Mercy and Justice

More than eight years ago Gilbert H. Beesemyer tremblingly faced the friends who had trusted him, confessed he was a "dirty crook," had fleeced them of $8,000,000.

His theft from Los Angeles' huge Guaranty Building and Loan Association, of which Beesemyer was general manager, had wrecked the company, swallowed up the stock of thousands, including Cinemactor Wallace Beery. Beesemyer was sent up for a 40-year term.

Last month, noting the fact that he had served longer than anyone else in California for such an offense, the parole board paroled him. But public protest induced Governor Culbert Olson to ask the board to rescind the action.

Last week he faced the board again, heard his friends and victims plead his case.

"My younger brother Wally," testified Noah Beery, "lost $80,000, but my brother also wants Gilbert Beesemyer to be given another chance." The former movie villain had scarcely done talking when he suffered a heart attack; he had to be assisted out of the room. "My doctor told me not to come," he gasped. "But hell, I couldn't let this fellow down."

The board took the case under submission, said it would report within ten days. Once more Beesemyer went back to his cell to wait.

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