The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-25

Eight years at hard labor il the
'tate's prison at Waqpun was the sem
ence pronounced upon William
Sehleeht, former cashier of the Silver
axe State bank, in circuit court by
Judge Belden Friday afternoon just
jefore six o'clock, following pleas of
guilty entered by the defaulting cash
er earlier in the day to all the charg-
against him. The charges included
mbezzlement, forgery and making
alse entries with intent to deceive
he banking examiners.
Directly after the sentence was pro-
ounced by Judge Belden, Sehlecht,
ccompanied by his attorneys and
riends, went across the street to the
municipal court and there was sem
snced to serve FIVE years in the states
rison at Waupun on his plea of gull
to six similar charges against him
the lower court. Directly Judge
later learned that the defendant had
lready been sentenced to eight years
the circuit court, he added that the
sentence he imposed was to run con-
currently with the other.
Bears Up Stoically.
The total term therefore will be
eight years, but there is possibility,
which the court doubtless took into
consideration, that the defendant will
be required to serve only half of that
time.
Mr.. Sehleeht, whose record for hon
esty and upright living had been one
beyond reproaeh previous 60 the trout
BILE that arose over his accounts in
Silverlake, stood before the court and
heard without betraying his emotion,
the sentence to the penal institution.
He went through the ordeal like one
who in the past few months had en-
dured so much in the school of suf-
fering that he could scarcely suffer
more. Perhaps to such mind, it was
relief to receive at last the sentence
to prison and to know that he could
eventually come into the-free air
again as one who had made expiration
for wrong done.
Friends Stand By to End.
Back in the audience was the I'M
happy and suffering wife, loyal and
splendid to the last, sharing in the
ignominy and publicity Of the last
scene, The friends who had rallied
TO the defaulting cashiers side in his
;rouble, and who were convinced that
circumstances and not criminal intent
lad shaped his wrong doing, remained
n the courtroom also until the long
lay came to a close and the sentence
If the court was finally pronounced.
Judge Belden indicated at noon that
70 would pronounce sentence about
;hree o'clock. When the hour came,
lis courage forsook him and still
struggling with himself, he postponed
he difficult and unpleasant moment.
lie was faced with situations that re-
al1ed certain moments at the close
grand jury trials when he was call
upon to hand out stern punishment
men he knew personally and for
whom in his heart as man he could
lead eXtenlating circumstances,
moving them and something of the
reb of temptation in which they were
aught, while as a judge he had to up
old the rights of the people as a
hole and measure justice accord
lgly
Betrayed Trust of the Public.
81 have not been thinking of what
should say to you, apart from the
latter of imposing sentence" said
ldge Belden, finally close upon six
clock as he called upon the defend
Mt to stand before the court. II
eed not say that / feel my RESPONSE
ililty. Each of the charges
gainst you and to which you have
loaded guilty is serious one, and
on will yourself appreciate that the
ourt cannot pass over such serious
latters lightly
irregularities have been going on
or period of ten years They ought
have been discovered and checked
ong ago, and had others, charged with
esponsibility, done their duty they
would have been discovered, You are
harged here with embezzlement and
orgery. You were a trusted officer
f the bank and enjoyed the confidence
Il the public. / have taken into ac-
count the fact that restitution of SO, 500
,as been made, and that your previous
good character has been vouched for"
Defaulted Nearly $4,000.
The sum total of embezzlements and
iefalcations given as read off by the
circuit court judge amounted to $685.
33S, and with the addition of $2,114.26,
to which the former cashier pleaded
guilty to embezzling in municipal
curt, the total amounted to nearly
$4,000. While of this sum, restitu-
ion was made in part criminal lia-
)ility still remained. The sum of
$500 has been paid, and other sums
he defense attorneys claimed were
lot case for criminal but civil ae-
ion, being notes, which they declared,
;ould still in time be collected, as con-
inuances upon them had been given
the past.
There were twelve counts against
,ehleeht in circuit court. On the
rst count, embezzlement from the
harles Birkhaupt estate, of SIT3.14,
he sentence was one year in the state
rison at hard labor. The rest of the
entences ran as follows: 2-Gaunt
state, $1,l6765, two years imprison-
tent; 3-James McDougal estate,
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