Chapman, former Clerk of the Court, pleaded guilty to embezzling $15,000 of the Court's funds during the period from January 1, 1924 to July 6, 1926 and was sentenced by! Judge "Milton D, Purdy to three years and five months' imprisonment in the U. S, Penitentiary at MeNeil's Island, Washington.
Dr. George Sellett, U. S. District} Attorney, represented the Government and Major C. P. Holeomb appeared for Chapman. 'After Dr. /Sellett had announced to the Court' the specific charge which he wished to bring against Chapman, Major Holeomb said that he was passing through Seattle some time ago and went to ste Chapman, who was in gaol there. Counsel asked Chapman if he were guilty and the latter Jadmitted the offence. The attorney jeounsellod Chapman to return to China and plead guilty before the United States Court for China, His Honour then asked the de-fondant if he had anything to say [before sentence was passed, whereupon Chapman arose and said:—
"If it please the Court: to ins! your Honour this is indeed a sad finale to 21 years in the Orient, nearly 17 of which were spent in Government service. It is needless to say, but nevertheless true, that during' the past six months I have gone through the mental tortures of hell. Unfortunately the suffering has not been by me alone.
An Incentive to Reform Upon the advice of our good friend Major Holcomb and contrary to the advice of my counsel, I returned to Shanghai and now stand before your Honour to answer the charges against me. My eyes are clear and my brain undefiled and from the depths of my heart Tsay that Iam sorry. Sorrow for wrongdoing is but one step toward reform and the wary easiest. step. The next step, and the greatest step required, is the test of our sincerity, namely, reformation. Those words jate from "Science and Health, the Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.
"As the whistles of the President Jefferson sounded for the visitors to go ashore in Seattle just prior to Imy departure on November 30, these! words fell on my cars, be brave, sweetheart, I love you and will be waiting for you.' What greater incentive to future good conduct and reform could any man have? Your Honour, prison walls and edhs hold no horrors for me. They can Ino more crush my spirit than rags can make me miserable. But to eave so ignominiously this place and these friends so dear to me—ah, there is the rub. And so, your Honour, whatever sentence Honourable Court wishes to impose on me, I wish to assure you that T will employ every spare moment to improve my faculties. I will emerge a better citizen and strive to my utmost earnestly and honestly to restore every cent which I have taken, "As said Aristotle, the wise and foolish man differ but little. They. plow and sow and reap much after the same fashion. But in employment of their leisure hours the difference is strikingly manifest. The foolish man spends his time low and bestial pleasures, while th: wise man devotes his time to those intellectual pursuits which are pleasing to the gods.' Your Honour, it is not too late for even me to please the gods and I will do it.
The Sentence His Honour then passed sentence [as follows:
"This is a most distressing case as far as the Court is concerned personally, an ordeal which in many) ways is more difficult for me to pass through than for the defendant. The relation of the defendant with the Court since I cama to Shanghai was of a cordial and confidential nature and when news of the defalcation first came to me I seas literally astounded and crushed, for I did not realize that a man of such ability and apparent integrity would Ibe guilty of the fraudulent speculation which has been perpetrated on the Government, and if I could say, go hence and sin no more, I would fully. be sure to do so willingly and cheer-would like to see you go out! of that door a free man, but there are other considerations involved in a case of this kind, not only in the administration of justice so far as [justice is concerned, but as an example to others.
"If a man proves false to a high [position of trust and takes money which does not belong to him, then [the law of the land provides for the Punishment of his misdeeds. I am sure that the defendant has suffered all that he says he has and I am sure that after his term in the penitentiary is over he will come out better man. I know no one who has a better and stronger mind and who is more capable of success in Jany vocation to which he might }wish to turn than Mr. Chapman. Neither is there a man with more friends in a community where he has lived. Even in this hour of land calamity, those friends are with him, I am sure, in heart and soul and' good wishes.
"I do not think there is more that}
Tecan or should say except that the Court is impersonal in imposing sentence. Some people are of the opinion that judges are to do as they wish in matters of {this kind. They a Court can pas But a Court is a creature of the law and is required to pass sentence commensurate with the gravity of the crime. It is true that this is the defendant's first offence, but it a serious one. Many thousands of dollars of ths Government's money have been taken.
To Return on Sunday "Thave no doubt but that in time Chapman will pay back what has been lost and after he has served his sentence he will feel that he has in a measure paid for this.
have given this matter much' anxious thought, and I hope that he will feel that the sentence which I am about to impose is just, taking all facts into consideration. Stand Mr, Chapman.
"ft is the sentence and judgment of this Court that the crime to Iwhich you have pleaded guilty shall be punishable to imprisonment the U, S, Penitentiary at MeNeil's Island, Washington, for three years Jand five months,"
Tt is understood that Chapman will be taken back to America on the President Jefferson which leaves Shanghai on January 2. It was on this ship that Chapman left Skanshai when he absconded and the one fon which he was brought back to Shanghai some two weeks ago from Seattle,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.