The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-09-15
Prisoners Sentenced.

Asa \. Hess OF saltwater was convicted
last week, of burglary. His offense, ac-
cording to the evidence, was in entering
the store of NJ. McIlenry Il Bro, at Still
water, at night, and attempting to blow
open the safe in the office. Four holes
were drilled around the lock, and then
Hess came into the store presumably to
get powder, when he was seen, and posi-
lively identified by young man named
Lemon who was sleeping in the store as II
watchman, previous attempt at robbery
having been made. There were several
hundred dollars in the safe. Hess had
some accomplices but their names are not
known as yet. The sentence imposed by
the court on Monday afternoon was us fol-
lows:
You were convicted by the verdict of a
jury, OF entering the store of Moses Nc
Henry in the nighttime and attempting to
purlon his property. You were convicted
upon the express testimony of one witness
which your evidence did not induce the
jury to disbclieve. He had, so far AS we
can understand, no motive to misrepresent.
lie had an opportunity to see you. He
did see you, and it is fortunate for you
that he did not take a better aim with his
gun than he did. We are satisfied of the
correctness of the verdict, but we are not
satisfied that You have been heretofore
viciously inclined. You allowed your
self to be possessed OF the idea of obtaining
property in that clandestine manner.
You ought to have remembered that you
were endangering the peace and comfort
OF your family, depriving them of their
natural support-all that ought to have
impressed itself upon your mind then;
you see it now, unquestionably While
we might visit upon you severe penalty
of four or five years in the pententiary,
yet we are inclined to think that the
punishment which we will inflict upon you
will be all-sutlicient for the purpose Of
vindcating the law and detcrring you
from committing the like offence again.
Have you anything to say why sentence
should not be pronounced?
II. f. Smith, Esq, counsel for the
prisoner, here said that his client threw
himself entirely on the mercy of the court.
The fact that he has large family,
the fact that he has lived in this commu
nifty all his lifetime, and has never been in
this court under any similar charge, or
under any charge, all these things the
court fully understands and should con-
slider in imposing sentence,
CoURT,-We have fully considered the
case. The sentence of the court is that
you, Asa Y. Hess, pay fine of one hun
dred dollars to the commonwealth, and
the costs of prosecution, that you undergo
Imprisonment by separate or solitary con-
fincmcnt at labor in the Eastern peniten-
tiary for the term of one year and six
months, and that you stand committed
until this sentence is complied with,
James Conner was then called up and
the court imposed his sentence in the fol-
lowing language;
You were convicted by the verdict of II
jury for assault and battery, with the pur-
pose in view of ravishing young girl /;
what have you to say why sentence should
not be pronounced upon you?
PRISONER. honor, Judge, | am
sorry that am here before you for SEN
| tcnce, | have never been before you
before, and hope it is the last time, ana
therefore ! throw myself upon the mercy
of the court, and hope you will give me
| as easy Il sentence As you can. | am not
guilty of the crime, have always tried to
carry myself pretty straight. am q
stranger in the place, have not been here
long, don't think l deserve heavy sen
tence for that, because am not guilty OF
it.
CoURT.-lf you are not guilty yo ar,
the victim OF a set of circumstances thal
seem to establish your guilt with almost
absolute certainty. You We're stranger
In the house Of Mr.. Bidleman on the occa