New-York tribune., 1879-03-01
TWO LIFE SENTENCES FOR ARSON.

J..
JUDGE BARRErI'a SPEECH IN sENrENcING BERN
sulN AND IGEEMAN TO IMPRISONMENT FOR
LIFE.
Charles Bernstein and Abraham d. Freeman,
convicted ~ inceniars for hire and whose associate
Perlsteln has already received life yestcr-
tay sentenced hy Judge Barrett to the same PUNISH
ment Imprisonment Tor fe. The prisoners counsel l.
NJ Fox raised several points ms motion I'm arrest OF
Judgment. all Of which, however, were oveTued
when called on Freeman said: 1--WE arc Innocent
md are convicted merely az a matter Of prejudice NY
The Distuct-AIton.y and Fire Marshal, / tod my
ounse before tue trial. and don't know whether be
brought IL out tua ! objected TO he tried together
Bernstein said: am innocent In the case. l was
working hard since was thirteen years, even eiSht
years Perhaus aid something against God. and may
God pardon me FOR il; hut | nevct committed arson
stayed n At lights. These people suspected me OF
arson perhaps for clI>. Of becr might 60 to place
snd take glass sometimes and they might see m" WIN
smother man. God knows the truth. IT," Fire Nlshal
knows a1n innocent But hope your Honor will take
piry for my poor parents leave II first TO vou and
then 10 Cod" All this and tho JUDGES remarks which
followed interrupted by the sohbng OF the female
relatives Of both prisoners.
judge Barrett sad: Il have listened very patiently
owhat you both had SAY. and 80 far rs Freeman i
concerned. THINK the suggestion tna Ee has no had
lair trial 1n cz-ecliog, uDcrtcul one. considering
ne great care and particularly which was ey"rc>ed y
these prisoners. ease tuai was $" ccl :" HS"lul'F
convincing, that 10 Was positively G.h alt 10 cudit tht
Jury at an. or To state the facts or the proofs without
seeming the doors against the pt.>Outls Inc
Jury carefully secluded from any pos>lhle
influence. And Yet with all, with the fdct
that they we've carefully and we'll defended by
shie counsel, thcy talk now about not having
been fairy tried. l think tins very unEtioiu.
For your wives. who have stood FAITHFULLY nv You
through and during yuur tTal, aud who have SuHti'd
~ tie same time, as pubic magistrate iee hound 10
s.V that conviction was moi ony Jd> UHi mat It's
effect Dee o. wholesome one l IDla tJLnitat1t IN
view Of prevalence ~ fire. which have been eiTol SE
ana iu-t, suspected be the work of 1uCtnd les.
must add. Nuur unusually uiFuclOG~ one.
Il uudouucdl} must have bccsUluc very small sum of
money. Nou tOuk the chance not only ui burning the
prop,ry Uut destroy the Ives OF yU>.iu\ over
hundred human beings. men, women ana thiIdttl, poor
tabOTHs peO c the greater part or whom were sleeping
peaceahly their beds, aud who, must say, were
peOu!e mostly own race ana religions iai'h Ana
set these you wiling 10 STAY Tor H., sake 0l pdIly
sum money tulu6 ia after the the poor people OF
inIs city VIII rtrp moro securely a. Hlgni, WITH better
feeling when they retire a. night 10 Icet mai thcy VIII
are the people vii. thank The Fire Marshal,
whom have tIauuCcd, ami LIS lndri ridEaD' assist
ants, PcIly ami Ip~c,. Tho Judgment OF il- t"uIt
IL that you add each Of hc Imprisoned - var" labor
Ia state Prison or tle period oi your natural 'e
NAIlc ti~ was ,ulu- ON, The courtroom naD Al.Cd L
vii men. ~iIHuacT- the u-Id court attendants, VINO
followed The prisoners lu bOt| ont Of tie Couri-ioou
80 that extra precautions were taken bN the oIrt l
charge 10 guard against Ic>,u II- crowd were uu-
able To restrain tucT rugscs on al WtU bad been con
uectcd with the conviction.
II was That the number ~ t~cs and alarms OF
fIe 10 tie southeastern district had diminished since
the uf these prisoners 10 about OucilIu O me
number previous 10 tIclr couin.meAi