Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-06-22
REMARKABLE SENTENCE

AT Santa Te, n. NJ, during the
past winter, while looking over the
records of the district court, nv at
tention was directed to the following
sentence of the court in q murder
case, the crime having been commit.
ted in most cruel and barbarous
manner:
''Sentence of death pronounced by
Judge Kirby Benedict on jose Maria
Martin. convicted of murder
Judge Benedict said
"Jose Maria Martin, stand up. You
have been indicted, tried and con
victed by u jury of your own coun
trymen of the crime OF murder, and
the court is about to pass upon YOU
he dread sentence of the law. AS u
usual thing. Jose Maria Martin, it is
II painful duty of the judge of the
court of justice to pronounce upon n
human being the sentence of death;
there is something horrible about it,
and the mind naturally revolts from
he performance of such duty
Happily, However, your case is relicv-
ed of all such unpleasant features.
Tho court tukes II positive delight in
sentencing you to death. You IRE n
young man, Jose Maria Martin, APP
parently of good constitution and no
bust health; ordinarily you might
look forward to many years of life,
and the court has no doubt you have,
and expected to die of green old
age; but you are now about to be cut
OFF in consequence of your own net.
Jose Maria Martin, it is now the
spring time; in little time the grass
will be spriuging up green in these
beautiful valleys aud on these broad
mesas, and on tho uountuid sides
flowers will be blooming, the birds
will be singing their sweet carols,
nature will DO putting on her most
attractive robes; life will be pleasant
and men will want to stay; but none
of this for you, Jose NIaria Martin;
the birds will not sing their carols for
you, Jose Maria Martin. When these
things come to gladden. tho senses of
mon you will occupy space Gx2 be.
meath the sod and the grass and
these beautiful flowers will be grow
ing green above your lowly head.
The sentence of the court is that you
be taken from this plnce to the coun-
ty jail; that you be there safely kept
and securely confined in the custody
of the sheriff until the day appointed
for your eXecution-be very careful,
Mr.. Sheriff, that he hns no opportu-
nifty to escape and that you have him
at the appointed place ut the appoint
ed iilne-until-Mr. Clerk, what day
of tho month does Friday, about two
weeks from this day, come? March
22nd, your honor'-Yory well, until
Friday, the 22nd day of March, when
you be taken by the sheriff from your
place of confinement to,om safe and
convenient spot within the county.
and that yon there be hanged by the
neck until you arc dead.
"And the court was about to add,
Jose Maria Martin. may God have
mercy on your soul, but this court
will not assure the responsibility of
asking an all wise providence to do
that which n jary of your peers re-
fused to do. Tho Lord could not
have mercy on your soul However.
if you affect any religious belief or if
you are connected with any religious
organization, it might be well for you
to send for n preacher, or your min
lister, and get from hi::,-well, such
consolation rs you can, bnt tue court
advises yon to place no reliance on
anything of that kind. Mr. Sheriff,
remove tho prisoner"
The sequel TO the above remarka
BILE sentence is interesting. in that
Jose Marin Martin escaped from the
county Jail and several years after
wards peacefully met his death in
Lincoln county, by falling backwards
out of wagon and breaking his
neck. IL. G.. WIsNEn