The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-07
EX-CLERK GETS TERM  Declares Others May Be Implicated In Total
 Shortage UNACCOUNTED FUND MAY REACH $15,O0O Grand Jury To Continue Investigation, Solici-
 tor Says CONFESSION FAILS
 TO CLOSE MATTER Convicted Man Leaves For Prison UnaccOm-
 panied By Guard

William NJ. Lehman, former clerk in the public improvement funds depart ment of the city of Birmingham, Friday afternoon entered plea of guilty to charge of embezzlement of city funds. He later declared it was his belief that additional shortages not yet accounted for would involve other city employees. according to a statement by his attor- ney.
 Lehman wGs sentenced to a term of from a year and day to three years by Judge William F. Fort following his tween $2,500 and $3,000 of the city's funds. Lehman stoutly denied that he was responsible for the total shortage which he declared would probably amount to more than $15.000.
 The plea of guilty was entered through his attorney, Walter Brewer, three days before the date set for his trial following indictment by the lief ferson county grand jury for the theft of more than $500 of city funds en- trusted to his care. The minimum sen tence was imposed at the suggestion of Solicitor Jim Davis and members of the city commission. e
 Lehman had little to say when brought up to be sentenced, except to repeat his former statement that, while technically pleading guilty to the en- tire amount charged in the grand jury indictment, he was only responsible for the disappearance of not more than $3,OOO and probably only $2,500. The auditors report, submitted after com. pleting the check of the books of the public improvement funds department showed that the total shortage amount cd more than $T,000.
 Minimum Pelanty
 In sentencing the defendant. Judge Fort explained that he had decided upon the minimum penalty after con. siderlng his age and the recommends ton of the city and county officials. who considered a year and a day as a minimum sentence and three years as a maximum.
 Lehman was permitted to go to the penitentiary without guard, leaving on the afternoon train for Montgomery with his commitment papers in his pccKet. He was to have arrived there aoout { o'clock and expected, he said, 10 rent an automobile and go out to the warden's office to surrender. This is said to have been the first time in several years that such freedom has Leen allowed a person under sentence Tor similar Offense. He has been free on Sj,000 bond since being re. arrested on the grand jury indictment. the amount of the bond having heen reduced from the $10,0O0 as originally set.
 Before leaving Friday afternoon. Lehman again repeated his statement that the total amount he took was leks than $S,O00 and hinted that other citv employees had been responsible for tbe qlSappearance of the additional funds. Lehman attorney said his client had toid him that, fro minis own experience Ill the public improvement funds depart- ment and his knowledge of it's finances. ne belleved the total shortage would amount to more than $15,OOO and DOS sibly $25,000. P'''
 Solicitor To Act
 Solicitor Jim Davis said late Friday afternoon he was sure the entire short. age had not yet been accounted for ord that the grand jury investigation of the affairs of the city comptroller's of nee begun by the former grand jurv. would De resumed by the present boiy immediately after it reconvenes lime
 we do not know how many persons are involved in these alleged shortages"
 Continued on Page Two.)