The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-03
CASHIER SHAW SENTENCED.
He Is Given Ten Years in Thomaston by
Judge Webb. ii

Judge Webb. u
William R. Shaw, the defaulting cash
Ter of the Lincoln County Bank at Bath,
came to Portland Saturday to take his
sentence. At 1920 the prisoner took his
place in the dock in the United States
circuit Court room. He was pale but
self possessed. Judge Webb came in,
the court was formally opened. and
Judge Webb said the court would listen
to the petition. District Attorney Dyer
then arose and moved sentence on Shaw
upon two indictments, one for embezzle
ment and the other for false entries.
Judge Webb asked the prisoner ii he
had anything to say, but MI. Shaw arose
and shook his head. Then Judge Webb
asked Mr.. Shaw's counsel, Hon. George
e. Bird, if he desired to speak, and Mr..
Bird referred to the fact that the prison
er had, in part, expiated This crime, for
| his brothers had paid back every dollar
taken from the bank. He referred to
the wife and son of the prisoner, and to
the noble devotion of the brothers, and
left the case with the judge.
Judge Webb again asked Mr.. Shaw if
he desired to say anything, and he re-
Piled that he did not. Judge Webb then
| said:
I'm all my long experience in this
court ] can recall no case in which |
have been called to take part that is
| more painful. I recognize the force of
all the counsel have said regarding the
suffering of the innocent and appreci-
ate the probable truth that wrongdoers
take little account of the penalty that
| attaches itself to their acts. Society's
security demands the imposition of
proper penalties. 1t is question wheth-
| or the disregard and defiance of the re-
suits of such criminal offences do not
| call for greater stringency. In the dis
trict. cases of this sort have attracted
| much attention. No intelligent person
denies that the penalties have
failed to check the crimes Almost dali
ly the public press reports cases that ex-
emplify the inefficiency of the law to re-
strain. The people have expressed
strong condemnation Of breach Of trust
through their lawmakers. AS long as
| this Is their opinion it is the duty of the
court, without bringing upon itself the
Imputatlon OF extreme rigor, to secure
| the objects of such law. The frequent
| recurrence of such crimes leads me to
believe that the laws are not stringent
enough, and it is the duty of the court to
pay heed. Time and larger experience
may suggest other methods of checking
this species of wrongdoing. In the
meantime the public only enjoins seyeri-
ty."
After touching reference to the devo-
ton Of Shaw's family, and the honor dis
played by his brothers in making up his
defalcation, the judge said:
Home ties and the claims Of kin
dred ought to restrain man more than
the criminal law Nothing justifies me
in making an exception of this case.
The statutes makes provision for each
act. The Indictment shows that the
crime was many times repeated. In
passing sentence | do not propose by
sentencing in the two indictments, to in
crease the penalty. What impose upon
one the same will suffice for the period
upon the second. That is, the prisoner
will serve the two sentences concurrent I
ly."
Shaw was then sentenced to serve ten
years for embezzlement and ten years for
false entries, the two terms to commence
at the same time, and thus forming an
imprisonment for ten years in the state
paison. Shaw received his sentence
calmly. He was taken to Thomaston
Saturday night, United States Marshal
Saunders accompanying him.
During the proceedings dramatic eff
feet was produced by street band out
side playing "Home, Sweet Home.''