Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-12-22
FOR LIFE.
William Mover Receives Ills Sentence
 To- Day.
Jrdge sheldon Consigns Mover 'o Yuma for Life for the Murder of Lew.
 The Sentence.

At 10 a. m. on Thursday the district
 court room was crowded tO its fullest
 capacity by those anxious to hear the
 first one of the batch of Levy's mur- derers sentenced. There was a little de- lay occasioned by the disposal of several
 other suits, when the court called upon
 the prisoner to stand up.
 He arose with that perfect calmness and self-control that has ever marked his actions, and remained motionless while the Judge pronounced his solemn doom. The color did not even change in his face. His emotions were well concealed bv. the exercise of that power ful self-control with which the man IS gifted.
 After Sheriff Paul led him out, for moment he appeared to walk with that abandon which charscterizes e man whose last hopes are gone. But 1t was only for moment, if 1t was at all, for he strRightened and walked to bis cell without uttering word.
 The vigorous Anglo-Sax Of the Judge appeared to have a greater effect on the audience than on the prisoner, as the plsin unvarnished truths fell on their ears, and they realized that the courts ID their energetic and effective administration of the law make 1t in- deed terror to evil dOers and a protec- tion to lives and homes.
 THE SENTENCE
 Judge Sheldon: Mover, stand up. You were indicted by the grand jury at the October term of 1882 of this court for the crime of murder; you were tried by a petit jury on the 10th inst, such trial occupying some four days, and after careful consideration of the testimony the jury rendered verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree. Have you anything to say now or any legal cause to show why the judgment of the court should not be pronounced upon you?
 Mover: No, sir.
 Judge Sheldon: Mover, the cheapest thing ID thls Territory to-day is human life, and as long as men of your charac- ter are allowed to go unrestrained and unpunished 1t will be held at its present low estimate. The jury, in rendering their verdict, have coupled it with d to mercy, but in rem dering a verdict of murder Tn the second degree, the court Is of the opinion that they have extended 10 you all the mercy to which you are entitled under the law or from the facts developed in the evil | dence.
 The crime for which you were indicted | and convicted IS one of the gravest l known to the law, and yet from the | frequency with which 1t IS committed in l 1t might be inferred that 1t was 1 a trlfiing offense which could be perpe- ! trated with impunlty and immunity l from punishment
 It is a misnOmer, however, in this case | to call 1t murder, and attaches to 1t l dignity to which 1t Is not entitled. IL ! was a cold-b.OOded, cOwardiy. assassina- l tiOn, and in the manner of its concep- l ton and execution would have done | credit to a Russian Nihilist or an Apa- | che Indian. It is R miscOnceptiOn of 1 the legal definition Of the word to term | you murderer. You are dastardly | assassin in the eyes Of the law, | and if there were a provision | in the etatutes of this Territory regard ! ing assassination you should have been | indicted and tried for that crime.
 The court believes that It would be | a miscarriage of justice and a trihing . with the law to extend to you any and the court is of the further { opinion that the highest penalty which | the law imposes is not an adequate | punishment for the outrageous crime of | which you stand convicted.
 The sentence of the court is that you l be confined in the Territorial prison at | Yuma for the period of your natural | life.
 Mr. Sheriff, remove the prisoner.