The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-04-23

A rare and beautiful example Of
self-sacrifice was shown on Tuesday
Of this week, when in the United
States Court in New Orleans. Mr.. +.
Elias accepted all the blame and res
possibility for the violation of law
charged to his father, Mr.. Assad
Elias and himself.
To have the charge withdrawn
from his father the younger Mr.,
Elias had to plead guilty, even
though he had good defense case
prepared. And so he pleaded guilty,
shouldered all blame on himself, and
announced that he was ready to pay
the penalty-to save his father and
his family the annoyance of a long,
hard trial in the Federal Court, with
the one chance in hundred that they
| might both be convicted.
The charge was that of making a
| false statement of resources and fin
ancial condition in order to secure
greater credit, and Of securing goods
| on credit based on this false state
ment.
While it was undeniable that an
erroneous statement appeared to
have been made, it is due to Mr..
| Elias to state that there were many
circumstances surrounding the affair
| that should convince any open mind
ed person that there was no deli
| berate intention to defraud.
Judge Foster, who presided over
the case, berated the Credit Associa-
| ton severely for their lax methods of
| establishing credit, and stated that
| such lack of system encourages errors
such as Mr.. Elias made. and makes
| unwilling law violators out of honest
| citizens and upright business men.
But the New Orleans Credit Mems
Association had set out to make an
example of this particular case
| and had secured great deal of legal
| talent. and were fully resolved to
push the charges to the extreme linn
it against both father and son.
Everybody who knows the two
Mr.. Elias know full we'll that what
| was done by them was done through
error, and without full understand
ing of the law. Nobody in New he
ria believes for moment that any
fraudulent intent prompted their ac-
tions.
But United States Court is with
| out much heart, and is no respector
of persons. And so, to avoid the
possibility Of conviction of both
father and son, and the strain of
long legal battle, the young Mr.
Elias plead guilty of "a technical vi
olation of the law, without intent to
defraud"
Then a number of citizens of New
Iberia, including Sheriff p A. Lam
dry, District Attorney Emile Vuille-
mot, Mayor H. S. Sealy and R. w.
Frame were put on the witness stand
to testify to the good reputation and
high standing of Mr.. Elias. Mr..
Frame who knew Elias as a school
boy fourteen years ago, testified as to
his high reputation for honesty ever
since that time.
Judge Foster taking all these
things into consideration, expressed
his regret at having to impose sent
ence upon the young man, and let
him off with the minimum penalty,
instead Of the five years imprison-
ment hoped for by the Credit Associa-
ton.
The creditors of the firm of A
Elias & Son were offered a settle
ment on the basis of 80 per cent, and
the New York creditors were per-
fectly willing to settle on this basis,
but some of the merchants in New
Orleans, prodded on by the New Or
leans Credit Mems Association, re-
fused to settle, prefering revenge"
to payment.
1t seems now that most of the
creditors are sorry they did not list
en- to reasonable advice and accept
the amount Elias was able to pay
As it is they punish really inno-
cent man, and lose all chance to re-
cover any money at all.
There is no doubt but that under
the circumstances Mr.. Elias will be
pardoned as early as the law permits,
and his many friends will await with
pleasure his return to his home in