The New York herald., 1871-01-15
C0NFTDERATED CRIME.
Sentencing Of Convicted Criminals
In the Federal Courts.
Repeates, Counterfeiten and Embexxlers
Receive Their Rewards.

Jugvernau that 10 time make their revo-
lutious demanding victim. from the federal courts
are but rarel, heard areaiel w.shin the connnes
Of the Circuit Court, however inevitably the Circuit
Judge may make his rounds. Pew cases Of great
public interest, indeed occurred since the trial
OF Gordon. the shaver. executed for the dabolical
crimes OF which he found guiltg. Aud yet the
machinery OF the courts ever in action aud ever
and always performing is special srryscs when
Quired IN the administration ~ Justice, when
ever the statutes OF the Cnit "a state. are
charged 10 have been violated. Ia tins the
work Of the judges, commissioner. marshais.
deputy marshals detectives end the whole posse
comtatus has been well performed, as NAV be seen
In the almost complete suppression OF the various
cunning modes thar have been adopted nom time 10
time to cheat the revenue the n,ricacies ~ winch
require thousand Ariadne clues 10 unraycL
OPENING OF THE COURT
Yesterday morning Judges woodru6 aud Bene-
dict took their seats upon the bench Of the United
States Circuit Court at the regular hour The places
Set apart for members or the bar then All
pied, while outside the bar there a large crowd.
composed principally OF that class Of persons who
feel an interest IN the fate Of criminals.
ATTENDANCE OF JURORS
Mr.. Stilwell Deputy Clerk Of the court called
the calendar Of the petit jury.
Judge oodruff said that he mad been under the
impression that the attendance Of jury would be
necessary for the day. but the cxgency for their at
tendance had passed away. and he therefore as
charged them for the term.
THE CASE OF COLONEL CLARKE--PLEA or INSANITY
The circumstances connected with the case OF
Colonel Clarke, vino week ago was brought up for
sentence, having been previously convicted OF deal
| ing largely In counterfeit revenucl stamps, ana
whose sentence was then postponed plea OF in
sanity were July reported IN the HERALD On the
AS IN anl la
the friends OF the prisoner TO substantiae the plea
Of insanity. On the case being called yesterday
Judge Benedict said this case was postponed until
to-day, with leave 10 counsel 60 present the cerl
cate OF two medical men as TO the mental condition
Counsel Clarke said that he did not understand
that he was TO serve the certificate. There lis
/ sired 10 remedy the mistake, and he would In the
| next week DO all he could to learn the truth Of
| Clarke's condition
| Mr. A. II. Purdy, for the government said, as
counsel suggested, II was necessary that there
should be some kind Of medical certificate to the
state OF Clarkes mind, and he did desire to take
any unfair advantage Of counsel n they believed that
| the man was insane.
Counsel-We do not know whether he is or not
The Court--On your making that suggestion I
gave you leave to get the certificate OF medical
| men, you being unwilling 10 do so yourself. IL
l should have been done during the week.
Judge Stuart tprsoner's counsell-IJ was not neg
Iigence. but It was failure mypart TO prehend
the nature OF the duty imposed on me by the order
| OF the Court. supposed rnat copy OF the 0rder
should be served BY the marshal. II was on Thurs
/ not then served hope the Court viii let the case
4 stand for week.
Tue COurt-Let the case stand over till next Satur-
day, and counsel Tor the prisoner VII see that the
| certificate be served. If the certificate authorizes
me TO summon jury. to try the question OF the
sanity or insanity OF the prisoner, must summon
jury; II not, VIII then sentence him.
| COLORED REPEATER WHO WAS sENrENCED, AND
ALL THAT JUDGE WOODRUFF REPEATED ON THE
Lucius N. Sawyer, colored man. was brought up
\ Tor sentence.
Jua0e WooirnfY said.-
The crime Of which you, sawyer. have been convict
ed is one most serious IN its character striking it
does at the very foundation Of our government and
OF the laws upon which the safety o. lives and
| property depend: Had it appeared clearly to the
to voting at the election In this city there was no
mitigating circumstance in your case, and that
intent to commit crime the Court would have
felt constrained to impose on you the highest pen
atty which the law allows. Bat you stand before
stances which make IL
NY PAINFUL DUTY 70 SENTENCE You
TO punishment for the offence. The circumstances
disclosed at the trial and the representations which
have reached me through public prosecutor, IN
dicate that you once OF such Intelligence, such
capacity and sucn habits commanded the respect
of your friends and fellows, and won Tor you the
Notwithstanding all the motives to sustain your
putatioahto ITO sustain dne character you bore aud
the honorable uses they served--y0u suffered your
self to fall into the degrading nay
That nabit seems TO have been followed by You until
II became in some sort disease which, although it
does not relieve you from the responsibility OF your
conduct made you unconscious OF the eyil you were
doing, at least OF the greatness OF the crime you
@ Mere a eol,ng Inc m ,s Gort mas some reason 10
stance OF crime far the Court understands you
have committed crime against the law, Will be the
means OF your entire reformation. The Court has
reason 70 believe as suggested, that this Is
YOUR FIRST OFFENCE,
and that you were scarcely conscious OF It's enor.
NIFTY The Court feels warranted i'll imposing on
you mild sentence and extending 10 you some le-
niency In the hope that removal from the tempta-
tion to the degrading habit which has led You to the
place where you stand and an experience Of the
consequences which result from that indulgence
may be the means Of restoring you to the confidence
OF others and to your own self-respect and
dltion Of further usefulness In the community In
which you live. II II has that effect it VIII be matter
to be rejolced at that,
WHILE THE LAW IS INDICATED
an example is furnished to deter others from the
commission OF crime. ana the noble purpose is
served OF reforming the guilty.
THE SENTENCE
OF the Court Is that yo1 be imprisoned six months
and ought to add, In thus dealing with you the
Court has appreciated. and, trust properly needed
Court would deal mercfuly with yon. BY per-
emptory requirement OF the statute you also
fenced 10 the costs OF the prosecution.
couNrERFEITER SENTENCED.
Reuben Carpenter, who pleaded guilty or the OF.
na assisted N the ergns "a and en
craving Of plate for the printing OF revenue
stamps, Was next M called forward for @ sentence l.
dPPSdiCu tG1. thc PIisouSi uuu oCch AvuitCCH
months in confinement that he had become
penilent for his offence, and that he
had endeavored TO make some atonement to
the government by giving them oil the information
within his knowledge. IN consideration OK these
facts the Court sentenced him To be confined for
year ana one month III Kings County Penltentiary
at hard labor. The punishment prescribed by the
statute for this offence rs iDe not eY ceedng $1,000
or Imprisonment and confinement at nard labor not
exceeding five years, OF by both.
POST OFFICE FMBEzzLER DISPOSED OF.
Joseph Boyce who had been convicted on lits own
confession Of secreting, embezziing and destroying
letters, or letter, in the Post Oflice, was next
brought TO the bar. IL was stated by Mr. Pury thar
the prisoner had conducted himself we'll IN jan,
and that at the Trial he pleaded guilty,
contrary TO the advice OF his counsel, who
commended him to stanu his trial. Tie had shown
great penitence. Ihe offence to which the prisoner
pleaded guilty was hat Of secTetng letter IN the
Post 0iice containing money other valuable pro-
perty, and II he had been convicted OF embezzling
and destroying the letter. The offence would have
involved an imprisonment OF not less than ten years.
-lIIlI.-. nd "a hAf