The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-29
SIBLEY PLEADS GUILTY.
IT DOES NoTsAVH HIM FOR AFULL
TERM IN THE MINES TROUGH.

Judge Falligant Sentences the Dung
Convict TO seven Years at Hard La
Dor for Els Part in the Abductic n
of Ella Holmes.
Percy Sibley. the man in the now famous
Ella Holmes kidnapping case, who, to save
his friend, Pearl Prendergast, carried the
girl into the country. forced her to take
part in mock marriage ceremony and then
abandoned her at Negroes house in Bryan
county, pleaded guilty to the indictment
against him in the superior court yesterday
morning
Sibley had intended to stand trial until he
heard OF the prompt conviction Of his
female pal. Pearl. Then he made up his
mind that he wouldn't fare any better at
the hands of jury, and, with the hope OF
escaping the full penalty of the law,
he instructed his counsel, G. E.
Bevans Esq, to enter plea
of guilty. Mr. Bevans, in doing so, ap-
pealed to the court for mercy for his client
in view Of the fact that through the whole
affair he had been merely the tool of the
Prendergast woman and because he had
saved the trouble Of trial by his plea
But Judge Falligant saw through Sibley's
scheme. 1t was an effort 20 save himself
from punishment which he deserved as
richly as any Of the conspirators after he
saw no hope left by an appeal to a jury Of
his peers.
NO MERCY FOR HIM.
Looking at In this light Judge Falligant
saw no reason why he should exercise his
prerogative OF mercy for Sibley, and be
sent him to the penitentiary for the full
hmit-seven years.
In passing sentenos Judge Falligant de-
livered an impressive lecture to the prisoner.
He said it panied him to have to consign to
the penitentiary the son OF father whom
be knew to be eminently respectable, but
the life which he has led for several years
past was bound to bring him to such fate
Judge Falligsnt referred to how Sibley had
once attempted to take the life Of his father,
and since that time instead of trying to re-
form, sunk deeper in tiffany, having for
bis boon companions dissoluts women of
the lowest type and making his hsadquar-
ters in the haunts Of vice and sin, breathing
nothing but the air Of immortality.
A WARNING TO YOUNG MEN.
The Judge held Sibley up as warning to
the young men of Savannah, and urged
/ them to take heed OF his fate aud keep
away from the temptations which he had
colrted-temptations woich lead to the de-
| struction of ell that Is good and noble in
man. Judge Fslligant addressed his re-
marks particularly to the young men who
have ovinoed such e lively interest In the
trials by their presence In the court house.
During Judge FalliEant's remarks Sibley
stood in thoughtful mood
with his ewes cast down most of the time.
| When the judge began reading the formal
sentence Sibley looked up eagerly with an
intense interest to hear the penalty AS the
words ''seven years" sounded in his ears the
prisoners face slightly paled and he dropped
his ohin on his breast, at the same. time
heaving sigh. He was disappointed and
took no pains to conceal his feelings.
ALICE WHITE TO BE SENTENCED TO-DAY.
Alice White will probably be sentenced
this morning. Judge Falligent was
considering yesterday whether to
give Alice the full penalty. Stella
Mosely, the last Of the kidna ping
| quartet, is in a delicate condition, and has
been released from Jail on bond. AS soon
as she is able to stand trial Solicitor Gen
eral Fraser will call the case against her.
Stella is the one to whose house Ella Holmes
was sent by Alice White and the girl claims
Stella invited her into a room and then
made her a prisoner by locking the door