The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-12

for forgery VAS set down or the criminal court
calendar Tor next Monday. April 10 Since Nc
Fee brought back from Philadelphia, be
has enjoyed his liberty, having furnished
! 5000 bond. lie and HE wife. utterly without
| pecuuisry resources. have been given a homo
with Mr.. and Ars John A Resume. g7l n.
| Ilinois-st.
Efforts we're made recently 70 secure Prose-
Gator Holtzmaus consent TO enter nolls
| proseql in all the Indictments but one with
the understanding that Melee would plead
| guilty. Ar. Holtzmau, however. declined
! 10 enter into any agreement whatsoever and no.
/ tilted NoFee through his attorneys to prepare.
! for trul Through the advice OF his friends
| Melee finally decided to plead guilty and throw
| hlmEell Oh the mercy OF the court. and word to
that eiiec, was quickly conveyed to Judge Cox
| and the state attorney. Friday afternoon
&C clock was appointed for the arfaign.
| ment. and iEOm that hour until sentence was
passed one of the most pitiahie scenes ever
J Witnessed IN Marion county court o, law Tas
/ enocted. 1t was that Of man, who, by viola
tons OF she law, had fallen from an honorable
| position among men and thrust a burden of
shame upon the heart OF his young wife.
Prom Dtly t1:4b y. m. Mofee, accompanied
| by his attorney. Nathan Morris. Mrs Melee,
| Alr. and Mrs. John Eosume. Normand ;. By
! ram, Judge Rhinehard, John G. Shoemaker
and DR.. T.. J. Brennan. entered
the criminal court room, where Judge
| Cox was already on the bench. and Mr.. Hotz'
man awaiting 10 read the Indictment The
! perty took seats to the left. The aiair had
! been known 10 but few, and a. a fortunate CON-
sequences tie usual gaping crowd OF curious
/ court room loafers was not present When the
| indictment was read Melee, standing erect and
in low tones replied:
| Il am guilty"
Attorney Morris was granted permission 70
| introduce testimony in proof OF Mcice's past
| excellent character. JUDGE khinehart: tesu'
| fed that he had known Melee intimately as q
| man and neightor almost since lie Grst came 20
| Indianapolis. lie had le8rne, 20 regard him
| highly for many reasons, but for none 90 much
| rs his uniform courtesy IN his home; his afeo-
| ton for his wife, which was always ChiyaiTous.
| Johu c. Shoemaker also testified in highest
| terms 10 McFee's conduct, having known him
| intimately Tor a long time
Or. T. J. Brennan. McFee's family physician,
| had known Alr. and Mrs. Melee, with that
/ ciose friendship which should exist between
the physician aud his patrons. lie would
have trusted John X. Mckee with his last
! penny. HIS treatment OF his wife hsd been Of
tie tenderest aud most soloitous character
| Particularly was this the case OF time when
| Mira. McFes was seriously ILL.,
a. NJ. MoCleary, who had been q neighbor
! OF the MoFee's, spoke well of his life up 10 the
time the forgeres were committed.
Norman 5. Byrem said he had been a resi-.
|
| lived near the home OF the Mcfees IheiR
families had been intimate, exchanging visits
| frequently. Always had a high opinion OF
| Mcfee. Mrs. Motee, he said, is an orphan
utterly without relatives who can help her
| She is n woman of lovsble character; q lady in
the fulest Rcceptation OF she word. NtnssI
did not believe Melee TO be bad man al
heart. His present unhappy position could
best be traced 20 weak yielding to the intu
| enees of bad associates.
| a., q
| OF Indianapolis, testified he had known John
| X. Mckeo with a close intimacy ana friendship.
Melee had upon his fFBt arrival in lndianspo
lis came TO witness house and made his home.
| Witness. at that time, did not know MoFee was
! married. Met him first at church. Liked him
and invited him 10 his house. In McFee's
home there was ever present the influence OF .
| strong affection between husband and wife.
Mrs. MoFee had an aunt. q maiden lady, who
| lived with them ana always loved them both.
| She furnished their house for them. When the
| trouble come on them she retnrned 70 her old
| home in Baltimore. her circumstances will
permit her doing no more for her niece. An
| other aunt is married and dependent for what
money she hos on her husband. who viii per-
! NIT her TO give nothing TO Mrs. Melee. Since
| MoFee came back from Philadelphia. he ana
| his wife had been Lying ct witness house.
| Witness had such implicit confidence in John
| r. MoFes that he would be willing 70 help
| him get another start in life as II MoFee was
his own con. Did not believe MoFee had ever
| been habitue OF the gambling rooms.
| McFee then took the stand and, with his
! eyes suffussd with tears, told his story. Was
( thirty-one years old an had resided nearly I've
| years in Indianapolis. Had been educated for
bis chosen profession in the law department Of
| the Mary land university. Had been the honor
| graduate in a large olsss, and had been called
from the class to enter the law Office OF one OF
| his preceptOrF. lie was a young man and was
| anxious TO seek q location where he could
build up an honorable distinction and secure
| a home for himself and his young wife. He
| had been induced 10 come 10 Upton, Ind, by
| the Rev. T. J. Lcntz catholic priest OF that
| place, who thought he could secure under
| partnership ia the law Office Of y. T. Bea-
| champ, a Leading Upton attorney. When he
| came 10 Upton he failed in securing the desired
| opening and came TO indianapolis. lie hsd
| brought letters from many of the leading at
torneys OF Baltimore and when ne reached In
| dianapois he soon became the partner Of
| Robert Denny, with whom he remained for
| some time and then entered In partnership
with Judge Pierce Norton. Melee. continuing.
asserted he had never gambled
before he came to this city;
that his character was untainted MP 20 the
| time of his commission OF the crime 10 which
he had pleaded. Had become acquainted with
| Billy Iron and lobe Howe, the gamblers. first
| in the way of business. Witness said he was
| married one year before he came West. Mrs.
| McFee is now twenty four years old. They had
| had one child. Witness had not q dollar os
earth.
With every reference to bis wife MoFee'a
lips trembled and tears ran down his cheeks.
| When asked If MrB. McFee's parents were
| living McFee eobbed and was unable for q
| moment to reply. He then in low, pathetic
tones said: "lIer mother died at her birth
and her father died when she was an infant
| When asked II he was willing 20 make the eff
| fort 20 secure his lost position and again make
| q man OF himself he replied: Il sm ready to
| take what the court may in his wisdom see dt
| TO impose. | have no excuses 10 oler, but there
is no star OF hope in my horizon"
Mrs NcFee tottered TO the witness stand,
supported tenderly by the arm of her kind
/ friend, Mrs. Reaume. As coherentiy as posi-
| bic, she told how ailectionate aud faithful her
| husbands conduct toward her had always been.
| When asked II she still loved him, she turned .
! look of wondering amusement upon Attorney
/ Morris and said
Love him Why, love him better than lifa
| ITSELF 1 believe In him. / have hope for his
| future. j know he wall never more do wrong"
| The unhappy little wife was wretched With
heartaehe and could say no more.
/ Attorney Hoffman said he would be per-
/ fectly satisfied with the minimum sentence ard
Judge Cox then told Melee kindly but firmly
20 stand up ior JUDGMENT.
| The court with few well-chosen remarks
lacking the sting OF the customary lecture then
sentenced John r. Melee 10 PAY a fine OF SO
aud be imprisoned IA the penitentiary for q
term OF three years. NcFee babe goodbye to
| his friends, talked 10 his wife for q few min.
utes and was then taken over 20 the county
prison. where the iron bars were drawn aud ne
| H. trsN II