Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-03-28
QUINLAN AND DOUGLASS In
THE COURT ROOM,

iy in Belmont County, that has attract
ed more attention and has been sub
ject matter of greater general interest
than the State of Ohio VS.. Pat Quinlan.
We therefore propose to give to our
readers a synopsis of the proceedings
concluding the case, as nearly as we can
remember them.
After Quinlan was brought from the
Jail to the Court room, the Court said
TO him in substance as follows:
"Patrick Quinlan stand up, two indict-
ments charging you with crime were
preferred against you, and upon those
indictments, at this term, you was
tried by jury of fair, honorable and
impartial men in the case under the
24th section of the crimes act, which
reads: "That if any person shall ma
liciously shoot, stab or shoot at any
other person with intent to kill, wound
or MAIN such person, every person so
offending shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof shall be imprisoned in the Pen
itentiary and kept at hard labor not
more than twenty years nor less than
one year" In this case the jury have
found you gully Of an assault and bat
terry. The sentence which the Court
prOnounces upon this verdict is that you
be fined in the sum of $50, and pay
the costs Of prosecution in the case.
Under the Other indictment which
was based upon the 18th Section of the
Crimes Act, and reads: "That if any
person shall assault another with intent
to commit a murder, rape or robbery
upon the person so assaulted, every per.
son SO offending shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof, shall be imprisoned in the
Penitentiaxy and kept at hard labor
not more than ten nor less than two
years." A jury Of twelve men without
prejudice, after having listened with
attention and patience, have come to
the solemn conclusion that you are
guilty as charged in the Indictment. II
therefore becomes my duty to inflict
the penalty of the law upon you, ]
wish that it were otherwise, that / was
not compelled to pass sentence upon
you, but must not respect persons in
the performance of an act which my
own oath obliges me to do. You have
scarcely arrived at the meridian of life,
yet your sins and iniquities are grievous
Instead of following q course of conduct
which. wonld have been to your own
credit, you have done those things
which indicate man of very ban heart
Without cause, without provocation,
you inflicted mereilessly this great in.
jury and wrong. Have you anything
to say why the sentence of the law shall
not be passed upon you?
PAT QUINLAN--I have TO say this
That what / said next moFning-if un-
derstood at all-was not correctly un,
derstood. thought the man struck
was Haggarty. He had pistol
never intended to hurt any one, only
to protect myself and I knew that there
was danger from him. / didn't say
when picked up that poker that : was
a better man and would kill any man
that come against me, and when did
pick it up Just picked il up as / would
have anything else, stiek-anythilg
II wasn't looking for poker, never
thought of it. / was only taking that
In my hand for defense in case / was
assaulted; and / couldn't stay at that
House, they said they had no room. ]
had to 60 somewhere and / was going
lust to get q room. The Prosecuting
Attorney talked about my having been
sentenced to the Penitentiary before
never was-and / stand before you to.
day without ever sentence against
me-and when / was on the stand the
Jury gave credit to what / said that
was against me. but paid no attention
farther, and all I can say T1OaC is that
this Court will give me u hat credit
they think under tho circumstances
that nay testimony deserves and extend
such leniency as would be right anC
prOCef.
Court said ~ am sorry that have
so to act, but without further consider
alton than the fact that | am entirely
convinced the verdict of the jury
was eminently right. do say that
pronounce sentence upon you, and the
sentence Is: That you be taken from
this room to the jail of the County, anC
there safely kept and that within ter
days you to be taken to the Peniteptiary
of the State of Ohio and be confined q
hard labor for the term of seven year
and pay the costs of this prosecution
Remand the prisoner.
Douglass came in, pale and haggard
i leaning upon the shoulders of two Con
stables, scarcely able to speak. Th'
Court asked him if he could stand up
he said in whisper that he could not
The Court then passed sentence, stating
4 that there were some circumstance
/ connected with the ease of an extenu
ating character, and that after full de
liberation, he would order that tn
prisoner be taken from the Court room
to the Jail of the County, and within
! ten DAYS from this time be taken to til
Penitentiary of the State of Ohio an
confined at hard labor for the period G
four years and pay the costs of this pros