The record-union., 1891-07-29
ALIENS ASSAILANHS.
Gordon is Sentenced to Twelve Years
at Folsom.
A Motion to Reduce Smiths Bail is
Refused-Casey Held as Wit
ness Under Bonds.

Milton Halligan, alias Harry Gordon,
the confessed garroter who assisted in
the assault and robbery of Robert Allen,
appeared before Superior Judge Van
Fleet yesterday for sentence.
The young man looked as handsome as
ever, and when asked If he had any
thing to say why Judgment should not be
pronounced upon him, made quite little
speech to the court. He referred to the
fact that he was only 10 years of age, and
said he could hardly be considered a
hardened criminal. He said he had
fallen into bad company and was led into
crime by them. He appealed to the Judge
not to confine him in the penitentiary for
an excessive term, as he was anxious to
reform, and was afraid that prolonged
association with hardened criminals, such
as are confined in the penitentiaries,
would do him more harm than good.
SOME GOOD ADVICE.
Judge Van Fleet lectured the young
man severely, and also gave him some
very good advice; He said he recognized
the fact that Gordon was a young man of
unusual intelligence, and of a kind not
often found among the criminal classes.
He was sorry to see him in such q pre-
dicament. Still, he had participated in
one of the most heinous crimes known to
the law, and the court could, in its dis
cretion, impose life sentence. The ex-
treme limit would be imposed, said the
Judge, notwithstanding the prisoners
| youth, had 1t not been that he had shown
disposition to do all in his power to
| assist in bringing to justice others who
had been implicated in the crime. The
court said that he had been assured that
~
don, yet courts do take into considera-
ton such action as had marked Gordon's
| course since his arrest, and he would do
likewise.
In reference to Gordon's fear of con-
| tamination, Judge Van Fleet said that
would lie principally with the prisoner
himself. If he conducted himself prop
erly while in prison and showed a dispo-
sition to hold himself aloof from associa-
ton with old and known criminals, the
officers of the institution would meet him
more than half way in the endeavor The
Judge admonished the prisoner to pursue
this course of conduct If he were sincere
in his desire to escape contamination.
TWELVE YEARS.
The Judge then stopped and glanced at
his memorandum book for moment,
while Gordon watched him anxiously.
1.-The sentence OF the court is" resumed
the Judge, that you be confined in the
State Prison at San Quentin for period
of twelve years."
Gordon's face flushed deeply. TWAS
heavier sentence than he had expected
Recovering himself quickly, however, he
arose and asked the court to send him to
Folsom rather than San Quentin.
Judge Van Fleet said he had no obiec-
ton and accordingly changed the order.
Gordon was then escorted out of the
courtroom and back to the County Jail
by q Deputy Sheriff. He will be taken to
Folsom to-day.
SMITHS BAIL.
Attorney Johnson, who represents J.
ID. Smith, charged with completely in the
robbery of Allen, appeared before Judge
Catlin yesterday, and after stating that
Smith could not furnish $4,000 bonds, as
now required, asked that the amount be
reduced.
Judge Catlin denied the motion, saying
that he did not feel justified in reducing
the bail, in view of the evidence which
had been adduced, and because of the
further fact that Smith might vet be
charged with murder.
The attorney argued that If Allen
should die now information could be
issued and Smith arrested thereon, but
Judge Catlin said he would grant no re-
duction then, though he would hear the
application more fully to-day. Smiths
next trial was set for October 26th
Judge Catlin also made an order that
McKaig, alias Casey, be held as a wit
ness In the Smith trial, under &, 500 bonds.