The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-02-19
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1890.
A Fearless Judge.

A Fearless Judge.
Gentlemen Of the jury" said the
Judge, when all the testimony had been
heard, 81 don't think that it is necessary
TO 90 into an arrument concerning this
case. The guilt Of these men is 80 clear
that it would be criminal act to waste
the county's. money in prolonging this
trial Now, prisoners, the best thing yon
can do is to confess your guilt and throw
yourselves upon the mercy of this Court.
Have you any confession to make, Mr.
White Pr
"No, your Honor, except that am in
nocentY
Have you any confession, Mr. MiIler2n
'.None. except to say that had moth
ing to do with the killing of our friend
Peters"
Gan right" said the Judge. a see
that you do not desire any mercy. But
if you expect to escape punishment by
making prolonged fight, let me tell you
that you will meet with nothing but dis
appointment. / am here as the fearless
agent of justice ! have made up my
mind. | am determined that you are
guilty, and nothing on earth can change
re. Gentlemen of the jury, you may
retire and agree upon a verdict"
The jury, without leaving the box. rem
dered verdict of guilty
Gentlemen" said the Judge, ~to ex-
pedite matters and thereby save expense
to the county, / will sentence these men
now The law may be in favor Of delay.
but justice is not The law might permit
the sheriff 20 take these men to Jail ane =
feed them, at the county's expense, until
some distant day of execution should ar
rive, but justice, the bright flower in our
great Judiciary garden Of weeds, looks up
and says: No, Mr.. Sheriff these men
must he hanged forthwith 50 lake
them out, when the death sentence has
been passed, and hang them to the most !
convenient tree. Prisoners at the bar,
stand up and receive your sentence
The prisoners stood up, and just as the I
Judge mad pronounced the last words of /
the sentence, the wife of Mr. Peters ut +
tered shout, and bounding towards the I
door, threw her arms around a man who +
had just entered the court room. \ Wild I
commotion followed.
What's the matter, the Judge de- 1
manded. 'Who is the man that the be-
reaved widow is hugging?7
Il amt no bereaved widow, Judge"
the woman answered, @fur this is my
husband, safe and we'll
Silence, woman, the Judge demand
ed.
~You ought to has better sense than
to interrupt the Court"
~Your Honor" said lawyer, 4 sup
pose my clients can 90 free.
And why so, sir ?H
Can your Honor ask such question
when Mr. Peters stands here before
you?
"Who is Mr. Peters s'
'Your Honor, cannot understand
You" II
"But you will pretty soor. The Mr.
Peters that this Court has taken into con
is dead"
''No. I'm not" exclaimed Mr. Peters.
stepping forward
You may think you are not. Mr.. Pc ,
ers, but you are. Never in my profes- .
'ional career" the Judge continued,
have ever seen facts that 50 clearly
md strongly establish the guilt Of two
men,
But, Judge" pleaded Peters, "that {
'snnot be, for no murder has been COM
nitted."
-Mr- Peters, you have not examined
he evidence closely as I have
Bot here stand in refuiation of an
'videnoe"
Mr.. Peters, you have not read as many
ext books on evidence "a have. The
ase against these prisoners Is perfectly
lear. They swore that they would drown
"a, and your coat was found near the
liver. Is not that stroag evidence p"
Yes, but"
Hold on. The body Of man was
AIKEN from the river and identified as
'our remains"
@But am here to refute the identif-
alton
"Ah, you are here to throw an obstruc-
ion in the way of justice, are you?
lave heard on several occasions that
'ou are man who has very little respect
or the decisions Of court And you
ave come around here to builg pe, and
hat, toe, in the face Of the strongest evil
lence that was ever brought in court
+ justice. Mr.. Sheriff, issue a bench
warrant Of arrest for this man on the
rounds Of contempt of court, and then
'roceed with the hanging This Court, J.
hind as it is to everything but justice
nd the true form of law, is getting tired
{ being browbeaten." ~ L. World.