The Dillon tribune., 1885-05-23

DYSAMlTERS DOOMED.
Cunningham and Burton Sentenced tn Life
Servitu(le.

cunningham and Burton sentenced tO Life
Servitutle.
a London dispatch of May 18th says: {:
Judge Hawkins this morning began sum. t
ming up the evidence in the case Of Gun +
ningham and Burton, on trial for treason 3
and felony in connection with the recent
dynamite explosions. The judge analysed
the evidence against Burton and called at +;
tention to the fact that Burton's statement /,
was not made under oath, and therefore
was entitled to very little credence. I'll
there was any truth in the statement, said
the judge, it was astounding no Witnesses
were called to support it. Mr.. Phelps, the
new United States Minister to England,
was in the court room dressed in mourn.
ing, and listened closely to the judges
charges. Mr.. Phelps seemed very much
impressed by the stern language Of the
judge. The jury returned a; verdict of
guilty as charged. The sentence Of the
court was imprisonment for life at hard
labor. Cunningham maintained his self
composure, but Burton broke down and
sobbed when the verdict was rendered.
When the prisoners were asked if they had
anything to say why sentence of the law
should not be passed upon them, Cunning.
ham protested he was innocent. He said
he was willing to accept penal servitude
Tor life, but that they could not touch his
soul. Burton simply declared he was in
t nocent
To-day the court room was crowded with
people to hear the judges charge and sec
+. the termination Of the case. Among the
i notables present were the Lord Mayor and
n the United States Minister Phelps. There
), were many ladies in the room. The pris-
|. oners wore an anxious look, and followed
y Judge Hawkins charge with intense inter.
). est. The drift Of the charge was clearly
# against the prisoners.
e The judge began by explaining the ma
a ture of the charge against them, and ex'
\. pounded the law on the subject. He then
n analyzed the evidence, calling the jury's
/. attention to the fact that Burton's state
S. ment was not made under oath, and there
IN fore was entitled to very little crcdence
Is "If there was any truth in The statement,
ot said the Judge, 'it was astonishing that ~
~ witness was called 10 support it." Th
of Judge drew attention, likewis.: 10 the fac
v, that Cunningham and Burton had fire
,g quently been seen together, and dwelt up
We on their conduct with the trunk, what the,
~ had told their landladies concerning it an
cy the very unsatisfactory information Burto
had since given of his relation thereto
The jury then retired. They RENAME
out not longer than fifteen minutes, and re
turned with verdict Of guilty again'
m both prisoners. The court at once sentent
ed ed both men to penal servitude for lit
I The announcement OF this sentence ";
EN- received by the spectators with applaus
th- which the court suppressed. Mr.. PhelI
nd sat beside Justice Hawkins, while he We
nd sentencing Cunningham and Burton. Ju
its tice Hawkins, in charging the jury, sal
ere the prisoners had been ably defended an
ev. that their trial had been fairly conducte
I'd, The bag and coat found at Charing Cro'
ge railway station had been identified beyo,l
zen = question as the property of Burton. Blu
ILL., toms statement, in which he admitted bu,
lad ing two bags at Southampton, was inco'
nd sistent with the defense, which denie
WI that Burton had been at Southampton,
les that time or had bought the bags. Burton
he explanation of how he had come inso po
bly, session of Cunningiams trunk was VI
satisfactory. 1t was a remarkable circun
stance that the prisoners had both .niorme
their respective landladies one, that
friend was coming for the trunk, and tt
vs.: other that he expected to have the trun
to sent for. The strength OF the case again
,m Cunningham was his presence in the tow'
mt. at the time of the explosion, coupled wit
tn a detonator in his trunk. In scntenCin
ed the prisoners Justice Hawkins said the
lite had been convicted OF crime as ba
,ol. wicked and cruel rs had ever entered tt
tle- heart of man. 1t could not be too we
no known that neither her Majesty the Quee
ess or her advisers could be intimidated t
lso any such means. The humanity OF tho
act in charge of the prosecution alone proven
md ed them from indicting the prisoners fl
ms high treason, on conviction of which the
no, lives would have been forfeited.
alf. -~,~~~~~~~~-~~ ~o-~~~~~
ur- The Treasury Department on the co
cen purchased 6o,6oo ounces OF silver bullie
hat for delivery at the New Orleans and Phi