
guilty charged first degree forgery and
is based on the same transaction
which resulted in one of the indict-
ments for first degree grand larceny
returned against Smith.
With his, attorney, Stan Donnelly,
Pickit appeared in court looking wan
and pale. Mr.. Donnelly announced to
the court the defendants intention to
withdraw his plea of not guilty and
plead guilty to the lesser charge
"The state consents to a plea of
guilty to third degree forgery" Coun-
fendant has told the truth about the
transaction from the first and has
helped to make restitution for some of
the losses"
Judge Dickson approved the plea
and it was formally entered.
Pickit said he was born in Fergus
Falls, Aug. 4, 1879, where his mother
still lives.
Made Complete Confession.
81 have made a full and complete
confession as far as | know; the con-
fession was signed by me and is
part of the courts records" he told
Judge Dickson.
Pickit was sentenced to prison un-
der the indeterminate plan, which
carries Imprisonment at hard labor
for a period not to exceed five years.
His sentence is of the same duration
of that imposed on Smith.
Walter ]. Smith, former state treas
urer of Minnesota, pleaded guilty to
charge OF second degree grand lar
ceny and was sentenced to serve an
indeterminate term of not less than
one year nor more than five years in
the state penitentiary at Saltwater.
His crime was the misappropriation
of $4,000 of state school funds by
means of forged Aitkin county
school district warrant.
1t was with bowed head and culver
ing lip that Smith heard District Judge
T. N. Dickson of the Ramsey county
county district court pronounce SEN
tence. A moment later, however. he
had recovered his composure, his
shoulders Strengthened and he walked
back from the judges bench to the
seats inside the courtroom rail where
his wife, his daughter, Marcella, and
his relatives sat. A stay of one week
was granted to give Smith time to ar
range his business affairs before en-
tering the prison
Smith was called for trial upon an
indictment charging him with first
degree grand larceny. The plea to
lesser charge was accepted by the
state because all money obtained by
Smith through his peculations in the
state treasurer's Office was made good
Smith in County Jail.
Despite this stay Smith was taken
Immediately to the Ramsey county
Jail, where he will probably remain
until he goes to Saltwater. Sitting
beside his wife and daughter in the
jail reception room he made a brief
statement for publication.
Il wish you'd thank my friends for
standing by me in my troubles" he
said. Il wish to thank the press, too.
The newspapers treated me very de-
Gently. In considering my case | want
the people to realize the state has not
lost cent through any transaction
OF mine. / will take my medicine and
am glad it's all over"
The cases of Smith and PicIit, as
developed by the court proceedings,
reveal the world old story of men
through whose hands large amounts
of other peoples money! pass, are
lulled into the belief that restitution
can be made of funds misapplied and
gradually get so deep in their pecula-
tons as to be beyond extrication.
"Conviyial acquaintance and false
friends in whom he misplaced con-
fidence," was the excuse offered by
Smiths attorney in mitigation of his
defections.
influences brought to bear by
stronger characters than himself was
offered in extenuation for Pickits
wrong doing by his attorney
Formerly the best of friends, the
two former servants of the state are
now the bitterest enemies. Each
blames the other for his downfall.