St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-06-14
THE EXTENT OF THE LAW.

Prentice Tilier, The st Louis Youth Who
was Ambitious TO Become Capitalist on
Short Notice, Given Five Years Seclusion
In Which to Illuminate Over His Folly.
ST. LOUIS. Mo-. May q.
When the case of TilIer, the Express
robber, was called In the Criminal Court
this morning his attorneys pronounced
themselves as ready to proceed. The in
dictment was then read to the prisoner
and he was asked to plead. To the as
constituent of the Court Tiller answered,
without moments hesitation:
"Guilty, Your Honor!"
There was sensation succeeding this,
but presently Judge Van Wagner
turned in his chair, ordered the prisoner
to rise, and sentenced him to five years.
Imprisonment in the Penitentiary. This
is the full penalty of the law for grand
larceny.
Mr.. Mcbride, Tiller's attorney, APP
pealed to the court for clemency.
This, Judge w. c. Jones, representing
the Pacific Express Company, opposed,
stating that there was no cause for
Ieniency. The defendant was in the EN-.
and proved himself unworthy of the con-
fdence reposed in him. In the opinion
of the prosecution the imposition of
heavy sentence was due the employers
and the company. Taking the circum-
stances into consideration Judge Van
Wagner took the latter view of the case.
filler stood before the bar with his
head hung down. The news of his arr
raignment attracted a. crowd from the
audience room of the other couFtsa Sew
eraI ladies had secured positions In the
Circuit Attorneys office in view of the
defendants chair. When the sentence
was imposed in Judge Van Wagoner's
impressive tones, the defendant turned to
go, when his attorney suggested that the
other cases be disposed of to-day. He
reminded the court that the indictmentto
which TiIler pleaded covered the offense
in its entirety, and nolle pros. of the
remaining charges was accordingly sug-
gested, and was granted by the Court.
This disposition of the case
leaves George II. McFadden to
fight his battle single-handed. As
Tiller walked back to the dock he
LIT A CIGAR
which had been given him by his attor-
neY. After pacing the floor for awhile,
he seated himself near the door and pleas
antly greeted reporter. sits all over
now" said he, sand have nothing to
say. | have no complaint whatever to
make. | think have been treated fairly
and justly. | don't know whether my
plea prevents me from testifying in Nc
Fadden's case or not. | expect to go to /
the Penftentiary, and to serve my time.
The sentence of five years will, with good
behavior, expire in three years and nine
months under the three-fourths rule. The
other charges against me have been nolla |
pros'd, as the Indictment to which |
pleaded guilty covered all the amounts
mentioned in the other cases. To-day |
Tiller showed none of that staggering
conduct which it was said characterized |
his movements soon after his arrest. He |
was quite polite and pleasant, and in re. |
turn for q pleasant word spoken by one |
of the Deputy Sheriffs, Tiller returned his /
thanks and gave neat expression to his /
gratitude for the kindly wish. Tillel /
will probably 60 to the Penitentiary Sat.
urday, unless he is detained by Lawyer
Fadden was Jointly sindicted with TilieI /
and awaits hearing on the Indictment
for embezzlement and grand larceny.
4
t'We intend to fight that out when il
comes up, but in the meantime this boy
will go to the Penitentiary"
Y TILLER's CRIME.
1t will be remembered that on Sunday
afternoon, March 9, Prentice Tiller, then
in the employ of the Pacific Express Com
pany, carried away from the Express of.
fee satchel or satchels filed with
money packages. He remained in hiding
until Monday night, when he started for
Canada, passing through Chicago
and going thence to Milwaukee. The re.
wards offered for his arrest amounted
TO nearly $4,000 He was captured
Thursday morning, March 13, at Mill
waukee, and was returned to this city the
next day and held by the company until
Saturday, when he made a desperate eff.
fort to escape from the Lindell Hotel, and
was then jailed TilleT was Jointly in-
dicted with one McFadden, who obtained
q severance. The Express Company re-
covered nearly all the stolen money,
to about SIS, 1000.
i |