Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
A Life Sentence.

Irving Lati mer was taken into the Jack.
son court room on the morning of May 10,
to receive his sentence for the murder of
his mother. When the usual question was
asked, "Have you anything TO say why the
sentence OF the court should not be pro
nounced upon youi' he replied very calm
ly: Nothing, thank YOU
The sentencing remarks by Judge Peck
were interrupted once in while by his
emotion. They lasted twenty minutes.
He pointed out the enormity of the otfense
1.-THE greatest in my history OF criminal
reading" said the court. at stands with
out parallel that | can now call TO mind.
Heaven has been bountiful TO you, above
your fellows, Latimer," said the court,
land how you have abused them you know
as well as l." The court then remarked
that any homily he might be disposed TO
give the prisoner would undoubtedly DO lit
tie, if any good, as he had exhibited pecul-
iarities of character curing the trial that
passed all understanding. He said that
with all the knowledge of the world and its
ways he doubted that the prisoner could
realize the life that would now open to him
in the prison. The court then sentenced
Latimer TO 'be confined in the state prison
at hard labor, in solitary confinement for
the term of your natural life"
When the sentence ended, the tears were
stealing down the checks of half the people
| i'll the room, but the prisoner never chang
ed from the look he had when he entered
J the room. He began whispering to his
aunt and smiled in his oldfashiOned way.
AT the solicitation of Latimer a reporter
called upon him at the Jail. Having been
friends in former days. Latimcr unbosomed
himself in manner not characteristic win
his action during the trial Greeting the
scribe warmly, he said that he desired to
put himself right in the minds of
his friends The newspapers had told
some atrocious lies about him, but had
done him no particular harm. II did grind
him TO read the lengthy accounts of his lack
of emotion. II am Just as God made me-
said he, land my calm exterior is no indica-
ton of my inner feelings You cannot con
ceive how ! have suffered since my arrest,
although / cannot weep. never could, and
tears would be a great relief to me now.
| have never experienced grief, even in my
younger days. that moved me TO tears;
! still have experienced all the suffering of
a more demonstrative person.
Latimer continued That he could not real
! ize his position-the events of the past three
months appearing 10 him like dream.
! He thought when he was fairly in prison
the horror of the thought of life spent
there would be impressed upon him and
! possibly he might bre k down and weep,
but it was doubtful. He said his trial had
been fairly conducted and he had no com
| plant to make concerning II, but he hoped
| for a new trial; he would GO mad without
| hope. He said he would be glad TO leave
the Jail for the prison, for then he would BE-
! emp Dyed and not have time 10 think, as he
| had at the Jail, where he would not live
! year. when they tell me / am to be de-
| prived of my liberty for life said he, II
smile fer something better to do, and they
! call me heartless | am not; am dazed.
When asked concerning the story told. by
| David Wood, the travelling man, who Said
| he saw Latimer the morning of the murder.
| the prisoner said that is was utterly untrue
and not worthy of consideration. II part
| ing with the reporter he said there need be
no speculation upon his breaking down
when sentence was passed upon him. He
| r0uid break down, but he wouldn't. Talk
of nerve! l have no nerve, and the news
| paper men have not judged me right
| There is not u man of them that can fathom
my emotion. AS between man and man |
have suffered the torrents of the damned
! in this ordeal.n