Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-04-10
4 aEMARkAsLE sENTEhck.
AJuaeo WIS Tsoh Detlght IN Htoeoua
1n9 Uonth on \ prae0n@Ns

AJuaee WIS Isok Dsiighs IN Rree01no
Ing DsssA - . Fssssasss
One Of the most eccentric, and, q IL
same time, y Of the ablest judges tAet
ever ri upon the far Western bsnch
wss Kirby Benedict, who, for thirtesn
years. wss . Justice Of the 6upfome
Court Of New Mexico, having been Arst
appointed in 1858 BY President Pisece
and rsappointed by President Buchanan,
and appointed Chief Justice Of the Court
by President Lincoln. He was . man
Of great ability and learning, strong IN
his prejudices, violent in his passions,
and relentless in his convictions
There are many anecdotes told Of
Judge Benedict. But the crowning oct
Of his Judicial career was the sentence
Of death passed by him upon . prisoner
convicted Of murder, which sentence
Wa ~ follows:
Jose Maria Martin, stand up Jose
Maria Martin, you have been indicted,
tried, and convicted by > jury Of your
countrymen Of tho crime OF murder,
aud the Court is now about to pass upon
You the dread sentence Of the law. As
. usual thing, Jose Maria Martin, il b .
painful duty for the Judge Of . court Of
Justice to pronounce upon . human
being the sentence OF death. There is
something horrible about it, and the
mind of the Court naturally revolts
from the performance Of such . duty.
Happily, however, your case is relieved
Of all such un~pleasantness, and the
Court takes positive delight in sentsnc-
ing you to death.
"You are Q young man, Jose Maria
Martin. apparently Of good physical
constitution and robust health. Ordi-
narily You might have looked forward
to many years Of life, and the Court
has no doubt you have, and have ex-
pected to die Ut . green old age; but
You are about 10 be cut of - the conse-
quence Of your own act. Jose Maria
Martin, it is nov the spring time; in .
little while the grass will be springing
M In these beautiful valleys, and on
these broad mesas and mountain sides
flowers will be blooming, birds singing
above your lowly head.
"The sentence of the Court is that
you be taken from this place to the
county Jail; that You there be kept
safely aud securely confined in the Gus
tody of the Sheriff until the day ap-
pointed for your execution. Be care
full Mr.. Sheriff, that he have no chance
to escape, and that you have him at the
appointed place ct the appointed time;
that you be 90 kept, Jose Maria Martin,
until-Mr. Clerk, on what day Of the
month does Friday, about two weeks
from this time Gomez" March 22d,
Your Honor" "Very well--until Fri
day, the ed day Of March, when you
will he taken from your place of con
finement to some safe and convenient
spot within the county (that is in your
discretion, MI. Sheriff; you are only
confined to the limits Of tho county,,
and that you there 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 responsibility Of asking Al all-wise
Providence to do that which . jury Of
your people has refused to do. The
Lord couldn't have mercy on your soul.
However, il you have any religious be-
lief, or are connected with any religious
organization, it might be we'll enough
for you to send for your priest or your
minister and get from him-well, such
consolation as You cam; but the Court
advises you to place no reliance upon
anything of that kind. MI. Sheriff. re-
move the prisoner. "-Santa Fe letter,
in PITTSBURGH Leader.