The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-09
Sentencing Mary Jane Scales and
Lewis Ford at Topeka.
THE MuRDEREn's confession.

The announcement that Mary Jane
Scales and Lewis Ford would be SEN
fenced yesterday morning caused the
court room to be filled at eight o'clock:
Although very many ,colored people
We're in. attendance during the trial,
very few were in yesterday morning,
and only two white ladies were pres
ent. which is accounted for by the rain
which prevailed at the hour appointed
for the opening Of the court.
The court was opened in due form,
after which the prisoners entered,
being in charge Of Sheriff Thomas and
Deputies Lindsay and Disbrow. Mrs
Scales was dressed in a plaid dress.
Ford appeared in waistcoat and shirt
sleeves, and as he entered cast his
eyes about, as unmindful of the doom
awaiting him. The prisoners were
seated inside the bar, and County,
Attorney Ryan arose. and, with a
solemn and distinct voice, moved that
as Mary Jane Scales and Lewis Ford
had been convicted of murder in the
first degree and an application for q
new trial had not been granted, the
sentence of the law be now pronounced
against them. @i
| Judge Morton then addressed the
prisoners and asked them if they had
anything to say why sentence should
not be rendered, and advised them
that they could, if they wished, consult
their counsel before making their re-
marks. ,...
A. H.. Case, Esq, replied for the
prisoners that they had nothing 10 say.
Judge Morton then pronounced the
sentence in very clear and distinct
manuer' until he, reached the last SEN
fences, when his voice faltered, as If
that justice which lie was netting out
to the condemned, and the mercy,
which welled up from. his kind heart,
were strugglin gfor the mastery. Amid
the deep emotion of the noble judge
! and the profound silence of the crowd
of witnesses the prisoners were perfect
! Iy stolid. Mrs. Scales listened to the
sentence with her eyes fixed intently
upon the judge, but with no more ap.
, parent feeling than one would mani.
Z fest in the details of an interesting
story. Ford sat half Longing in bis
chair, looking about him With no more
) concern than he would have in the re-
citation of foreign language.
II The sentence concluded, the prison
. crs in charge of the sheriff and hi
r deputies, retired to their cells to avail
D their awful doom.
: The demeanor of the condemned
: exhibited so much Indifference, tina
/. the heart of sympathy and pity wal
/ barred, and no word of regret escapes
V the lips of single spectator.
y CONFESSION OF LEWIS FORD.
Rev. E. O.. Taylor, pastor of tlr
First Baptist, church, furnishes us tn
following report Of an interview he ha
with the condemned, after they la
i received their sentence: 49,
By request of Lewis Ford, who ha
been convicted as one Of the murderer
of Burnett Scales, visited his Gel
yesterday morning, at about eigh
O'Clock, when he made me the follow
ing voluntary confession of his crime
In reply to my request that. he &C
honestly with himself and before God
" whom he must soon meet at the hand
. of the law, he said: b, Hagie !.
I acknowledge my guilt. l kille
g tho man myself. Mrs. Scales ha
- nothing to do with it, but she saw
= done. That morning got up an
came down from my room about tire
o'clock. 1t was not an unusual hou
to. be up there. The old man ha
: made fire in the stove, and he &C
: cused me of having had something
? do with his wife. I finished dressin
myself, and simply denied it to hil
and went and made a fire ia the cook
stove. During this time he continue
y to accuse, me Of crime, and sale
: "Brother Scales, before I will hav
., any fuss with you. Z will leave th
II house." then went and packed N
20 cloths in my trunk with the 1ntentio
, of leaving, but he continued talkin
. until he caused me to give him tie liz
; when he seized me in desperate rage
i but, having but one hand which h
\ could use, he could not hold me.
q tore myself loose from him and ran t
the shelf behind the stove, where l ha
;, beemin, the habit of keeping my razo
N and, grasping it, as he came to m
~ again, I gave him the cash which L
7 had in the breast. He clinched d
j., again, and in the struggle 1 droppe
q the razor, !, broke loose from hi
4 again and made for the gun, and cocl
7 ed it with the intention of shootin
him, but in the struggle it was di
. charged accidently-the charge, I thin