The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-13
JONES ENTERS
GUILTY. PLEA
IN US. COURT
Former Assistant Cashier of
City National Bank Admits
EmbeZzlement
CLEMENCY is ASKED
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CLEMENCY is ASKED
District Attorney, Defense
Attorney, President Rem.
ington Join in Request

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Judge Miller this afternoon
sentenced Jones to serve three
years i'm the federal prison at
Lcavcnw orth, Kansas.
Chester A. Jones. %, former as
sstant cashier Of the City National
bank of Bismarck, today pleaded
guilty to embezzlement in the Unit
cd States district court before Judge
Andrew Miller. Sentence was to be
pronounced this afternoon.
Plcas,for clemency were voiced by
District Attorney NJ. A. Hildredth.
George Bangs, one of Jones attor-
neys, and p c. Remington, president
of the bank. Judge Miller qucs-
toned ]. d. Troop, of the National
Banking Department, who had aided
in the preparation Of the govern
mcnt's case as to the manner Of the
embezzlement, and then took the
matter of sentence under adviscmemt
for few hours.
The case, after various prelimin
aries, had come to point today
where it would have gone to trial.
The bill of particulars demanded by
the defense had been furnished by
the government late yesterday.
1t was understood that one of the
final breaks in the case was that
last night bondsmen of Jones sur
rendered him to authorities, and the
government came into possession of
a statement to the effect that the
$4,000 for Jones' cash bill had been
furnished by Jones.
Will Make Return.
1t was stated in court by District
Attorney Hildredth that Jones would
make a substantial return of the
money taken. The $4,000 will be re-
turned Immediately, it was under
stood
The case has been hanging fire
since last September when the arrest
was made. A preliminary hearing
was held later and the case set for
trial at this term. A motion to
quash the indictment and demur-
rer were overruled.
The government had witnesses
here from many cities, and two rep
rcsentatives of the national banking
department had been working here
on the banks books for sometime.
1t was known that the government
was prepared to introduce witnesses
to say that Jones had speculatcd IN
bonds and foreign securities, includ-
ing some German municipal bonds.
The first suspicion in the case,
however, occurred last September
when Jones purchased two automo-
biles in succession, trading in the
first on the second, and the alleged
speculation was not known at that
time.
Jones retained his remarkable
composure in court, though looking
haggard and worn. His brother, who
lives in Indiana, was here with him.
District Attorney Hildreth, in his
statement to the court, said it was
his conviction after careful study
of the case that there was not pos
sibility for Jones to escape convic-
ton on trial.
The district attorney said that
President Remington of the bank
was not vindicitivc in the matter
and that his attitude throughout
had been more as that of father
then one seeking to have penalties
imposed.
When the case was called in fed
eral court about 10:30 a. m. the dis
trict attorney said it was his under
standing that Jones desired to plead
guilty to the first count of the i'm
dictment, Jones told the court this
was his desire. The district attor-
ney said all other counts may be dis
missed,
II feel very deeply for this young
man." said the district attorney. "As
far as l have been able to examine
into the matter, previous to this
embezzlement he has borne an ex-
cellent reputation"
He said that Jones by industry and
application had worked up in the
bank to position of trust.
For that reason, don't know why
he began to take money! the district
attorney said.
The system used, he said, was "de-
ceptive and shrewd" and indicated
careful planning.
No Chance to Escape.
II have gone over the matter with
painstaking care with the national
bank examiner, and it is my firm be-
lief that there was no chance for the
defendant to escape on trial. Not
only was the actual accounting of
convincing nature but other circum.
stances as we'll.
II have talked to the president of
the bank, who has had q very high
regard for this young man. don't
think have ever met man who
has shown finer spirit of gener-
osity in the matted than has Mr..
Remington, although I never knew
him before. His attitude throughout
has been the attitude of father
toward this young man and he has
not been vindictive in the least"
II feel justified in asking |leniency
in this case, and hope the court will
deal leniently with the defendant" ("
, George A. Bangs Of Grand Forks
who, with P. D. Norton, was attor-
ney for Jones, said that ~ feel
(fMmk&muah ~ Da0A ThvnaN