Parkhurst Confesses, Given Two Year Federal Sentence

In a swift and dramatic conclusion to his trial, former student Alfred B. Parkhurst yesterday pleaded guilty to 119 federal counts of forgery and theft of the mails, and was sentenced to a two year term in federal reformatory at Chilicothe, Ohio.

Parkhurst was specifically sentenced to two years for theft and fined one dollar, and given two more years for forgery. The two terms will be served concurrently, however, leaving him eligible for parole in eight months.

After his release on Federal charges, Parkhurst must return to face warrents held by police of three local communities, charging him with breaking and entering and larceny. Accusation of illegal possession of narcotics has been dropped, and his $10,000 theft of student property is his only State charge and has not yet been pressed.

To Make Good on Checks

Although no mention of governmental restitution of checks was made during the court proceedings, defense attorney Harland B. Newton said that Parkhurst, with the aid of his family, would attempt to make good the stolen checks. Investigators have so far found a total of $2789 worth of checks taken by Parkhurst, but stated that their search was continuing and might reach $6000.

In imposing sentence, Judge Francis J. W. Ford said he could not understand how a man of his "background and intelligence could descend to the level of a common thief." He reprimanded him sharply for his "thefts from veterans or anyone else, so that he could keep up with him associates in the circles in which he moved."

Free Spending Operator

Parkhurst, neatly dressed in a dark blue coat and gray flannels, said nothing in his own defense, but his attorney explained that he held a job as an "expediter" during the war in which he had "unlimited funds, and was in the habit of spending freely."

Only explanations offered by the thief are that he "enjoyed a good time" adding later that his robberies were done to aid a girl-friend to cure her of the drug habit. Only visitors to see him since his arrest have been his father and lawyer, and no further details have been available.