Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 18??-????, 1889-06-01


many years, if ever. excited the same degree
Of interest among the members Of the bar
and multitude of spectators as the fnal
chapter in the famous robbery case. When
the four convicted Eellons. Charles J. Lewis,
Decatur Tasker. Jackson Porter Sullivan and
Marshall Sullivan we're brought into court,
aifer the first rustic and commotion caused
by everybody trying TO get better position
for hearing and observing. a breathless and
almost painful silence prevailed.
As the four unfortunate conyicts sat with
their backs TO the railing and their faces to-
ward the judges stand, a marked change was
quite observable in their demeanor aud APP
pearance. Instead of defiant attitude aud
a kind of looking-out-of countenance gaze,
they all wors subdued expression, and sp
parently realized the gravity of their situa-
ton in view Of the pending just and right
eous retributiou of the law that they had
been found guilty of so fiendishIy violating
Hopeless. helpless, wretched, as all four felt
they were in the presence of the adminis;ra-
tors and executors Of the offended law, there
was no palliating excuse for the heinous
crime they had committed TO which they
could look Condemned alike by the law
and their own eonsciences, they were the
pictures of despair. No wonder that when
asked ifthey had anything to say why sent
ence shonld not be passed upon them, they
hesitated to respond at first. At last Charles
J. Lewis. the chieftain Of the doomed band.
who bad assumed such a daring and don't
care accent kind of expression during the
whole of the trial, slowly and nervously
arose, and meekly and piteously said they
had not been awarded a lair ami impartial
trial. thai the whole community was preju-
diced against them and that some officers of
what they had said ever since their arrest.
lie was followed by Decatur Tasker. who
siameringly gave utterance TO few words
of similar import. Only one of the Sulii-
vans, Jackson Porter. the dude of the gang,
as one of the Commonwealth counsel char
acterized him. in an inaudibie tone Of voice
uttered few words.
While sympathizing with the deplOrable
condition Of the iaiscreants, there was not
one in the Court House among the vast au-
dience, that did not rejoic over their convic-
ton, and feel 20 thank God that we had laws
Tor the punishment of evil-doers, and courts
and officers 10 enforce them. Such were the
rs~oRTng ana tiet.ish circumstances OF the
robbery, involving the brutal treatment of a
venerable citizen, that could vote of thanks
been taken to court, officers. jury, and the
intrepid Kyle and his arrestiDg party, il
would have been adopted with laundering
response that would have shaken the old
Court House from top 10 bottom.
As Judge Baer proceeded to perform the
solemn duty Of passing sentence upon them
the vast audience was stilled into almost
breathless silence and aner each cuiPrit
in answer to bis name, arose and heard the
sentence and resumed his seat there was an
express;on of satisfaction TO be witnessed all
over the courtroom.
As the last act Of the drama, rather TRACE
DIV. was being performed and the curtain fell
upon the sickening details ofthe trial, by the
Sheriff leading the wretched criminals out
there was an evident sign of relief express
ed by all present.
But once out Of the place where the coils
ofthe law we're successful in binding them,
they seemed to regain little of their old
bravadc character, as was noted by the crowd
that formed the lane through which they
marched into the Jail, one of the felons say
ing, Get out of the way, you d-d sons ol
BIS you.