The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-11-15
Court Scene.


LoUIsvILLE, November ll.-The ver-
dict OF guilty was sadly received by tho
Ku.klux prisoners SnOOt, Anan and Mef-
lerd. When convicted, they were pre-
sented before Judge Emmons to receive
their final sentence. The Judge first ad-
dressed himself to SmOOt, lie said per-
sonally that he did not consider him do.
graded man; lie did not believe him to
be u thief; he saw nothing in his charac.
ter that would cause him to believe that
any mans property would not be safely
placed in his reach, but he had been car
ried away by local feelings which caused
u combination Of purpose to commit u
high crime; he had perhaps really no evil
IN his heart, but strange circumstances
surrounding the feeling in the local
community caused him to join in com.
mon purpose and he had committed one
Of the most dangerous Of crimes. So far
a. the court was aware he had never
wronged any one in the ordinary walks
Of life.
After making few remarks to SmOOt,
whom he sentenced for five years, Judge
EmmOns turned to John Anan and told
him to consider well what he had said to
Smoot. lie regretted that without viola.
tion his public duty he could not i'm.
pose lighter sentence upon him, but he
was compelled to sentence him for not
less than three years imprisonment in the
penitentiary.
Judge EmmOns next addressed himself
to George Metlert. lie said that in
his case he should take into Considern.
ton the accident that had befallen him,
and the fact that he had been shot and
badly wounded, and was still suffering
from his wounds. The jury believed him
guilty, but IN less degree than the 9th
ers, and recommended leniency upon his
part lie would take into consideration
the accidents which occurred to him, and
his records irrespective Of the rccommen,
dation Of the Jury. lie would take
into consideration the evaporation
and excitement by his wounds,
and was therefore not prepared just
then to sentence him. lie wished
to make further inquiry into his life since
his arrest. lie therefore suspended his
sentence for an indefinite period. II would
not be long before the sentence would be
given, but the time would be deducted
from the period Of his sentence.
The counsel for the defense asked that
the Court allow the prisoners to be sent
to some other Penitentiary outside OF
Kentucky for various personal reasons
affecting the family and relatives Of the
sentenced parties.
The Court, however, said II knew moth.
ing Of these reasons and could not send
them TO any other prison. The counts on
which the prisoners were convicted charge
them with cOnspiring to injure Willis
Russell while engaged In the lawful
discharge Of his duty as II United States
officer, and endeavOring to execute this
conspiracy by pursuing him with armed
bands Of men with the purpose Of killing
him.
After the sentence the friends Of The
prisoners gathered around and shook
hands with them, but few words passing
between them. Judge Emmons words to
Smoot, Anon and MeOert seemed to have
some effect upon them, and were cvi.
IDENTIFY grAciously y received.
SmOot and Anan will be taken within a
few days TO Frankfort, there TO serve out
their sentences. A. W. Hall, the other
Ku.Klux, indicted with the aforesaid,
was found not guilty Of conspiracy.