Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-25
The C0UNTERFEITlNG CASES.
The Submission and Sentence for Seven
Years Of Nick Sharp.
Judge EmmOnS' Remarks 20 the PriS.
Oner.

The United States Ciroui. Court room,
Monday, was crowded to excess in antici-
patton of hearing the evidence in one of
the counterfeiting cases. The court met
at2P NJ, Hon. II. II. Emmons, Circuit
Judge, on the bench.
The first case called was that against
Nick Sharp. The case had been originally
called last week, but on special affidavit
had been postponed until Monday.
Another effort was made Monday to
continue. The special cause assigned last
| week for continuance was the absence of q
| witness, Eli Miller, who, it was alleged by
Sharp, would swear that he had overheard
| Two detectives, Bauer and an associate, saw
| that they wanted to get defendant (Sharp)
to temporarily take some counterfeit
| money, and upon such temporary possess
| SION of 1t, secure conviction. Last week
Judge Emmons postponed the case, to all
| low Sharp time to secure the attendance Of
! Miller.
But Monday, Sharp returned with n
| certificate from Dr. HARRISON, to the effect
| that Miller was suffering from consump-
| ton and two risings - and could not at
| tend. Judge EmmonS held that the afii.
davit was not sutlicicr', as it did not dis
! close any merits lie called attention of
!
court, when he decided formally and put
his decision in print, that he would not
grant continuance in crim-
lnal cause under the circumstances of
the prcsentc case unless the defendant would
swear that he had been advised by his
counsel, and upon that advice believed
that he had good grounds of defence against
the charges preferred.
THE DEFENDANT SUBMITS TO THE MERCY
Judge Emmons having refused the mo-
ton for continuance, the defendant and
his counsel after consultation decided to
submit his case, which was done through
Mr. Henderson. This announcement pro.
duced decided sensation in the crowded
court room.
JUDGE ENfMoNs' SENTENCE.
The prisoner was asked to step forward
by the Judge, which he did. Judge En-
mons, amid the breathless silence of the
assembled company then delivered the fol-
owing sentence which we give AS near as
we can from our notes in the language of |
the Judge:
ltis always painful duty, Mr.. Sharp, |
for court to sentence a fellow citizen To |
punishment for committing an Infamous
crime. The court has been informed that
you have been what is termed dealer
IN counterfeit money. You became temp
ter to young men to commit this crime of
passing counterfeit money. 1t is great
temptation TO young men 10 offer them for
trifie the similitude of money. il is a
peculiar temptation to young men. If
you were to locate in COM
munity and make il your business
to beckon the young sons of your
neighbors into liquor saloons, those dens
of infamy that destroy so many of our
young and there ask them TO commit bur-
glary they would fly from you. But you
show them the similitude of money, and
offer it to them, and many bright prom.
ising boy, that could never be tempted to
any other crime, will yield. 1t is a mystic
rious infatuation that comes over them.
The same mysterious power seems to draw
on the dealer who sells it out TO them,
He is not satisfied with one transaction
but he keeps on. You have not been so
happy since your criminal busines has
been carried on as the toiling farmers about
you. There is nothing in crime that ought
to draw men on, but it seems TO do it.
Criminals ought to be punished in pro-
portion as they have power TO allure Others
ON to crime. Your offence merits q longer
than am about to give you,
but have been induced by reasons stated
by the District Attorney and your counsel,
and because you have submitted YOUR cause
without subjecting the Government to the
ielay and expense of trial, to modify
your sentence.
My Bro. Judge Ballard, Of the Kentucky {
district, sentenced two Of your associates in {
this crime for ten and twelve years. He {
mentioned your name in connection with l
these cases. You are known over i'm his '
court You will he sentenced 20 scGcn /
pears confinement in The penitentiary at ]
turd idbGr [
The impressive, earnest manner of Judge {
Emmons IN this sentence aud accompany i
ng remarks, produced a profound i'm e
preston upon all present. Z
Sharp and the Judge were alternately |
he center towards which all eyes were
urned. The prisoner was immOvable. s
He gazed steadily at the court through the $
errible ordeal, but save a tear that forced u
tSelt from one eye, he failed to show I
Jingle emotion. /
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRISONER. .
Nick. Sharp, as he is popularity called, is q
man of about % years of age; gray hair y
md beard. He is about five feet eight n
inches high, and a stout, vigorous looking
nan. He was born and raised in Union I
county. He has one son Of age, who was 9
resent in court when his father was sem Z
enced. He has two daughters married | =
'ir. sharp, if his general reputation and T
haracter is not grossly mlsrepresented, .,
las been more or less dealer g
II counterfeit money for years He \
las been frequently indicted for
he offence in the State Courts, but has
ever we believe been convicted. He has
ccumulated some property, but has it now il