Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-12
A solrmn scene.
Sentence OF ienox TO be Hanged
A Crowded Courtroom and Deep
Emotion-Tne Awfui Doom Pro-
nounced by Judge Smith.

At ten O'Clock yesterday the court.
room Of Judge II. NJ. Smith, was crowd.
ed with large number Of persons to
listen to the final action OF the Court in
the matter Of John Lenox, convicted Of
the crime Of murder, committed at New
hall
After the Judge took his seat the
Sheriff brought in the prisoner. who
appeared cool and unconcerned, and the
least interested Of the large audience;
wbilo his father. mother, brother and
sisters sat inside the railing weeping
bitterly.
The Judge read the law defining the
crime OF murder aud the punishment
prescribed for that crime. He then
asked the prisoner II he had anything to
say why the sentence of the Court
should not bs pronounced upon him, to
which he replied;
II don't know Of anything that /
could say that would help me now, ex-
cept in my own heart don't feel guilty
Of murder. never intended to kill the
man; IL was not my intention to kill
him. Ii had maliciously and wilfully
killed man when | was sober, would
not say ono word. Men have testified
that / wasn't so drunk but that knew
what was doing. | didn't think they
would testify t. that. One man can't
tell the effect OF whisky on another.
And when the man testified In regard to
the man cutting me with q knife, he
either didn't tell what he saw, or he
didn't see II at all. The man cut me
with the knifo before this man saw 1t,
am satisfied. What he saw was the man
retreating from me with the knife and
| following him up. 1t don't stand to
roason. think, your Honor. that man
in u corner, and another man ready to
strike him with knife in his hand,
would stand there tanely and submit.
think he would have used that knife
upon me but for Interference. Of course.
from appearances, and my brain crazed
and maddened with drink, what
could do under the circumstances No
man ever saw me in my sober moments
when | wanted to hunt any man, or even
wanted to pi,k quarrel with q man.
1t was whisky that did it, not me.
never held such malice toward any man
that | wanted to kill him. And II it
would be the last words | ever spoke on
earth, would say, II can't say that l
feel guilty Of the crime"
AT the conclusion of the prisoners re-
,,,a Il, 4. tba I,,d1a pronnupcad the fnilow.
ing sentence:
The sentence Of this Court Is THAT
you be taken back to jail from whence
you came and there remain in charge of
the Sheriff until such day as the Court
may hereafter determine upon, when
you shall be taken by the Sheriff into
the jail yard of the county Jail and be
hung by the neck until you are dead.
and may God have mercy on your soul. :"
Colontl Godfrey, MS counsel for the
condemned man then arose and said:
MAY il please your honor, the prisoner
now wishes to withdraw the plea of
guilty and enter plea Of not guilty,
and we make this motion"
District Attorney White at once arose
and opposed the rotion. which was de-
nleu, anu cACeptious tahch ny Noiohoi
Godfrey The District Attorney then
desired the Court to set the day of exc
cution, which was then made on the 3lst
day of October next, between the hours
of IL NJ. and 4 P. M. of that day. The
prisoner was then granted an interview
with his family in the adjoining room,
nfter which he was taken in irons to the
Jail. The prisoner all the while seemed
little concerned, whilo his family was
plunged in the deepest grief, that
touched the hearts Of all beholders. 1t
is to be hoped that the scene of yester-
day may be of some future service in
preventing young men from indulging in
such brutal and desperate brawls as the
prisoner was won't to engage in. There
are other young men in this city who
can take warning by the conviction of
the three murderers now in Jail under
sentence of death.