The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-24
SCANDAL M0NGER FINED
Judge Knowles Lectures the Publisher
OF a Butte Sheet.
THIRTY DAYS IN JAIL
Is Also Added to the Sentence, But
mis- Will Likely Be Suspended
The Case of Haupt
Now On Trial.

BUTTE, March c3-Thirty days in the
county jail and fine OF Si00 is the sem
renee that was passed on Joseph p. Wen
rich, publisher of the Sunday MeTcury, by
Judge Knowles in the United States court
This morning, but the jail sentence was
later suspended. When the defendant
was called up for sentence his attorney,
FRANCIS Brooks, made a brief plea for
clemency, asking the court to consider the
Jury's recommendation for mercy, the
TACT that the laws of the United States
were almost a blank as far as the general
public was concerned, the fact that a COPY
OF the paper had been submitted to the
postoilce department and a permit is
sued Tor its transmission through the
mails, the absence of intention to do
wrong and the further fact that it was the
defenesnts first offense. Mr.. Brooks
also stted that several of the jurors had
told hin that if they had the power to do
so theywould have let the defendant off
with nprimand, and he asked. in con-
slderatin of all the circumstances, that
the cour impose the lowest possible sem
tencc.
In anser to the usual question the de-
fendantiaid he had nothing to say as to
why science should not be passed.
jury irrpaneled in the United States
court &c the district of Montana, for the
crimc odepositing or causing to be de-
posted n obscene and lewd public alton
called newspaper and named The Peo-
pie, sait the judge. You have been
tried by apetit jury of this district and
found gufy as charged in tho indictment.
IL Is custo1ary for a court who is about to
pass JudgIent upon any one cow icted of
crime 10 NIKE some remarks to the prs-
oner upon tie nature of the offense COM
Hitted. 1os are n man of intelligence
anu ought understand that you have
CHOSEN to folDw a disreputahle and dis
honorable Gazing. You have chosen as
your vocation he publication of a news
paper that parlers to the tastes of the
depraved and he vicious, to the desire in
some purient mnds for scandal and the
contemplation IF that which is low and
brutal in humanity. You would exhibit
the deformitie, of man to public |
gaze rather tan his virtues. You
prefer TO preent what is bar
barous in man rather than what |
he has achieved in civilization and |
Christian virtues. No man of a kindly |
heart should seek iuch walk in life. No |
man OF noble aims should pursue such a
course. Humanit. cannot be improved |
by contemplation of its vices and de- /
formities. The government of the United
States has sought 10 protect its citizens
from such men as gou by declaring it will
not carry your publications. as part of its
mails and has made it a crime to deposit
such publications as yours IN any post
office in the land with the view of making
he United States carrier of the publica-
haf h,l ]
END newspaper called The People
through the United States mails afforded
'ou no protection. No officer could give
ou permit to violate the law of the
and.
THE Judgment of the court is that YOU
e confined in the Jail of this county for
0 days and pay fine of 500 and the
osts of this case"
Considering the severity of the courts
emarks with which the sentence vas pre-
aced, the mildness OF the penalty was a
1rprise, though Mr.. Wenrich and his |
-iends had not expected Jail sentence.
MIR. Brooks asked for a stay of proceed
lgs for 10 days, saying that he might
ant to take further action, but tho court
Quilted its power TO grant stay after
ldgment had been pronounced and or
cred the marshal to take the prisoner in
large. :
Later Mr.. Brooks petitioned Judge :
movies to reduce the punishment by re-
lifting the jail sentence, representing to $
m that the jurors favored 1t, and the
dge finally agreed to do so provided the
rors were unanimous in the request, :
r. Brooks soon found majority of the
rors and they joined in the request, I
hich will be presented to the court on o
onday, by which time all will undoubt- \
ly have signed it. In the meantime
r. Wenrich was released on his own re- {
enhance.