The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-02-25
A REMARKABLE SENTENCE.
A Judge Who Took Belieht in Pro.
houncing Death U p0H Prisoner.

houncing Death Upon s Prisoner.
One of the most eccentric and a
the same time one of the a3aaest Judge
that ever sat upon the far western
bench was Kirby Benedict, who, fo
thirteen years, was q Justice Of thu
supreme court of New Mexico, kav>
ing been first appointed in 1858 by
President Pierce and reappointed by
President Buchanan, and appointe1
chief justice OF the court by President
Lincoln. He was a man of great
ability and learning, strong in his
prejudices, violent in his passions and
relen less in his convictions.
There are many anecdotes told OF
Judge Benedict But the browning
act of his judicial career, was the
sentence of death passed by him upon
a prisoner convicted of murder,
which sentence was as follows:
Jose Maria Martin stand nm.
Jose Maria Martin you have been
indicted, tried and convicted by jury
OF your countrymen of the crime of
murder, and the court is now about
to pass upon you the dread sentence
of the law. AS usual thing, Jose
Maria Martin, it is painful duty
for Judge Of the court of justice to
pronounce upon human being tine
sentence of death. There is some>
thing horrible about it, and the mind
of the court naturally revolts from
the performance OF such duty.
Happily, however, your case is re.
lieveG of all such unpleasantness, and
the court takes positive delight in
sentencing you to death.
You are young man, Jose Maria,
apparently OF good physical constilue
Sion and robust health. Ordinarily
YOU mig hit have looked forward to
many years Of life, and the court has
no doubt you have, and have expect
ed to die at a green old age but you
re about to be cut of as the conse.
quence of your own act. Jose Maria
Mar'in, it is NOW in spring time: in
little while the grass will be sprin
Jug up in these beautiful valleys, AMI
IN these broad mes 5 and mountai.
sides howers will he blooning, ami
The birds singing above your lowh
head
THE sentence of the court is thai
you he 'aken iIom this place to the
county Jail, that you there be kept
safely and securely confined in the
custody Of the sheriff until the day
appointed Tor you execution. Be
very careful Mr.. Sheriff, that he has
no opportunity to escape, and that
you haze him at the apo nted place
at the appointed time, and that you
lie 20 kept Jose Maria Martin, until
Mr.. Clarke on what day of the
month does Friday about t~o weeks
from this Gomez "March %, your
honnI." every weil-until Friday,
the 22d of March. when you will be
taken from you place of confinement
to some safe and convenient spot
within the county Chat is in your
discretion. Mr.. Sheriff; you are only
confined to the limits OF the county,,
and that you be hanged by the neck
until you are dead, and-the court
was about to add, jose Maria Martin,
may God have mercy on your soul,
but the court will not assume the re.
sponsibility of asking an all-wise
providence to do that which jury of
your people have refused tc do. The
Lord couldn't have mercy on your
soul. However, if you have any res
ligious belief, or are connected with
any religious organization, it might
be well enough Tor you to send for
your priest or your minister and get
from him-well, such consolation as
you can; but the court advises you to
place no reliance upon anything of
that kind. Dir. Sheriff, remove the
prisoner-"-Santa Re letter in Pitts,
burg Leader.