The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-20
PENAL SERVITUDE.
Cunningham and Burton Convicted of
Treason and Get the Extreme
Limit of the Law.

cunningham ana burton convicted o.
Treason and Get the Extreme
Limit of the Law.
More Light Thrown Upon the Con.
duct Of Both Men by the In
formation of an American.
LONDON, May 18.-Judge Hawkins
this morning began summing up the
evidence in the case of Cunningham
and Burton, on trial for treason and
felony ia connection with the recent
dynamite explosions. The Judge
analysed the evidence against Burton
and called attention to the fact that
Burton's statement was not made
under oath, and therefore was en-
titled to very little credence. Ii
there was any truth in the state
ment, said the judge, it "a asst )und-
ing no witnesses were called to
support it. Mr.. Phelps, the new
United States Minister 10 ENGLAND,
was in the court room dressed lin
mourning, and listened closely to the
judges charges. Mr.. Phelps seemed
very much impressed by the stern
language of the judge. The jury re-
turned q verdict of
GUILTY AS CHARGED
The sentence of the court was i'm
prisonment for life at hard labor.
Cunningham maintained his self
composure, but Burton broke down
and sobbed when the verdict was
rendered. When the prisoners we've
asked if they had anything to say
why sentence of law should not be
passed upon them, Cunningham pro-
tested he was innocent. He said he
was willing to accept penal servitude
for life, but they could not touch his
soul. Burton simply declared he
was innocent.
To-day the court room was crowd
ed with people TO hear the judges
charge and see the termination of the
case. Among the notables present
were the Lord Mayor and United
STATES Minister Phelps. There were
many ladies in the room. The
prisoners wore an anxious look, and
followed Judge Hawkins charge
with intense interest. The drift Of
the charge was
CLEARLY AGAINST THE PRISONERS.
The judge began by explaining the
nature of the charge against them,
and expounded the law on the SUBJ
ject. He then analysed the evidence,
calling the jury's attention to the
fact that BurtOn's statement was not
made under oath, and therefore Was
entitled to very little credence. off
there was any truth in the state
ment," said the judge, cit was
astounding that no witness was
called to support it," The judge
drew attention likewise to the fact
that Cunningham and Burton had
frequently been seen together, and
dWelt upon their conduct with the
trunk, what they had told their
ladies concerning it and the very
unsatisfactory information Burton
had since given of his relation thereto.
The jury then retired. They
remained out not longer than fifteen
minutes, and returned with a verdict
of
GUILTY AGAINST BOTH PRISONERS.
The court at once sentenced both
men to penal servitude for life. The
announcement of this sentence was
received by the spectators with
applause, which the court suppressed.
Mr.. Phelps sat beside Justice Hawk
IFS, while he was sentencing
Cunningham and Burton, Justice
Hawkins, in charging the jury, said
the prisoners had been ably defended
and that their trial had been fairly
conducted. The bag and coat fund
at ChaIing Cross railway station had
been identified beyond a question as
the property of Burton. Burton's
statement, in which he admitted
buying two bags at Southampton,
was inconsistent with the defense,
which denied that Burton had been
at Southampton at that time or had
bought the bags. Burton's explana-
ton OF how he had come into pos
Sc ssion OF Cunningham's trunk was
unsatisfactory. 1t was a remarkable
circumstance that the prisoners had
both Informed their respective land
ladies-one, that a friend was coming
for the trunk and the other that he
expected to have the trunk sent for.
The strength Of the case against
Cunningham was
HIS PRESENCE IN THE TOWER
at the time of the explosion, coupled
with the discovery Of detonator in
lis trunk. In sentencing the pris.
oners Justic Hawkins said they
had been convicted Of a crime
bsd. wicked and cruel as had ever
entered the heart Of man. It could
not be too well known that neither
her Majesty the Queen or her advi-
sers cox Id be intimidated by any
such means. The humanity of those
in charge of the prosecution alone
prevented them from indicting the
prisoners for high treason, on couvic-
ton of which their lives would have
been forfeited.
ANOTHER STATEMENT.
LONDON, May 19.-2 a. m.-The
Press Association has issued a two
column statement, by an American,
full details OF the dynamite
piOiS. Du!Cou, ~ 10 SCdtCu, was ouC
Of the centers OF a society called
the "Robert Elnett Associa-
ton, or Sons of Freedom" f ;ch
directed the party of
plotters who were unknown to each
other. Therefore, the party If men
be working in the same plot
at the same place unknown to each
The chief Of the society was
not O'Donovan Rosa, but he was a
man residing in Philadelphia. Bur
ton, alias James Feeney, was long a
bosom friend OF Rosa. While in Bal
Burton was a constant visitor
at the house of a handsome quadroon
woman, named May Smith. Other
were offended at and COM
at this connection, which re-
in the recall Of Burton 20 New
A fortnight later the woman
found dead, having been shot in
\ mysterious manner. In 1880 Bur-
ton q%uarrelled with Rosa and they
HAVE SINCE BEEN BITTER ENEMIES.
Burton founded a society of aveng-
ara and If il believed that Rurtun's