The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-04
BROOKLYN COURTS.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.
Illicit Distillers Sent to the Penit entiary.
Before Judge Benedict.

Illicit DistilIers Sent to the Pcnit entiary.
Before Judge Benedict.
Yesterday was the last day of the term. At the
opening or the Court Assistant District Attorney Cat
lin moved for sentence In the case Of James Shan
non, convicted Of having carried the business OF
an Illicit dlstler without having paid the special
tax or given the required bonds.
In passing sentence Judge Benedict said:-"I DO
not need to state to YOU what is the nature OF the
offence OF which you have been convicted; nor do
need to call your attention to the fact that II Is
offence which has been frequently perpetrated In
this community, which 1t seems necessary to stop by
the inficulOn Of severe criminal punishment. For
felture of property aud the nnictlOn OF fines upon
persons engaged IN Illicit dlstiing nave proved to
to imprisonment IN the case OF every person con-
victed OF that offence. You plead guilty TO having
have laid yourself liable to be fined $4,000 and
to be imprisoned TOR two years. have sought In this
what circumstances there might DO in mitigation OF
the penalty prescribed by the law In your there
is little to be said In mitigation. Your relations In
this city, and your long residence here, made II i'm
possible for you to have misunderstood the nature
OF the act which you committed. 1t was deliDer-
ate attempt to violate the law, and for that attempt
you must now receive punishment. do notice that
you have plead guilty, aud thereby saved the gov
Sentence Of The Conrt ia tnat Won nav fine or Al 600
ana be imprisoned for period OF eighteen months,
the sentence to be executed In the Albany Peniten-
tiary.
Michael DOnnelly, convicted of similar OFFENCE
was arraigned, when the Court said:-The remarks
applicable for the most part to YOU ] made inquir-
les about you, and am not uniformed in regard to
your history. You have been convicted OF the same
offence for which Shannon has lust been sentenced.
There are circumstances which would require, per-
haps, more punishment IN your case than IN the
Children ana hn wAiSSc a RaSc family aya OF small
myself to yield somewhat. to that circum-
stance In your case, and It is TO that
circumstance that you owe dlminution of the sen
tence prescribed by law. The sentence OF tile Court
Is that you be Imprisoned for eighteen months and
pay h9e or $1,000 and stand committed it is
paid
In the case OF John Scuy, another illicit dstilIer.
Judge Benedict remarked:-You have been indicted
for carrying on the business OF Illicit dtstilier IN
this city, which Is misdemeanor under the law or
the United states. The facts OF the are that III
the Fourteenth ward OF this city, In shed under
one ROOF, and upon single lot one end OF II was
devote9 To clarifying moasses, and at the other end
an Illicit still was in operation.
The prisoner was sentenced to two years. imprison
ment and TO pay fine OF $1,000
John Fox was also sentenced to six months i'm
prisOnment and fine OF 81, 900; Thomas Mclaughlin
70 four montns' imprisonment and a fine OF $780, ana
Richard Knowles to two months Imprisonment and
fine or 500.