Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-01
CONFESSES FORGERY
To MEET PAYMENTS
ON W|FE'S DIAMOND

II went wrong so could give my
wife the diamond ring she said would
make her supremely happy for life
In these words handsome George
w. Milan, aged 23, of Stockbridge,
Ga, with his eyes flooded with tears,
told Judge S. H. Sibley in United
States court Saturday why he took
two money order blanks from his
home town postoffice and forged
them for amounts aggregattng $3.50.
The youth was conscience-stricke
and penitent when he faced the court
and admitted his guilt. His father
who is assistant postmaster at
Stockbridge, stood by his side and
wept. Other relatives, interested in
his case, were in the court room.
His young wife was absent. I'VE
left her at home; couldn't let her
witness this" Milan sobbed.
His statement held back nothing.
1t was a story of love for his wife
that was more compelling than any
thing else in the world, and when he
finished relating it there were tears
in many eyes in the court room.
"I loved her so much that I
couldn't bear the thought of seeing
her unhappy" declared Milan. BE
fore she married me she had been
able to have everything she wanted.
had never given her a diamond ring
and she seemed to want one more
than anything else.
Missed Payments
II bought the kind of diamond she
wanted and arranged to pay for it
in installments, but she never knew
but what I paid cash. My salary
was small-scarcely adequate to
meet the grocery bill, house rent and
other expenses, but I managed to
keep up the payments on her ring
for a while.
Every month it seemed I got be-
hind a little more, but l didn't tell
her-it would have worried her to
death. 1 had to miss several pay
ments on the ring, and then the
jeweler notified me he would bring
a bail trover suit against me unless
l came across Immediately.
II didn't have the heart to tell my
wife about this, and l felt like I'd
rather suffer any punishment rather
than make her surrender the ring
so l became desperate and did this
and. novel know can make good
If I'm given one more chance. But
it's not her fault kept her in the
dark and made her think 1 was able
to do these things for her."
The lads story was punctuated
with sobs, often he had to stop to
wipe the tears from his cheeks. His
ia thor 6nan1u nffnNtn6 several tin1aC
burst into tears.
Milan made no reference to his
war record in his statement, and
it remained for DISTINGUISHED specta-
tors to tell of his distinctive service
in France, He fought the Germans
in Belleau Wood and helped to check
their advance on Paris, Judge Sibley
was told. 49,
The lad said the diamond had been
returned to the jeweler and his ia
Their showed that the government had
been fully reimbursed for the amount
of the forged orders.
az raised him right, your honor,
said the father, in tears, and !
hope you'll be light on him. His
wife understands now and l think he
will come through if we give him
another chance"
Appeals for Boy
The Straightforward, modest ap-
peal of the young war veteran struck
a responsive chord in the hearts OF
court officials. The prosecuting at
torney, District Attorney Alexander,
was moved to make an appeal for
leniency.
"This is a case where great love
for his wife caused the defendant to
commit an act that I do not believe
any other circumstance would have
driven him to-" said the district at
torney, land L believe the boy will
make the most of another chance"
Mr.. Alexander declared he did not
believe society would be benefited
by imprisoning Milan. ..t
A. o. Blalock, collector Of internal
revenue for Georgia, took the same
view and urged leniency.
Postmaster McWilliams, of Stock
bridge, said this was Milam's first
violation of the law. and asserted
his faith in the, lads future good
conduct if given a chance.
81 think the district attorneys
suggestion that prison sentence IN
your case will not benefit society is
wise one" Judge Sibley told Milan:
"This is the third case l have had
before me lately in which young mar
ried men have gone astray in desire
to keep their wives happy and con-
tented.
"The only safe policy for a mar
red man of moderate means is to
tell his wife everything and keep
her fully apprised of his financial
status I hope you will do this in
the future. In the end, you will FIND
that it pays"
Judge Sibley imposed a fine of $400
I 1 AMY AZ NJ