Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-10
A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.
carlos cruz sentenced 90 Pay
Pine of 500.

Yesterday the case Of Carlos Cruz.
growing out OF the difficulty at the Fourth
Ward polls on the evening OF the last
city election day, came up before Jna-
tice Austin, when Carlos was held to
answer before the Superior Court He
went at once before Judge Anson Brun-
son. of that tribunal and entered plea
AZ utiltv. All fornaities were waived in
the premises and the Judge proceeded
10 pass sentence. II was great sur
prise to Cruz when the sentence was an
bounced. He naturally took a more
gloomy view of the situation than did
Iia friends who knew that the sympathy
of almost the whole community ire
spectiye Of party, was enlisted on the
side OF the young man.
Before passing the sentence Judge
Brunson delivered himself OF an address
TO Charlie Of which the eloquence, just
ness and paternal tenderness hre the
subject Of most hattering comment. So
thoroughly did these tenderly and
eloauently expressed sentiments meet
the conseniient views Of the citizens on
all bands that it is much TO be regretted
that they were not reduced to writing
verbatim. In this instance the Judge
showed himself thoroughly worthy the
trust reposed in him by the people.
That Justice tempered by mercy which
lhe prince Of poets proclaimed long ago
as the acme Of the execution OF the law
is the quality here shown in rs truest
essence.
In substance, Judge Brunson saidi
Charlie Cruz, in entering here your
plea of guilty to the charge OF
"a, ault with deadly weapon,
YOU Law yourself liable to imprisonment
for a long term of years, together with
line Of $4,000. II thought you were of
that character of man as to deserve this,
or II thought such sentence would do
YOU most good, or again II ! thought the
best interests of our citizens demanded
that YOU should be dealt with, would
infiict on you the full penalty OF the
law. | do not think 80. 1 have known
You for years, since your early youth.
| have known you as holding positions
of trust in this city, both public and
private. In all these years, in all these
many places, l have never known OF
any criminal, vicious or malicious dispo-
sition in you. have known you
steady, faithful, industrious and kindly.
I cannot bnt consider the circumstances
under which your otienss was com
mitted. 1t happened under great ex-
citement at the close OF an election dav
very hotly contested and where the re-
suits where unusually close. There
was everything in the surroundings pro,
vocative of hotly excited feelings. and
what was done was not the outcome
of malice or evil intent, but OF
hot blood and feelings at fever heat.
There Is another consideration which
my mind cannot fail to recognize. The
man has recently lost his wife, leaving
his girls orphans. II he is taken from
them they are left far worse than double
orphans. His nged mother is also de-
pendent on him and without his support
Is left absolutely destitute. ! must take
| the view that it was not Charlie Cruz
who did this deed. He knows himself
what devil was in him, which is the real
| culprit in this case. | think this viii
be lesson he will never forget. In re-
framing from inficting on him the
heavy sentence permitted by the law !
believe that shall now send him back
to his family TO say to himself in their
presence, surrounded by all the sacred
associations of his home, and in the
presence of his God, 81 will for the
future avoid the possibility Of sc
far losing myself again" be.
| lieve he will by bis future good
conduct Justify my hope and trust
Should he not and come again before
this tribunal he will get the full extent
OF the law. But he will not. He will
justify my act.
The sentence to pay tine
of 500 was then imposed. This
imperfect sketch of Judge Brunson's
eloquent and touching address does mol
begin to convey to the mind 1.-THE OF
its beauty and pathos.
So long has Cruz been known in
this city, 80 thoroughly well is he
iked-a man of whom no one
is his enemy-that such result
has been expected by an all but uni.
versal con ,ent. Judge Brunson merely
expressed the feelings of the entire
community, with hardly a dissenting
voice. The community may be said to
have used its most eloquent mouthpiece
in the premises. The Judge is to be fe
lictated in rising above the austert
| functions OF a mere judicial officer to
the high level of a noble humanity
where mercy, the highest attribute Of
| Justice, is enthroned.