Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-31
THE sLATTER-HUssEY HOMICIDE.
Sentence Of slater.


HE MAKES SPEECH AND THROWS HIMSELF
UPON THE MERCY OF THE CoURT-FoUR
WARS IN THE Albany PENITENTIARY.
This morning. IN the Criminal Court Judge
Macarthur, Hope IL. SLATER, who was con
vic.ed Of murder about year since for stab
hing To death with a "ihug" knife Michael
HuSsey, and who having been granted a new
trial. on the 10th instant, entered a plea OF
marSlaughter. which was accepted, was
present for sentence. He occupied a seat
near his counsel, Messrs. Riddle and A. b.
and another lady and several gentlemen.
When the case was called, Mr.. Riddle said
tnat when the plea was accepted it was init
opportunity TO present some testimony as TO
his previous good character and standing in
the community. The question OF guilt was
facts in the case. Inasmuch as usually
men do not suddenly drop from a
path Of virtue to crime, but crime
of immoral. questionable conduct, and as il
was discretionary with the court to fix the
measure of punishment they had thought fit
show what had been bis course of life. He
read one from Arthur j. Turner, of Mobile,
that he (Slatter) lis sober, quiet, temper
ate man. rot addicted 10 gambling. ami the
names of twenty-six other citizens of Mobile
who certify to the same effect; also of seven
prominent citizens of New Orleans asking
that the court give all the len ienry the law
Will allow Among these wer" !GOverhors
Wells and Hehere and COLLECTOR Casey. He
| also referred 10 other aftidavits he had, and
| said that when the case was FIRST i'm the
minds of the public there was an atmosphere
| about the prisoner which was a little dark
! ened. ard in the eur ent newspaper litera-
/ ture of the day, perhaps. the only trtnSac-
| ton which could be seizel upon to blast
| his clients reputation had been made
public. In answer to THIS he real
| TO the effect that he had command Of the bat
TALON in which Slater was an officer an he
never saw in him any other traits Of charac-
or "a AZ Qnhnar inn To. nc
associates; that Thomas Carver, a brother
officer. was accidentally killed by SLATER,
and the latter was fully eXOnerated. The
deleI dent had been eight months in prison,
seven OF them. when the charge of murder
was pending, being spent, according to the
prison rules. in manacles; and he had the
certificate Of the superintendent of the prison
as 10 his uniform good conduct while there,
and his careful observance of the rules. He
had not a word to say about the occurrences
OF the night at the SchuetZen Park, save that
at the time he had been betrayed into aSSO-
Citations entirely foreign to his mode of life:
ard he had now none of that consciousness
of guilt or crime which enhances the punish
ment. lie had now TO submit to the sentence
of the court.
Judge Fisher said that he hal proposed to
submit some counter affidavits, but the par
ties Rad not come III to make them. ami he
would ask a further delay until SATURDAY.
The court declined 10 grant any further
delay and said he would dispose of the case,
and If the prisoner had anything to say he
would hear him.
Slater arose and addressed the court rs
follows: MAY IL please the Court: AS much
as may regret the necessity of my injuring
Mr.. HuSsey. j affirm in your presence, /
afflTn in the prese nce OF that Great Judge,
who is OmniScient. that according to the cir
cUmstanceS surrounding me no other course
of conduct was admissible than that which
unfortunately had to pursue. ] regret it on
many accounts, and with this statement
nothing remains for me except to throw my
self upon the mercy of the court
These remarks were made in a very feeling
manner, and al the close Slater took his
seat.
THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT
Judge Macarthur said that il might be ex-
pected that he should say something. The
statute had invested the court with discre-
tiOnaTyIower as TO the duration ofthApuniSh-
ment-the minimum is two years and maxi
mum eight years. This discretion was not
a feeling or sentiment. but is To be exercised
under a solemn sense of duty. The most diff
hculf and at the same time important duty
of a Judge is to fix the Sentence-a inst pro-
portion of punishment for the offence There
was tendency TO impose the maximum of
punishment on those of nOtoriOusly bad
character and the minimum to those who of
good character, have been betrayed into the
commission of a crime.
The importance of this case was in the fact
that the prisoner had once been found guilty
OF the higher crime of murder by Jury: but
he had set aside this verdict and the question
OF guilt was no longer dependent on proof.
lie was satisfied that in this case there was
wanting the element to make il murder aud
therefore he had accepted the plea. Had he
gone TO trial the testimonials read would
have been admissible, would have been
legal proof and have tended to an acquittal.
invy were not TO overlook the fact that the
defendant is moi criminal by profession AMI
he must be regarded as having had up to the
time OF this most unfortunate act good
character. He could make no reparation to
the deceased and the only reparatiOn was
to the law, and he was glad TO hear that he
willingly submitted himself TO pay the
penalty of the act
Judge Macarthur announced "The sentence
OF the court is that you suffer Imprisonment
at hard labor in the Albany county peni-
tertiary for the period of four years, to date
from March 18TH"
The court was then EadiOurned and the
prisoner returned To the Jail.