Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-02
The threatening Letter to Hon, Fer
nandO Wood.

PROCEEDINGS IN THE CRIMINAL COURT To-
DAY-sBNTENCE OF sAM'L b NUEDocK.
Samuel b. Murdoch, c0nyiets,i a few DAYS
ago of sending Threatening letter to Hon. Fer
nando Wood In June last, was brought into the
Criminal Court, and SIR. ". j.. Miller stated
that he had fled motion for new trial. but
after consultation with the district attorney
and talk with his client he had concluded to
withdraw IL.
Judge Fisher said the understanding was
that the other case assault and battery vita
intent 70 kil) should be stetted, and If the
prisoner behaves well the case will not be
called.
Mr.. Miller referred to the fact that the pris-
Oner had 81 aged mother in New York, and to
the further fact that there had been taken the
evidence, for the other case, of merchants
some of them who had known Murdoch for
years, as to his good character, and he hoped
that the Court would take that evidence inro
consideration, and make the sentence light
Judge Humphreys ito the nrisGnerS Havs
Yen S sn1yth'ng 20 sag, ia addition to what your
cCnnsel sas said?
The Prisoner. No, sir.
Judge Humphreys remarked that the object
OF criminal punishment was especially 20 deter
others from the commission of similar offences;
thereby. 1T light puEishments for high
Cf6 ices are inflicted ii does not an
sWer the ends Of society in defprrin /,
others from the commission of such offences.
There Is a fact always 10 be taken iuto cons d.
Grafton in determining the punishment OF au
Ofense that cruel, unusual punishment Is not
iIhlc'ed in community Of people OF ad-
yaECed civilization. 4 lower or higher de-
gree OF punishment is prescribed by sta
tUte 70 Ofenses, and there are some
asses in which the punishment is left to the
discretion OF the court, and this was one of such
cases. IL was one of class OF cases which
should be punished by Imprisonment in the
pen'tentaTy for from two 70 eight wears for II
lS AKIN to assault and battery with intent 10
Kill. The law has, however, not made IL 20 in
tits country, and IL Is not a felony here. The
common law makes 1t misdemeanGr, and
the punish ment is left to the discretion OF
the court, with the exception that the
impTiSt nment must be in the county iaiI
II Is nott the power OF the court 70 sentence ID
the penitenuary, but it is in the power Of the
pFest Mt organization 70 atiiN to the Jail a mode
TO be r6tted-it is calamity-that there
Should be person who has had the advantages
OF education like this young man, who, il is pre-
snmed, has received instructions, to commit
such ~ crime. that man who is presumed to
have had moral training, to say nothing OF
q hlgher religious training, should attempt
by imposition to eXtOrt money from a Citizen
WHO may be enjoying a high position. The
facts which had been stated by the counsel,
VINO had done his part faithfully In this case,
would have their weight with him. as also the
testimony as TO character. The fact that such
evidence is furnished must lead them to the
conclusion that by some strange iRtatuatiOu
bis mind was misled to the commission of the
crime. He thought it his duty in
this case to afix the punishment al
rot less than three years Imprisonment.
The prisoner was not without the power OF
appeal to the executive. By the Legis-
Iauve enactments kindred cases are punished
10y imprisonment and labor in the peniteu.
tiary from two to eight years. He thought
that the circumstances of the case required a
serious example, and any light punishment
would not have the desired effect. He would
therefore make the sentence three years in the
county Jail.