South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-05-09
PoindcNtcr sentenced.
BE Aipea's 10 He.wen 10 Attea us Ea,
noceRce OF Malice.

RICHMOND. VA, Nav :. There was
quite dramatic scene ia the uuStme~
courtroom To day when =. T.. PoINDEN-
TER was brought up TO receive his sen
teGce at two Years imprisonment IN the
penitentiary for killing {. &. Curtis on
the 3rd Of March last. The priso.er Was
neatly dressed in a dark Primo, a albert
suit. lie did not appear much deprcss-
ed. and his tall, slender figure and rath-
er handsome features showed TO alvau-
taLe. The clerk ordered PoindeN;er
u stand up. aud asked him il lie had
any thing to SAY why sentence should
not he pronounced Much To- the sur
prise Of every body. he made an address
which had evidently been prepared. tor
he read from "A few sheets of paper which
were covered with luterlinoatIons. Its
delivery affected many in tue courtroom.
and none more visibly than His Honor
Judge Christian.
POiniexler said May it please your
honor If ! bowed my head - this sen :
tencc nud did not protest against the i'm
Justice of this verdict, n We -dict which.
II ra' fled by this community. makes enc
the first victim Of a revo luton in n tra-
that has educated me To believe that
the defence oi woman is one of the first
duties a man owes TO himself and soci.
ETY., sh Iuld be false 10 myself. false TO
every feeling that goes TO form the
strongest conviction of innoceu &c in my
own breast. No one more dCenly de-
plorcS this sad and most unhappy tray
ety and the unfortunate circumstances
that led thereto than myself. Ny feel
lngS will not permit me now, nor have
| the strength, bowed down with sorrow
as my heart now Is, TO 20 into any eN-
tended defence OF my course. | 10 not
claim To toe faullcss. ! am but human
ami NOV d bY those passions with
which God in Ills judgment hath seen
tit TO fill the souls of men. As to the
chtrge that | was moved by malice in
taking the life OF the deceased TO. in
tie name OF Heaven, again plead Not
guilty. Let me say il ~ the face ct
God, and rs | value my souls salvation.
hat 40 desire or wish 20 take his life,
and every feeling which may have had
was crowded from my mind hy the all.
absorbing Thought that my life ,.sG q
stake and the GOd-2ivcn law Of seif.le-
fence alone controlled my aclion. vii
Iin%ly and gladly would Give half my
days 20 return 20 bis scrrowing sis,c.
and friends tie life which lies or my
hands and raise from their hearts the
grief which no less espresso, mine. !
VIII say nothing against any one. !
SIMPLY ask that charity may toe extend,
ed TO me and others which so w.liiu.-
" accord to all. IT, is not PnUuuir
your honor, that the very found .tlon ct
MY lie will be slpwiy f:ettCd aw. = nl
the deep sO-row that must accompany
NE ever TO my grave. This cla-t,se.
urnt is surely sufficient the bitterness
of which no heart can know but my
own. | 10 not complain OF The number
0I years Contained in this vetdict. Sir.
two are as good "a twenty. Suffice i,
to say. If this verdict is ever carried
into effect the sentence YOU are ahou,
TO pronounce is death sentence. thai
crushos cut of my lie all hope, all hap.
piuess, and only leaves me What man,
law caunot take from me. feel no
sense Of guilt or disgrace, hut carry This
verdict into execution. and with my ma.
ture and The thought Of those loved ones
who are 50 dear to me | should he ~
icrly crushed. In closing thank your
Honor from my heart for your sincere
and feeling expression Of sympathy"
At RichmondIVa, the court over:ulod
the motion for new trial in the case Of
JoHN HOINDEXrEE, convicted Of caua.
ing the death of G. G. Curtis, bnt sus-
pended execution Of sentence TO give
counsel time 20 carry the case TO the
Court Of Appeals