The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-05
A REMARKABLE e1.Ta SENTENCE
Jntse Bencdiei's Ceude nation 81
Mar.l,rer -. Onrr ct ON Eee---a.

JESEe II~ncd4ct.s 6Cuae 1T uAtt1n oG
~ardcrer tile ou~- e.t oar Ecccrd.
One q .t-e most eaa.rlc a@a - t'se
came tirnc oue az l4e >h'r~: 1a5-es that
ever sat upon the i4- ycst.--. ss1e~u was
Arby Benedict. who fa- thirteen ye.--e
49, . justice Ct the supreme co9~t q
New 8eEe7 having been first appoint
ei III 1853 ~ P- z,3eut PlJr,. ard reap
pointed by President bucA.rar. and 81
pointed chief justice = tRe cour- ~
President Lincoln. lie was man Of
great ability AMI learning, strong IN his
prelndices. violent in his passions and
Teleatles. IL nis convictions
There are may anecdotes told ct
Judge Benedict But .he crC~vriug &c;
Of his judicial career was the sentence q
death passed by him upon Il prisoner con
vlctei af murder. which sentence was IS
follows:
Jose Maria Martin. stand up. jose
Maria Martin you have beeu indicted,
tried nnd convicted by jury Of your
countrymen Of the crime Of murder, and
the court IS now about u pass upon You
the dread sentence Of the law. As Il
usual thing. Jose Maria Martin, il Is n
painful duty for the Judge Of a court Of
justice to pronounce Cpop n human DC
ing the sentence of death There j.
something horrible about it, and the
mind of the court naturally revolts from
the performances Of such duty. Hap
ply, however, your case Is relieved Of nD
such unpleasantness, and the court takes
positive delight in sentencing you TO
death.
You are a young man, Jose Maria
Martin, apparently Of good physical con
stitutior and robust health. Ordinarily
you might have looked forward 70 many
years Of life, and the court has no doubt
you have, and have expected to die "a
green old age; but you are about to be
cut off in the consequence OF your own
act. Jose Maria Martin. it is now the
spring time, IL - bttlG while the grass
will be springing uV gree1: IN these beau
tiful valleys, and on these broad rpesas
and mountain sides; fswers win be
blooming, birds singing above your Iowly
heod.
1.-The sentences Of the court is that you
be taken from this place t9 the county
jail; that You there be kept safely ana 20
curely confined IL tie custody OF the sher-
If until the day appointed for your c1ecu-
ton, Be very careful, Mr.. Sheriff, that
he have 10 opportunity to escape, ard
that you have him at the appointed place
at the appointed time; that you be So
kept, Jose Maria Martin, until-Mr.
Clerk, on what day Of the month does
Friday about two weeks from this time
Gomez" March 90, your honor" Very
well-until Friday, the 22d day Of March,
when You viii be taken by the sheriff
from your place Of confinement 10 some
safe and Convenient spot within the
county Chat is in your discretion, Mr..
Sheriff; you axe only confined to the
limits Of the county,, and that You there
be hanged by the neck until you are
dead, au3-thc court was about to add,
Jose Maria Martin, may God have
mercy Ga your soul but the court will
not assume the responsibility Of asking
81 al wt5c Providence to do that which
q jury Of your peers has refused to do.
The Lord couldn't have mercy on your
soul. However, if you have any relig
iCus belief, or are connected with any
religious organization, it might be well
enough for you to send for your priest
or your minister aud get from him
we'll, such consolation IS you can; hU:
the court advises you to place 10 rcb
ance upon anything Of that kind. Mr
! Sheriff, remove the prisoner. ."-Saata Fe
: f11for