The daily gazette., 1879-11-29

SERVED Him kIeHT.-Ths sentence
Of Brannon in our Court few days ago,
for an assault upon little girl met with
general approval. 3rannon plead guilty
10 the ofIspse when there was no proba-
bility of his being able to escape, and
the Court imposed the severest punish
msnt the law permitted. This was
terrible blow to the wrong doer; and
should be warning to others, as 1t was
intended to be by the Court. This man
was made an example Of.
There is another crime that our State
has no adequate punishment for. And
1t Is more from neglect We believe than
from any opposition that our Legislature
has not brought it within criminal code
by legal enactment. Pennsylvania did
this some ten or more years ago, and we
think that every parent and honest aud
fair minded brother in Delaware, as
we'll a. all Others who properly appreci-
ate the female character should be ready
now to sanction the passage of such an
act by the Legislature of Delaware.
We know nothing of the facts in this
case. We presume that the Philadel-
phia Judge was as honest in his inten-
tion to make an example of DeGroat as
the Judges of our own County Court
We simply take the case as we find ii
Y.ported through the sentence annexed
below, by Judge Fell and we publish
1t to call the attention of readers Of th'
GAznrTK to 1t, and to the fact that il
our State there is no adequate punish
m4nt for the crime charged upon De
Groat. This is no. only the case |
Delaware but it is SO in many othe
States. Hence we find, as in the case i
Charleston, S. c., we published yester
day, women taking the law in their ow
hands and avenging their own wrong
We do not know that we express Il
views Of all persons. There have been
great many gentlemen of good sense al
sound morality who have found as tht
believe strong arguments to bear o
the course shat has heretofore been ft
lowed with regard to the crime of d
Groat. The sentence Of Judge Fe
imposed yesterday, is a. follows:
In the Quarter Sessions. Judge Fell pl
siding, George De Groat, convicted Of b
trayiug Lena Stulz, was called up for Sc
tence. Judge Fell asked him II he h
anything To say why the sentence shou
not be P..sed upon him, 10 which he
The Judge then referred to the fact tn
he had pleaded guilty to the indictmel
and added, Your plea OF guilty carr
confession made through penitence
promoted by an honorable Impulse to a
NIT the truth though 1t should be
against you. ltwas wrung from you
the overwhelming evidence Of yo
guilt, and only mad when you had /,
all hope that an impartial jury of .yo
own selection would place any confideI
In your own denial. A careful and d
passionate consideration Of your case
closes nothing to appeal 10 the comp
sionate consideration of Judge. Y
sought and won the love Of Lena stulz q
obtained her promise to become your vi
In that relation you were bound by ev,
consideration OF duty and ofmanly hoI
70 cherish and protect her. You turf
from q shield 10 a dagger. You used
sacred confidence OF that relation TO Il
her astray. In calmness and deliberat
you consummated the ruin you had CO
menced by deserting her. and when 1t
In your power TO save her you left her
struggle alone with sorrow, and TO b
thr Jngh life the shame of your guilt.
II this were not enough, you sought
cast upon her the the deepest dishu
and darkest shade by denying the pate
tty OF her unborn child. To this wei
of moral and guilt you have added
crime OF wilful and deliberate perJr
The sentence which deem 1t my dut
pass upon you Is that to which my poy
~ the matter is limited by the law.
sentence of the Court is that you pay
costs OF prosecution, that you pay iii
2,OO0, and that you undergo an impri
ment In separate and solitary conf
Ment at labor in the Penitentfary fol
Aastern District of Pennsylvania fol
Psrioo OF two years and eleven mont