Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-14


fenced Frank Rtner, the young man convicted
"f Manslaugbter in killing VIM. Herrig, during
an afiray at Weidmans Dance House. on a
Sunday event 6, some months since. The
youthful prisoner seemed to feel. deeply the
disgraceful position into which he had been
brought. Previous to the sentence. Jas II.
Lane. Esq, one Of his counsel, addressed the
Court, aluding to the early history Of his
client, and the circumstances which placed
him in his unfortunate position. 1t appears
young Ritner is relative Of Ex Governor
Ritner, Of Pennsylvania, of which State Frank
il a native. His parents reside in Reading
they are poor, and Frank being compelled BY
circumstances, hsd to seek his own livelihood.
He got employment on the river as Cabin boy.
and at tho time of the occurrence was en-
ployed upon the Fred Lorenz." Judging from
the expression Of his countenance, he is of
mild disposition, but of impulsive tempera-
ment, The remarks of Judge Dillon were ap-
propriate. and ELECTED the attention of those
in hearing. We give below the remarks Of
the Court
FRANKLIs RlrNRn The reasons so forcibly
urged by your counsel, however they may ap.
peal to my sympathy, are not legal reasons
why the judgment of the Court should not be
rendered ON the verdict of the jury. 1t thus
becomes my sad office to pronounce the sem
tence of the law.
You have had fair and impartial trial
The many advantages which the law humanity,
and perhaps wisely, affords to a defendant YOU
have enjoyed.
On your statement that you were without
counsel and without means 10 employ them,
the Court assigned able and experienced gen.
tlemen bradley K Patton ami James I. Lane
Esq,) to defend you. They have discharged
as you must admit, their duty with zaal and f.
deity. An unbiased jury upon the evidence
and upon the sacred sanctions and responsi
bihties Of their oath. and after careful deliber
alton has pronounced you guilty of manA
slaughter.
Reviewing the evidence as it was given up
on the stand by the witnesses. am constrained
to say tina. this finding, however melancholy il:
must be to you. is fully justified. The tssti-
mony clearly shows that At the time of the
commission Of the offense Of which you have
been found guilty, you were employed as q
| cabin boy upon one Of the steamboats, that ply
up and down the river. and at the time YOU
were casually here 1t was on Sunday even.
ing. Learning that there was dance house
open in the city, to which admission could bo
had a. small price. You and several young
persons about your age, concluded to resort
suppose that you originally designed to create
any disturbance. How we'll it had been for
you and for the unfortunate man who r.ceiv ed
his death wound at your hand on that night il
this place Of temptation and, ~ it proved, of
blood, had not not been open on that Sabbath
evening to lure the thoughtless to idleuess.
dissipation and ruin. But whatever NAV be
thought Ct the character of the place, still this
atfords no justification for you or others in en-
dsavoring to interrupt the persons who were
psaceably assembled there. or in attempting
TO reste disturbance Of the public peace
can only account for your conduct in the be.
ginning the affray, which terminated so dis.
astrously, on the suprosition that you were IN.
der the Influence Of strong drink.
| charitably hope, that the expression, testi-
fed to by the witness, As having on that night
been uttered by you that | aimed for his
his heart" was made 40 q boast, while you
were intoxicated, and in ignorance of the fatal
character Of the wound you had inflicted
| It has not transpired in the evideace, wheth-
er your parents, or either Of them, are living
nor whether you have ever recesved those in :
sstimable lessons which can only be taught by
| motner Iove, ana Impressed Oy mOther
| affection.
II she 10 living to mourn the fate which has
60 early and sadly overtaken her son. who will
deny that she will regret the existence of tue
place which was the scene of the tragic desth
Of William Herrig. and that her son too read
lily forgot his duty and her teachings.
1t highly probable that your youth, and
the fact that you we're . stranger, led the jury
to take more lenisnt view of your csse than
strict justice would perhaps have allowed. They
have found you guilty Of msuslaughter only,
when they might have reasonably returned .
verdict Of guilty of much higher grade Of
crime. do not complain Of this-on the con.
trary. II in this they have erred. am Glad il
is on the right eide, the side OF mercy. In I'D.
ditinn to this. they have unanimously and
earnestly recommended you to the mercy Of
the Court While such recon- L endation ID
| In no way binding, yet, % coming from that