Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-05-16

| WASHINGTON, April 2S.-There was scene
of much interest in the Criminal Court room
to-day. Horatio Bolster, who was yesterday
found guilty of the murder of Joseph alias
Sonny James, having been brought in for
sentence, Judge Olin asked him whether he
had anything to say why the sentence of the
law should not be pronounced upon him, and
ne replled IN nervous and excited manner
| that he had much to say, and turning to his
counsel obtained his consent to make state
ment. He then asked permission of the Court
to speak from the stand where all could hear
him.
The Court do not like to have you near
me, Bolster, unless you have been searched.-
You can be heard around here (pointing to the
space Immediately Ill front of the witness stand.
Bolster then made speech, detailing all the
circumstances connected with the killing of
James, asserting that he had been beaten by
James that he had no malice In his heart,
but sought James In order to have reasonable
explanation why he had been beaten to death
almost for nothing, and only because he was
in company with the man Davis. He was per-
fectly calm when he accosted James. He had
no malice in his heart, and no intention of ia
king the mans life, James, however, cursed
him, and raised his hand to strike, when he
under the passion and excitement of the mo-
ing in the door below him, placed gun in his
hands, and he fired the fatal shot.
Bolster was overcome by his feelings and
wept and sobbed; then, becoming somewhat
calm, he expressed the hope that the Court
would give him time to prepare to meet his
God, and declared himself an innocent man.
Judge Olin, in the course of his remarks to
the prisoner, stated that jury might we'll
have convicted Bolster of murder, even for
what he confessed he did. The whole trans
action showed that the prisoner, after the first
beating he had received. He thought the gun
was procured by his friends for that purpose,
and that the prisoner searched for James for
the purpose Of taking his life, and not for
explanation merely. Had the prisoner have
had an honest purpose-if James assault
ed him without provocation, without justifca-
tion-as law abiding citizen, he ought to have
appealed to the courts for protection against
him. II do not know" said the Judge, ''how
true it isl do not rely much on newspaper
reports-but l saw in the paper what purport-
ed to be letter to you from your mother,
Have you mother living p
The prisoner lin tremulous yoice)-I
have,
The Court-A letter from your mother ex-
pressing all that kindly (here the Judge gave
way to his feelings. and Bolster was also over
come) motherly anxiety for you that only
mother could express.
(Here the prisoner bowed his head and wept
audlby. 1t touched every heart present deep
ly. The Judge also gave way to his feelings
again.
Would to God that you might be removed
from a situation like this for that mothers and
that sisters sake. (Here the Judge became
so deeply affected that he had to pause to wipe
away the tears coursing down his checks, and
his feeling seemsd to be shared by the counsel
on both sides, and officers of the Court, and
many spectators.
The Judge, continuing, said he would not
willingly say word toa wound the prisoner s
feelings, for whom he felt nothing but kind
ness. Perhaps he had committed some error
in the trial Of this case. They were not. how
ever, of the heart, but of the head. If, for
the want of knowledge he had doue that, the
prisoners counsel would have an opportunity
to bring before his (the Judge 81 brothers this
case, and he should give the prisoner time to
do that, time to let them pass upon it, to see
whether any error has been committed. He
was sure that they would feel what he felt
the same interest, the same anxiety, and the
same pleasure-to find that really the prisoner
had not com mitted the offence for which he was
indicted
The prisoner was then sentenced to be hang
ed on Friday, June 9th. The handouts were
replaced and he was conducted back to Jail by
the balif and squad eff police. ce.-Erchange.
~S-