Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-27
A ReMARkAele SENTENCES.
How . Judge In New Mexico Pronounced
tho Death Penalty.
Detroit Free Press)

AT Santa Fe. y. NJ, during the past
winter while looking over the records VI
the District Court my attention was d.
rected to the following sentence OF ths
court In a murder case. the crime having
been committed in most cruel and bar
barous manner:
Sentence OF death pronounced by
Judge Kirby Benedict on Jose Maria Mar
tin. convicted OF murder
Judge Benedict said.
Jose Maria Martin. stand Up. You
have been Indicted. tried, and convicted
by jury Of your own countrymen OF the
crime Of murder. and the Court il about
To pass upon you the dread sentence Of
the law. As a usual thing, Jose Maria
Martin. II Is a painful duty OF the Judge
OF tho court OF justice TO pronounce upon
human being the sentence OF death.
there is something horrible about II. and
the mind naturally revolts from the per-
Torrance OF such duty Happily. how
ever your case IS relieved OF all such IN,
pleasant features. The court takes posi-
tive delight In sentencing sou TO death
You arr young man. Jose Maria
Martin. apparently % good constitu-
ton and robust health: ordinarily you
might have looked forward 10 many years
OF life. and the Court has no doubt you
have. and expected to die OF A green old
age; but you are now about 60 De cut
OF in consequence OF your own act Jose
Maria Martin. II is now the spring time:
In little time the grass viii De spring
ing up green in these beautiful valleys
and on these broad meSas. and on the
mountain sides flowers will be blooming.
birds will be singing their sweet carols.
49,. ..Ftn ~.
tractise robes lie viii be pleasant. and
men will want 10 stay. but none u this
for you. Jose Maria Martin the birds viii
not sing their carols fov you. Jose Ma
ria Martin. When these things come 10
gladden. the senses OF men you VIII on
cupy q space 6X2 beneath the sod. ana the
grass and these beautiful flowers VIII
be growing green above your iowly head
The sentence of the Court Is that YOU be
taken from this place 10 the county AN:
that you he there safely kept and securely
confined in the custody OF the Sherin uu-
I'll the day appointed Tor your execution
be very careful. Mr. Sheriff. that he has
no opportunity to escape. AMI that You
have him at the appointed place az the
appointed tlme-until-Mr Clerk. what
day OF the month does Friday, about two
weeks from this day. come March 22l.
NNAA AiVilNAs WI , WIS NllAiA ll'i.ANs VIC
I'D day OF March. when you BE- taken by
the sheriff from your place OF confinement
to some safe and convenient spot within
the county. and that you there be hanged
by the neck until you are dead.
AMI the Court was about 20 add. Jose
Maria Martin. may God have mercy on
your soul. but this court will not assume
the responsibility OF asking an Allwiso
Providence to do that which "A jury OF
your peers have refused TO do. The Lord
could not have mercy on your soul How
ever. Z YOU affect any religious belef. or
II you are connected with any religious
organ cation, IL might be well Tor you
to send for a priest or your minister. ana
get from him-well. such consolation as
you can. but the Court advises YOU 90
place no reliance on anything 81 that
kind. Mr. Sheriff, remove the prisoner"
The sequel 10 the above remarkahls
sentence Is interesting. In that Jose Mara
Martin escaped from the county JAIN ami
several years afterwards peacefully met
his death in Lincoln county by FALLING
backw irds out OF a wagon and breaking
his neck. II. G. WISNER