Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-11-06
PIERSON'S SENTENCE.
He Is to be Hung on the Goth Of De-
cember, for killing Johnny Behind
the. Rocks ut Vienna.

George Pierson, who was convicted
of murder i'll the first degree for kill
ing John Hall, better known as John
ny Behind-the Rocks, at Vienna, a
few months ago, was sentenced in the
District Court, by Judge Prickett,
last Saturday. Following is the SEN
tence. in full:
George Pierson: You have been
indicted by the grand jury Of Alturas
county for the crime Of murder, the
highest crime known to the law. You
have had the compulsory process of
the court to compel the attendance of
witnesses in your behalf, and every
opportunity has been given you to
show facts that would justify, excuse
or mitigate your acts. You have had
fair and impartial trial before a
jury of your countrymen, in which
y have been aided BY experienced
and able counsel; and after hearing
all that You could offer by way Of de-
Tense or exculpation, that jury, sworn
to try the case and to render verdict
according to the proofs, have been
compelled by their oaths to pronounce
you guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree, and they have returned their
verdict to that effect This is the
time heretofore fixed for pronounclng
Judgment on that verdict. Have YOU
any legal cause to show why the SEN
tence of the law should not be pro-
nounced? The feelings with which
discharge the duty which devolves
upon the court are painful in the ex-
trcme. 1t is a sad and serious thing
to think of the taking away of human
life, and most painfnl to be required
to pronounce the sentence which is to
cut fellow mortal off from society, to
deprive him OF existence, and to send
him to the bar of his Creator; but
when that life is forfeited to the law
for deliberate murder, even the sus-
ceptible heart ceases to beat in SYM
pathy with the criminal. Indeed, it
may truthfully be said, that where
such crime is full established, as it
has been III your case, conviction is
not only received BY the community
without regret, but is welcomed as a
vindication Of justice,
The facts showed that by reason Of
a long course Of immortality and vice
in which YOU have INDUCED, Your
moral sense has become so far blunted
that human life was held in no great
er estimation BY you than that Of a
brute, and your presence here now
under these circumstances is clearly
attributable t. the debasing character
of your associations and your repre-
Henslble course Of life.
The punishment Of death has been
pronounced against the crime Of muir
der, not only BY the law of civilized
nations, but also By that law which
was written by inspiration, under the
unerring wisdom Of tie Most High.
and experiments have proved that no
lesser punishment is adequate to the
protection of human life, or the safety
Of society.
But you have brought these conse-
quences on your own head by your
voluntary illegal acts, and as every
person is necessarily presumed to
know the law, it is only fair to pre-
sumo that you killed the deceased
with reference to the punishment that
the law imposes. Tie fate which has
overtasen you is but the just deserts
Of your own acts. Your present con-
dition is but another proof that 1.-THE
way of the transoressor is hard"
But | will not prolono this scene,
except to advise you to seek diiigent-
" and earnestly for that pardon which
comes alone from God. And as you
are SO soon to take your final leave Ct
this world and be ushercd into the
presence Of the Great Judge, that
you make all due preparations for
that awful event.
The Judgment Of the court and the
sentence Of the law is that you be, BY
the Sheriff of Aitaras county, hanged
by the neck until you are dead, and
may God, whose laws you have broK-
Ell, have more mercy upon yon than
You showed to the man whom you SO
wiekedly deprived Of his life. \ war;
rant will be issued, fixing FRIDAY, the
10Th day Of December next, betw zen
the houis of Il NJ and 3p. M, as the
date and time for the execution Of
this Judgment.