Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-08-13
SENTENCE OF EDITOR CUTTING.
One Years Imprisonment and a
Fine of 5000.
Extraordinary Scene in the Court
Room.

The Boston Herald has the following special
from EI Paso, giving the proceedings in the
Cutting case on the 7th:
At o'clock in the afternoon guard
marched into Cutting dungeon and informld d
him that he was wanted before tie Judge of
the court which tried him on August s. He
arose AMI went under guard to the court
room, when he was allowed 10 send n messen-
ger for the nul, the court courteously
waiting until the consul came Mr.. Cutting
was ordered to stand up, and the judge then
read long decree, recting the history of tho
case. He announced his opinion that the act
OF Cutting in publishing libtllOus article on
the other side of the river was an offence
again t the law of Chihuahua, aggravated by
the fact that he had previously been ordered
to sign a retraction of the same article in
Mexico. There were other aggravating cir
cumstances, the j dge said, AMI one of the
most highly aggr waiting was an article or
interview in the El Paso EC3Rihg Tribune of
July 10. Cutting had been charged with
the authorship of this article, and
not recogniz ng the right of the
court to question him about it he declined to
answer AMI so it was charged against him
with full effect Cutting did not write a word
of it, nor know that his off hand conversa-
tion was to publ shed. Wheu th3 judge had
finished reading his review he turned to Cut
ting and said in Spanish "The sentence of
the court is that you be punished by impris-
onment as comm N prisoner with hard la
Dor on the public works for the te m of one
year. In addition TO this you shall pay a
fine Of 5000 If you fail to pay this fine, you
shall suff further term at hard labor Oh
the public works for period of 100 days adj
dit,onal. Beside tn you are liable for civil
damages, if Mr. Medina chooses to sue you,
and l add that | hope you will never do such
a crime again"
Cutting he nd this heavy sentence with
calmness, but he was pller thar is natural
with him. When the judge had finished,
Cutting said, pointing to Media: About
the $500. Is that creature to get'any of itF
His tone was !, nd and his voice angry. Con-
sui Brigham in,erposed to stop him
'If he uses insult ng language, said Judge
Zubla, who does not speak English, 81 can
add something to the term OF his sentence
Judge Brigham as ured the court that
neither he nor Cutting meant any disrespect
to it.
"Let us Understand, !" said Consul Brigham,
"just what his is for. 1t is for the pubca-
ton on the other side of an article which is
held to have vitiated reconciliation made
on this siden
This being repeated to the judge he signi-
fed his assent
And this act on the other side" continued
Judge Brigham, twas construct on this side
as contempt of court"
When this was interpreted to the judge he
shook his head and said that there was not
contempt charged.
The judge then asked Mr.. Cutting, through
the interpreter: "Do you still stand
under the protection Of your govern-
mentl"
II am still under the protection of my gov
ernment,' Mr.. Cutting repeated.
"Do you wish to take an appeal to the su-
preme courtF' asked the judge.
~ have no appeal to make" Mr., Cutting
responded quickly, Except an ap-
peal to the government of the United
States.n
"If you should desire to take au appeal"
said Judge Zubia, you have five days IN
which to give notice.
Mr.. Cutting made no reply.
'Do you wish to sign the proceedings Of
this courtN
II sign nothing"
DO you wish to express satisfaction or
dissatisfaction with the sentencem
mo, sir. l have never recognized the iu-
rsdiction of this court, and l do not
recognize the right to imprison mo for one
hour
By the time this was interpreted to the
court and repeated to the clerk, it got down
on the record as follows: Il do not for ono
hour recognize the power of this court" And
this is the way most of the translations are
made