Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-02-17
From the Daily Of the 18th.
SENTENCED.

rom the Laly OF ue i3tn
SENTENCED.
In the case of the State OF Iowa
against John Chancey for the murder
of John Shea, the jury found the de-
PENDANT guilty Of murder in the sec.
ond degree. The Defendants attorney
filed motion for new trial on yes.
tsrday evening, which after argument,
was ovcrruled this morning by the
court.
The time for which judgement was
set having arrived, Judge Knapp ad-
dressed tho prisoner substantially as
follows:
"John Chancey-young man stand
up for . moment. 1t is made my duty
to inform you that you have been in.
dicted for killing one John Shea, and
to this charge you have plead mot
guilty, but the jury say You are guilty
of murder in the second degree, and l
ask you if You have any legal cause to
show why judgement should not be
pronounced against you. II you have
anything to say by yourself or your
counsel, you can do So"
Chancev-"I have nothing to say,
only that what done was done to
save another mans life, and when he
was killed it was done to save my own
life."
Judge Knapp-"How old are you?"
Chancey-aTwenty.two."
Judge Knapp-"Is that your full age
now 2"
Chancey-"Yes, SIR
Judge Knspp-"I would be glad II
/ was at liberty not to commit you to
prison, but am not at liberty, and l
don't think 1t would be right II ! had
tho power to do so. In long prac-
tice in defense of criminals, / find that
1t is very much more common with
the public, and with the court, and
with all interested, to feel more sympa-
thy for the living than for the dead 80
that there is very little danger of per-
sons being injured by any feeling in
the court or by those jurors who cit to
judge his case.
ain this case have no doubt but
what there has been perhaps more feel.
ing for you than for the deceased and
1t may DO matter that will reconcile
you more to the judgment, and to
the punishment I will affix to your
crime, to reflect that while all that the
law can do for you, is to deprive
You of your liberty, and Of going
where you please, and as you like, and
enjoying your liberty, and spending
your time for your own qualifications,
the fact 10 that you deprived John
Shea Of his life, while in the enjoy.
ment of family relations, his wife and
children-not only this but his life and
hope for the future, which you still
possess. You should think Of all these
things that have passed with contri.
ton, and repentance, and seek of that
God whose law You have broken, that
pardon and forgiveness he ia able to
give, while your life remains.
"The only punishment which the
law inflicts on you Is confinement in
the penitentiary and you are kept IN
the same manner with the red handed
murderer who has been found guilty
of murder In the first degree. YOU
are kept and cared for and clothed and
fed and doctored just the same. Sust
| 10 the treatment which is inflicted BY
the law, and the view the Legislature
had in reference to the punishment O.
crime.
"While it is in my power to send yer
to the States Prison for life, and no
less than ten years, they have decided
that no life can be taken, and nothing
more than confinement in the peniten
tiary can be inflicted, at hard labor
Your age is twenty-five years; ter
moro will be thirty two, and viii
add ten years more. I will adjudg,
you are TO be imprisoned for twent,
years from the date of this cen
tence.
"The language Of the law is impris
onment and that means at hard labor
l will adjudge ron to be imprisoned
tf0th the diAeg 'tY vni6 sentence
| q The prisoner here sinks down OF
his chair covering bis face with hi
hands, burst into tears1.
The Judge continued-"That 10 thu
law examining the Code, will fiji
your term at twenty years hard labo,
in the penitentiary."
The prisoner was very much affect.
ed, and crying aloud was conducted
by Sheriff Spillman out Of the court
room.