Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14
HEAVY PENALrlEa
Justice Bradley Gives Some Pi.in Talk In
Imposing Sentences.

SuSuce br10Rey Gives Some H1nin Talk N
Imposing Sentences.
Yesterday Willie, alias Jap Dabney, Fell,
Hunter and Sonny Hill were convicted of as
sauit and battery with intent TO kill John W
Motion on September a. The latter vas Gu,
In an alley between v, W. 10th and Ilth streets
northwest. The wound was in the abdomen
ana 30 serious that Moten was not expected "a
live for few days. II vas claimed that after
Moten and Dabnsy had quarrsled about girl
and parted Hill gave Dabrey the knife; tina.
Moten subsequently attacked Dabney, striking
and kicking him. and that then Dabney drew
| the knife and the cut was inflicted. After the
arguments had consumed two hours Justice
Bradley submitted the case to the Jury. On
| the suggestion made by the counsel that man
eApecting an attack had right to arm himself,
| the court said 1t was not the law and was a dam
getous doctrine A man Is not justified in using
deadly weapon against fist or stick. Justice
81 adley read some authorities on this point
~ was. ne said. the duty Of man to avoid con
Met Dabney had no right to take the knife
and if Hill and Hunter Ep,w what Dabney in.
tended they were equally guilty.
"hea this jury retired the case Of Harry
Jones' charged with an assault with intent to kill
sohn hidgely on October 6last--Mr. ]. NJ Kicks
Tor tne defendant-was taken no. There had been
game OF crap and some words passed, when
hidgeiy chased Jones to his home by stoning
MN, and Jones got pistol and returning fred
tnree shots, Ridgely jumping behind A. Candy.
Doth OF them lodged and tne ball went through
uandys hat. The defendant acmltted the
snooung, but insisted that Ridgely and his
crowd were pressing on him and LIE fred in
seu-defense. This case WAS briefly argued and
given 10 the jury and in the case of Dabney
hunter and Hill verdict of guilty was rem
dered and Justice Bradley proceeded to i'm
pose the sentences, which we're such as to make
an impression on the crowd pr esent. being the
maximum under the law-eight> years in the
penitentiary. Hunter was the only one who
spoke and he protested his innocence
PLAIN TALK FROM THE BENCH.
Justice Bradley said that he was not telling
the truth, and he wished it understood that
from this time forth in such cases, excepting
where there were extenuating circumstances.
the extreme penalty Of the law would be i'm
posed-such a sentence as would make il I'M
pleasant for all who use the knife and pistol
Harry Jones was convicted of attempting to
kill John Ridgely and he was called up. Mr..
KICKS, his counsel, failing to securea postpone
ment OF the sentence, urged that the boy was
quite young
The judge-"But old enough to serve term
In the penitentiary," and he proposed to make
II lesson FOR him. As for his statement that
he was not fifteen he did not believe he was
less than seventeen. and as to the offense be
was satisfied that he shot directly at Ridgely
The sentence was eight years in the peniten-
tiary.
One Of the crowd in passing out was heard
70 say: Better keep your pistols, razors.
KNIVES ana even scissors at home, boys"