Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-30
SUPERIOR COURT.
w. 8. cao&TE, Clerk.
L. 7. cknLETos. County Attorney.
q. r. SrErgEss, Sheriff.
r. A. SHALL, StenogYapher.
TarK.par. sep.. ~.

r. a 5AAlsLs Cl<BoKf2pneFs
THURSDAY, Sept. ~,
On motion Of the county attorney Charles
+. Taylor Of Randolph was brought in and
placed At the bar for sentence. Taylor was
found guilty at the April term Of this court.
1851 upon an Indictment OF rape apon his
o~n daughter Of tender years. The ease
zas taken to the Las court on exceptions,
bus they we're overuIed.
Loring FAR, Esq, who has recently
called lnto the case, APPEARED today for the
respondent. and addressed the court as
follow;
Mag il please yoar Honor In the
course Of my reading may b. permitted to
say that have learned il TO be universal
custom from time immemorial, for courts
10 ask prisoners convicted of the higher Of
fences, ii they have anything TO say Why
sentence should not be passed upon them.
The custom | think is good one.
haze also observed that il is the custom
Of the county attorney in this court To have
something 70 say agsinst the prisoner, and
frequently the fane0nr Of pursuit is kept ap
after verdict Of guilty has been found by
the Jury, even into the jaws Of civil death
The custom, I think. is not good one, and
il i. a custom not confirmed by my reading
To be universal.
was induced TO come into this case to
investigate and see if new trial could not
b. had, aad have Investigated. have
found sufficient evid enee to warrant me in
petitioning for new trial. But have
found that II Is the belief Of large part Of
the community in which the crime is al
legged 20 have been committed that the pris-
oner il not guilty, and the men who 40 be-
lieye are men Of the first rank-proininent,
representative men. The evidence by
which he was convicted vas never above
suspicion, and those original doubts are now
grown into convictions / cannot urge this
why sentence should not be- pronounced
against him. can only say that this man
should not be singled out, under the cir
fNUi-tdfAft. 10 tAkt an lBilk san
tenee. I only AK that his sentence may be-
made uniform with sentences heretofore in
this class Of cases, and that justice may be-
rendered with mercy.
County Attorney Carleton, replying to
the remarks of counsel for the respondent,
said | was very much interested in a de
ei.on which Justice Emery recently gave
fran the h,ncb ~ bile nre.idlno in ,nT1rn
-. ~ 60. 80. -,
''e '''' M '"uH'S A''o'"ey' TUT P'"-
pie have elected you county attorney 10
look after these matte RS and it is for you
IN .sv xb,, vou want done and van c,nno,
.t,,.I. -, ma. ,,. d. o,.ur,
'""' '''r"''''" my 'Po'
and You must declare The wishes OF the gov
eminent IN the matter OF These sentences.
No" have no desire To rehearse the
painful and terrible incidents connected lth
this trial. ihey are recent and familiar
history But "hen man - Drought up
for sentence the character OF the crime Tor
which he il 10 receive punishment has 'nuch
To DO with what shall be- melted on, TO hun
whether or not the offence involves
large amount Of moral turpltude. also
think mans previous HE ana character
should have weight in this connection. II
he has led clean and pure life, has been
decent citizen and has been suddenly over
taken by temptation and committed grave
offence. it strikes me that those facts should
exert an influence upon the mind Of the
court. ON the other hand am impressed
with the idea that IT the man has heen vile.
his conduct has involved many elements
OF deprasity and great moral turpitude
as was made manifest here, and his pre-
yious life has been one of crime as was
shown in this ease by faylor's record IN
State prison then these considerations
should have weight The court must OF
course assume that the Terdiet OF The Jury
vas correct aud Just. and no feeling OF sen
nment thai may have been engenhereh IN
the case by anybody since should n taken
into consideration now, as view At. Some
other Interests than those OF the respondent
are involved here lie has ruined the
young life oil us own daughter VINO VIII
suffer mentally ana physicaily so long as
'od permits her 10 walk the earih' me
public have an interest IN ms matter bnt
your honor - as thoroughly con'ersan'
with THIS ease as am anu 'eaFe II mere
Sherlh stevens was ta'i'd upon ny in'
prisoner ana t'stheh 10 ms goo" 'ohdu''
while he had heen IN ms ehafge'
Judge tiai theh addressed we prisoner
am disposed To consider tu'ly all tihhSS
that nave oech urged IN mitigation "t your
sentence "hieh are open '"r me 10 cohSile''
Any suggestions ahon' 'he Witnesses al ''te
triai or thr ptobaoli'ueS OF innocence are