, 1863-07-23
FIELD DAE IN THE RECORDERS
COURT,
Sentence of the Convicted Prisoners
by Judge Van Buren,.

Yesterday was sentence day in the Recor-
de1's Court, an occasion always keenly en-
joycd by the curious, and those who, anxious
10 hear the incidents Of crime, are unwilling
to listen to the dry details, as elected by the
examination md cross-e1amination Of wit
nesses. 1t ia an event In some mems history
10 be able to look upon the criminal receiving
lis sentence. It gratif1es morbid curiosity,
and Is, perhaps, productive of some good.
Whatever the motive, there was full house
Ahen lie Court WAS opened, and the Recor-
der tadc the Sheriff bring up his prisoners for
sentence.
FOE AseACLTRa \ POLICE OFFICER.
Owen Rowner, Barney RoWney, and John
McGinnis, were fist ar1ugncd, charged with
u deadly assault upon policeman
The Recorder said: "You have been in
dicted nnd CONVICTED Of grave assault upon
policeman. The Legislature has passed a
law fixing the degree of punishment for this
offence, and cannot change It'll would,
The severity Of the punishment indicates the
importance the Legislature attaches to the
crime. Policemen uIust be projected in the
Performance Of their duties.
{Here Mr. Chase, their attorney, asked the
Court to remember that the jury who CON
yicted the prisoners recommend them to
the mercy Of his honoI.)
The Court checdully responded 10 the re-
rest Of The jury, but regretted that the action
OF the Legislature had taken the prero2atiye
entirely from his hands, and left him no alter
na1ise but TO pronounce the sentence-one
year in the County jail.
FOB BURGLARY.
{t,ot,
bar, and thus addressed: :" You have been
tried and convicted on Two indictments: first,
for assault with deadly weapon, thus devel-
uping the great deprayity of .your nature !
and also upon the charge Of burglary. Hany Of
.sn. ,aacrt,on t i sIi5 Idont
Gin say will affect you- You are apparently
hardened in crime and stepped in in1quity I
have never seen man come into Court, ap-
rarently 80 obliylous to the promptings OF
his butter nature, and SO utterly destitute Of
integrity, ms yon. If can't appeal to your
moral senfe, and II you cannot be reached Ia
this way, must consIgn you to felons cell,
in the hope that d. the expiration Of your
term of sentence, you will endcavor to re-
form and become ueefp1 and honorable
member Of. society. The sentence of the
Court II, that ou be confined in the peni-
each ytar TO be spent in solitary confinement.
VIM. G. Ward WAS nqKt called. The Court
ing property worth one hundrtd and. sixty
dollars. 7 learn that yon have mother and
sister here, whose hearts are almost broken
at this sore calamity. have also received
letter from the man whose property you have
taken, in1erceding for you. / believe this is
your first oGense, and as the object Of the Law
Is the reformation Of the criminal, not re-
yenge, I am disposed to be lenient with you.
The sentence Of the Court Is, that you be con-
fined in the pcnitentiary at Joliet for one year,
one day of which shall be solitary condne.
MeDt. ~
FOR eIEAl1S9 GOLD WATCH.
Wm. Simpson was next arrafgned, and thus
addleeEed by His Honor: You have pleaded
guilty to the eLa1ge Of stealing a gold watch
dollars. You I,rofcssed to have deue SO most
reluctantly. You claim TINT you bought them.
It may be 20. Iou seem to be peuIteut. It
trr in imposing the penalties Of the law,
l.rt1er to err on the side Of mercy, and l will
therefore intiict the shortest Imprisonment
known to the statute for this offrnse-one
year In The peuitentia1y.
I1isone'-Wil1 our honor please grant me
more time before am sent to Joliet9 wish
to correspond with my Wno aud children, and
II fpossible, Fee them once more before I am I'M
n,lrcd In that living tomb.
Con,7-Toul request cannot be granted.
FoR STEALING BOOZE AND PICTURES
Mary Webster, whose features were con-
cealed from observation By thick vail, was
1leu brought forward and thus addressed:
Mary, this is the second time you have
lar charge. On that occasion the Court
treated you with the greatest kindness, and
allowed you to escape with days imprison-
Mcnt In the county Jail That clemency, as
shown by your conduct Afterwards, Wns mis-
IT, ken clemency. 1t is my duty to Ilace you
where these offences cannot soon be re-
pea1ed. Stealing Is m Improbable and dis
yousbe confined in the county Jail for one
year.
FOR coESTERFE1TNG BASK BuLs.
Harry Temple was next called, and address,
I'd In substance as follows:
Mt. Temple, you have plead guilty to the
charge of count terfeiting. You are stranger
here, just having arrived at New York, ap-
netarious occupation have been appealed
10 By your friends and the friends Of your
wife IL your behalf md judge you Are re.
Specially connected. am always disposed
70 show mercy If there Is hope OF reforma-
uon. s Your sentence is the lowest limit pre-
tsntIee pea oy the statute-one year In the peni-
foR PASSING COUNTERFEIT pASK BILLS.
ou1anaa frame the other female prisoner.
~ae thus addressed: Johannn yon have haen
consacteo II 0f uttering counterfeit monrvHtwn 1
tTsntg aolas potes il single dsy, reseivine
1s @esf Ss1nsSas sSse eri%s isnsy I'd i +
me to lnhict much severcr ner,it ita1a9n1es
do. This leniency on my part a5tses .nan ~!
The sentence Of the Court is that you BE- sn,
pIasoned IN the penitentiary for two vear.
one day OF each year to be SOLITARY rnns'
ment. 4e-
FIsono- am innocent; but If you say go.
I'm willing to suffer. I am As innocent a.
your Honor,
FOR BURGLARY.
Wtu Gfccuman and Bertrsm Edmund.on