Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-06-06
JOHN TALIFERO.
e SENTENCE OF THE LAW
is Execution Fixed for July sIst
he Prisoner Receives His
Sentence Unnloved.

At the hour of 10 o'clock Mon
by morning the Court room was
Eletl with an anxious crowd, as
embled to hear the sentence Of
he law passed upon John Tall fero.
fter the usual routine of opening
Iourt. the prisoner was broughtin,
bd with him James Smith, who
i'd been convicted Of burglary,
NTH was ordered to stand up,
id having nothing to cay who
ntence should not be passed upon
ian, Judge Hoge addressed to him
/ few wholesome and pertinent re-
hanks and ordered in confirmation
L the verdicto fthej jury which tried
lin, that he be taken to the Peni-
entiary at Moundsville. there to
emain for FIVE years from the first
ay of his imprisan ment. The
risoner sat down, and John Tall
bro was ordered to stand up. 1t
as q solemn occasion, and all
4sen5 eeemed to feel it, except
he prisoner. He presented the
lime unmoved, stolid appearance
khich characterized him through
he trial; the same lack of feeling,
oical Indifference and deafness to
he terrible reality Of his position
Fas marked in every feature Of
is face. When asked by the Clerk
he had anything to say why SEN
bnce should not be passed upon
I'm, in q seemingly careless
tanner and without the slightest
. hmor he answered in the
Negative. During the deliv-
" Of the Judges remarks
preparatory to the sentence, the
eep silence which pervaded the
htire assembly was almost pain
h. and added solemnity to the
,casion. The low, solemn tones
Ills voice We're distinct in
very part of the Court room, and
awas quite evidentsthat he felt
eply the responsibility of his po-
on. But Talifero was still un-
we'd. In the very midst Of the
&dge's most solemn remarks, the
nisoner stopped down and uncon-
|nedly drew forth a spittoon
|m under the trial table and
heed it in convenient position
his own use. The remarks of
q Judge are sadly touching, and
lght to have moved the heart of
ne most hardened criminal-but
OF that of John ralifero. Wheth-
r. or not he will 60 to his death
Maintaining the same apparently
efiant Indifference, remains to be
ben. We give below the remarks
Judge Hoge in passing sentence
,on the prisoner. They contain
mournful eloquence, in convey
be- the sentence Of death to John
,.ifero, and a lesson and a"warn-
e to any who might be disposed
follow in his footsteps. The
adge proceeded as follows:
AT a former day of the present
krm of this Court protracted, pa
lent, anxious investigation termi-
ted in the verdict of an impair
/ Jury. Twelve citizens sworn,
arged and set apart from ell in
lences, whether of prejudice or
vor, after calm and conscientious
|nsideration, have united in a con-
usion which is of terrible import
you.
1t ascertains that on the evening
the 9th Of October, 1878, muir
.r was committed in this county
Berkeley under circumstances of
artling watonness and cruelty. 1t
rther ascertains and declares
hd it is so recorded in this Court
at you, JOHN TALIFERo, are
lily of that murder.
The correctness of this solemn
rdict can not be impeached. Nor
h its memorable consequence be
erted.
ct is, therefore, so far as human
dgment can be conclusive of hui
an events fact judiciaIly estab-