New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-06
FALES SENTENCED TO DEATH.
THE YOUNG CRIMINAL CNCONCERNED.
TIE SOLEMN woRDS-THE BOY HAD
NOTHING TO SAY

Robert Alden Fales. the young murderer ID
Thomas Taydon, at Newark. sentenced In tho
courts at Newark yesterday to be hanged on Auguss
H. The criminal manifested no feeling while Judge
Depue was pronouncing sentence, and was apparently
the least concerned person In the courtroom Judge
Depue In tears while addressing the condemned
youth The fact that FaleS would be sentenced
Yesterday was kept by the court officers, In
order 70 prevent the assembling OF curious crowd
at the Court House, and only about twenty persons,
including lawyers and reporters, were present. Ihs
counsel for Fales had been notified to appear and
we're on hand at 35 D. m. when Judge Depue'
Prosecutor Crane and Sheriff IIoussng entered the
courtroom. The prisoner had been brought from
the Jail and kept in the witness room and at 80
p. M he was led into the courtroom and placed az
the bar. lie perfectly calm.
Fales's appearance had not been changed by his
confinement. Judge Depue requested the prisoner
to stand up and then asked him if he had anything TO
say why judgment should not be pronounced against
him. T.es responded: "Nothins.' Judge Depue
then proceeded to pass sentence. lie said:
Alden Falcs you we're indicted by the Grand Jury
OF this county for murder in causing the death of
Thomas Hayden in this city on SATURDAY, the 3oth
Of April last. and the traverse of that indctmens
you were convicted Of murder in the first degree.
The punishment fixed by the law for that offence Is
DEATH You were tried by intelligent jury, whlch
when called ard sworn, acceptable 10 yourself
and TO your counsel You defended by counsel
Of your own selection with the zeal and energy which
distinguish tile profession to which they belong The jury
patiently and attenvey listened to whatever was said
or urged in your behalf Your defence was that you
were irresponsible TO the law for your act by reason OF
insanity Notwithstanding the efforts of your counsel
the iury under their oath, with a full Of their
responsibility for the in which they discharged
their duty found the plea set up in your behalf un-
supported by the evidence Under the proofs no other
result could have been reached lOu had opportuni'
ties for education and religious instruction superior to
most Of the persons Of good situation In liic You were
a member OF q Christian Church. You attended its
sabbath. school ard was admitted to its communion.
Unfortunately you gave yourself up to n literature
which stimulated your propensity to obtain property
dishonesty, and taught you the manner In which
noted criminals committed crimes Of great
atrocy and the means by which they were
succcssfh in avoiding detection and punishment.
You did not intend to kill the deceased, but IN
pcrpctrating tho robbery you designed, you took his
No. BE IL said In your favor that after you learned
OF tho death Of your victim you. for that reason.
abandoned the enterprise for which you committed
tho robbery and with tears In your eyes admitted your
guilt For the crime YOU committed the statute pre-
sc4bcs the highest penalty known to the law. Your
fate should be a solemn warning to the youth who
pursuing tho Of life which has brought you to
your destruction. 1t remains only for tie court 10
pronounce the sef.tence OF the law
Judge Depue then pronounced the formal sentence.
naming August IL the date Of execution and desig
mating as the place the nclcsed yard of the Essex
County Jail. When the Judge had finished Falea
walked back to the pen and was Immediately taken
IN charge by the under sheriff and Jail Warden Nc
Monlgn. who took him 10 Jail.
An appeal In the criminals behalf will be made to
he Governor and the Board of Parons, to commute
the punishment to imprisonment for ife. There was
80 much adverse criticism Of the courts action In
committing the sentence of Titus, the murderer OF
IlIic smith, nj IlackettstOwn several that
there IS doubt whether the court will Interfere In the
present case. The counsel for Fales have, however
decided TO apply for writ OF error. and failing In
the state Courts to carry the TO the United States
Courts They say that their client was indicted To-