St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-13
SILVERMAN SENTENCED.
Despite HIS d. c ing in Court he
Gets One " lar and a Half.

Despite HIS c ing in Court He
Gets One y lar and Half
Bennie Silverman, the shoplifter, is
an actor as well. About as touching 4
piece of dramatic work as mas been seen
for some time by those who were pres
ent came off before Judge Lochren
yesterday afternoon. Silverman playing
the title role. lie knew that it was all
up with him when the Rosenthal and
SiusSen women were given nine months
each Monday. la his iron-bOund dress
ing room all Monday night he studied
his lines. until every gesture and infiec-
ton OF voice in the part he eSsayed was
as plain 10 him as it could have been to
Clara Morris. As the gray dawn streaked
IN through the jail windows he felt that
he was ready 10 tread the boards of the
Criminal court room as soon as the dep
uty rolled up the curtain. and laid down
upon his cot for few hours sleep. To
play his part better the support of Mrs.
SilYerman and his little child were en-
listed Their parts needed no study,
Tor the love that both seem TO feel for
the unfortunate man told them how
their lines should be read.
At o'clock the deputy conducted the
three TO the court room. The first act.
49, - hoS oAOA anu
ing. When the testimony was all In
SIlverman keyed himself for the effort
OF his life. In piteous tones, with
great tears streaming down his cheeks,
he pleaded for mercy, and asked that
the sentence be but one year. His wife
Wept. mOaned and tried TO kiss the
judges hand. The little child, know
ing something must be wrong, wept
bitterly. Judge Lochren was Inclined
to be touched by the scene before him,
but County Attorney Than, the critic,
Veutured 10 suggest that Silverman was
bad man. even though a good actor.
Inc court heaved subdued sigh, and
sentenced the weeping man to one year
and six months at Saltwater. The few
spectators sighed as the court had
sighed. and ventured that if Silverman
was as good at shoplifting as ne is at
acting. he was certainly deserving Of
his sentence.
There Is little doubt that a good piece
or work was done when Bonnie Silver
man was sentenced yesterday to the
penitentiary. Slverman and his female
accomplices. II seems, were members of
sort or trades assembly of shopiifters
and other brands of thieves. A few days
after Sllvernan and the women were
arrested man claiming to be from chi
y.
SlVerman and the women had robbed.
de said that he was a scrap iron dealer
or chicago and referred, "by perIns-
slon." he said, to J. SkOll, the clothing
man, and Harris, the scrap iron dealer,
as men who would VOuch for his
honesty. He told a long tale to Mr..
Rose about Silyerman being a hard
working man who had been led astrav
through the evil influences of the two
women. Then he drew fearful
picture Of weeping woman.
Silyerman's wife, and sobbing
babes, Silverman's children. throwing
themselves at his. the Chicago mans.
feet and imploriug him TO do something
to save the husband and father from
prison. He, in the goodness of his
heart. had come all the way from
Chicago in the interest of the afore-
SAID weeping woman and sObbing chill
dren. He even tried 10 enlist Mr..
Roses sympathy on the secret order
plea. 1t so happened that MI Rose
had brother in Chicago, who was re-
quested 10 look uD the record of the al
legged scrap iron dealer and Silverman.
The scrap iron man was discovered to
be the proprietor and manager of a low
saloon, a notorious Chicago "fence,'
and sort of managing director OF a
stock company of thieves. SkOll and
Harris had never heard of him. Silver
man was discovered to be a thief. well
known to the Chicago police. He was
once a wOrkingman but he had been
discharged from several places because
things would stick 10 his fingers. Blind
Justices instinct seems to have been in
WORKING order when Silverman was
tried