Editing The Fort Worth Press (section)

== November 19, 1926 ==

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Judge Wilson Suspends Sentence on Banker

By Walter Humphrey

United States District Court Thursday afternoon recognized the fallibility of a man's judgement and William Echols will have another chance to make good.

The two-year sentence given Echols on his plea of guilty for embezzlement of $7,155.14 from the First National Bank was suspended by Judge James C. Wilson.

Five witnesses had testified to Echols' previously good character.

Echols had never been arrested on the charge. He had reported to officers of his bank that he had been "kiting" sums of money over a period of a year and a half which he was head of the bank's collection department.

Backed by Prosecutors

The story that brought Echols a chance to come back wasn't just a story. Even the government attorneys backed it up and spoke highly of the actions of the defendant since his trouble.

It is the ancient story of the man who took sums of money intrusted [sic] to him  and converted them to his private use because he was sure he could pay it all back. Theft was not the intent-tho intent means nothing to the law.

Sells Home and Car.

Echols has sold his home, his car, has disposed of all his securities, all tangible property. Already he has paid back almost half the sum. But a few hours after his confession to Walter Wallerich, assistant cashier, Echols voluntarily made arrangement with a bondiing [sic] company for the payment of the shortage.

A wife and two children sat within the rail at the courtroom, trying to wash away with their tears the vision of a prison cell. 

When Attorney Clyde Eastus finished his plea for the court's mercy and after Echols had given a brief, broken statement of his own guilt, there was not a man or woman in the courtroom who would not have done as Judge Wilson did.

"Two years-and I suspend the sentence," he said.

Echols will make good.
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Source: [https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1552649/m1/17/zoom/?q=%22GETS%20CHANCE%20TO%20MAKE%20GOOD%22&resolution=2.9587750184976866&lat=3028.6207068370595&lon=5102.29323815142 UNT]