The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-19
THE SCENE IN COURT.
Libbie WeepS, She Hides Her Face, but
@1----es ~
Does Not Faint Away.
-.
JUDGE BEDLE'S SENTENCE.
The Paterson People Believe She
Will Not Be Hanged.

AT ten O'Clock yesterday morning the Paterson
Court House was crowded to sufrocaton by motley
audience OF men, women and children to hear
Judge Bedle pronounce the sentence OF death upon
Llbbie Garrabrant for the murder OF Ransom F.
Burroughs. In addition to the crowd inside the
jail and court yards, the streets, sidewalks and
every available spot were filed with spectators
anxious to catch glimpse of
THE DOOMED GIRL
as she was brought from the Court House to the ian
scene of such excitement had not been witnessed
In the Paterson Courts In many years.
At hafpast ten O'Clock
LIBBIE WAS BROUGHT INTO COURT
and given seat In front OF the Judges. In the
stretch OF necks to see the prisoner considerable
confusion ensued which was finally partially
quieted when Mr.. Hopper, the county prosecutor,
moved that sentence be pronounced upon Elizabeth
Garrabrant, who had been
CONVICTED OF POISONING RANSOM F. BURROUGHS,
and the jury had found her guilty Of murder in the
first degree.
The unfortunate girl was then ordered to stand
up. She was dressed the same as upon her trial
brown popln dress, with overskirt; pink bow at
her throat, lace collar and cuffs yellow kid gloves
and black shawl with black jockey hat around
which was pinned drab veil, so as not to fall over
her face AS she stood up
SHE BURST INTO TEARS
and hid her face in her handkerchief She did not
pale, but a red spot appeared upon each cheek and
a slight trembling OF her body was visible. There
was much confusion among the audience and soma
babies in the crowd began squalling most Justify.
The Judge ordered the prisoner to be seated again.
but it was some minutes before the crying babies
could be removed and order restored.
This finally secured, however, Judge Bedle again
ordered Elizabeth Garrabrant to arise. She was
apparently not so much excited as before but still
kept her face buried in her handkerchief and con-
tinued weeping, not Historically, but manifested
much emotion.
Judge Bedle then asked:-
"Have you anything to say why the Court should
not pronounce the sentence of death against your"
BETWEEN HER SOBS,
and In voice almost uninteiglble Libbie replied,
Judge Bedle then, after slight pause and with q
husky voice and watery eyes, apparently scarcely
able to control his emotion, addressed the unhappy
girl as follows:-
JUDGE BEDLE's REMARKS.
in aa
sRsy Of %
anS i@s ishs
Te nh ne ss s oa s Ss Of @
Court, your crime was deliberate and most wicked 1t is
sFe and
es ns Win
poison by which Burroughs died. You his attend
sSs gssssy
n aS Ree and You allowed him
to die cruel death. The Court may sympathize with
rom the facts Of this why the penalties q
Die warning to others When once female Character IS de-
based and female allows herself to be prey to the
dernl moral upturnng terrible may be sx
Yourself to great Instead Of taking counsel q
better you took Of the dased
mains for the Court but to the sentence which
Daggers and Terhune-and, amid the most impres
sive silence, Judge Bedle pronounced the following
sentence e.
The sentence OF the law Is that you, Elizabeth
Garabrant, be taken from the bar of this Court to
the prison OF Passaic county, whence you came,
there to be kept in strict custody until Friday the
10th OF July next ensuing, on which day, between
afternoon OF the said day. you shall be taken to the
place OF execution, to be provided by the Sheriff
according to law; then and there YOU Elizabeth
Garabrant, to be hanged by the neck until you are
dead; and may God have mercy on your soul!
HORROR AND PITY.
An audible murmur of horror and pity arose from
the audience as the sentence was concluded. The
doomed girl herself continued sObbing and weep
ing She was Immediately removed, and left with
Deputy Sheriff Townsend and Jail Warden Good
ridge with a firm and elastic STEP but with her
handkerchief to her face. She expressed much less
emotion throughout than many in the audience,
whose eyes filled with tears and whose whole
frames quaked under the influence OF the solemn
event.
After being
REMANDED TO HER CELL,
Libbie Garrabrant sank upon the stone floor OF her
narrow room anu gave vent 70 the Widest demon,
nerve which sustained her throughout gave way at
last.
1t seems to be generally believed that she will not
be hanged. All who have conversed with her are
OF the opinion that she Is deficient in mental
capacity, and Is not morally responsible. 1t is
col hat a or pffO will 10 ms m
sentence committed to imprisonment for life, and
it is reported that not only the leading citizens
anxious to sign
PETITION TO THE COURT OF PARDoNs
to this effect but even the jury that convicted her
are said to be favorable to such an idea Judge
Bede, however, is reported to believe the verdict
and sentence just and correct. The general i'm
preston Is, Notwithstanding, that she will not be
hanged.