The Jersey City news., 1891-12-11

nrsb oHence, cOutrlClon Tor 1t ana tie
sire to submit to punishment. / shall
always be in favor of some clemeucy uu-
der like conditions unless circumstances
OF some other nature overbalance hese
considerations.
In the other cases where sentence was
imposed in State Prison the defendants
were defiant. unresponsive TO the demands
of justice. They have lifted up their
brazen crimes in the face of the law, have
asked for no quarter, not even.
IN many cases. deigning to deny
their outrageous criminal attack
upon the exercise of a free elective fran
chise; they have sullenly and sto!idly re-
ce1ved the punishment which they de-
served. and then with their supporters
have assailed the Court firm enough to-
meet out proper justice to them.
JUDGE HoFFMAN's LACK OF PERCEPTION.
"Judee Hoffman does not seem 10 have
distinguished between these different
classes aud against my earnest and per-
severing persuasons voted for sentence
which he feels requires an explanation.
he las explained to his satisfaction, |
presume. hope 1t satisfies him. and IL
he has lost anything In public esteem by
his vote on that or any other sentence, /
hope 1t will lie satisfactory to the public
and fully rehabilitate him.
1wenty-two others of ne convicted de-
fendants have been sentenced to State
Prison for eighteen months, have sued
out q writ of error and given bail and ale
at liberty pending the determination of
their cases in the Supreme Court of
Errors and Appeals
-Four others of the convicted defend
ants, Kelly, NugeDt Howe and Sammons,
were, on third of Decem ber instant, SEN
fenced by divied Court to imprisonment
at the penitentiary at Snake Hill for nine
months.
Il was in favor of eighteen months in
State Prison for them. as others in like
circumstances had been given that term,
and because they deserved ii, in my opiu-
ion. My associate voted for nine mouths
in the Penitentiary at Snake Hill. aud l
his opinion they deserved no more.
Il cannot conceive upon what other
basis he could found his sentence. MY
other associate voting with him this term
OF nine months became the sentence and
| suppose upon their good faith and best
judgment. So in the case of the four
defendants today.
ToDAY's SENTENCES.
In regard to the sentences today,
will say word eXtemporarily in relation
to newspaper CRITICISMS. I never ex-
pected when these election cases and
forced upon this court from
time TO time would be free from criticism
by the press. They may not look At
things as we do; they may look at them
from di fftrent point of view. There are
things which occur to us in our Chambers
press, and of which they have
no means of judging except
by inference, bnt whenever my action is
subject to criticism l invite the freest
criticism so long as it is decent. 1t nav
be as sharp and severe rs the gentlemen
who control the public press may
see fit to make it, and the
severer it is, SO long as it is polite aud
couched in proper language the better l
like 1t and the more forcibly it will strike
me, and if am wrong I will be
willing to admit it. The sentences
to Snake Hill, of nine and
six months which were made practically
in those five cases may be subject to some
criticism. 1t Is not for the Presiding
Judge and his associates to say that they
were infallible and right about this mat
ter. Th.v nor oct.a do .5 they say SO;
intentions. in good faith and upon the
offer made by the defendants themselves.
The Court feels free to give perfect liberty
to the press to criticize that. The press
has become such apowerfulagent for good
or evil that no we'll meaning man
can ford today 10 ignore its power ana
l am Tree to say that whenever II Is pur
in such shape as to make me think that
it furnishes me a better course of conduct
than can furnish myself will fol-
low 1t.
when feel that I have a better
course to pursue l will follow that, and
no criticism can turn me from it. feel
that In this matter all has been said in
this court that ought to be said,
and perhaps a great deal more.
! feel it due to the Presiding
Judge to say this that whatever may
have been the secret counsels of the
Judges in relation to the sentences passed
last week, said exactly what both of my
associates agreed that l snould say in
passing sentence"
The convicted men gave bail and filed
an appeal to the Supreme Court.