Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-10-04
That Is the Sentence of the Court on
Joe Weir, the Infant
Ravisher.
The COwardly Prisoner Sobs and Asks
the Court to Be Lenient
With Him.
He Is Hurried Away to a Place of
COncealment in the Darkness
Of the Night.

Friday night at 8 o'clock TRIBUNE
reporter strolled into the county court
house and walked up to the court room
The curtains were drawn and a couple
of incandescent lights shed dim alumni
nation on a dramatic scene. Judge Ben
ton sat on the bench, Clerk of the Court
Cockrill was at his desk, below County |
Attorney Freeman was writing at a
table and Sheriff Dwyer stood guard
over man covering in dark corner
within the rail. Two newspaper men
who scented an "item" comprised the
audience, The prisoner who avoided the
light WAS Joseph Weir, the sef-contessed
monster of Wiclledness, who ravished the
helpless and afflicted infant of Mr.. and
Mrs. Cults near Sand Coulee, and who
until that hour had been hidden away
from the just vengeance of an eXaeperated
public, who were scarce inclined to await
the process Of the law iu dealing out
punishment for the crime.
Not q word was uttered for several
minutes while the county attorney finish
ed writing out the complaint. Then the
court called on the wretch to stand forth
and listen to the charge brought against
him. He responded with Il reluctant
ehambling gait, and stood under the
light, as the clerk read the charge of
rape to him. He had a hunted look
about him, and hie features denoted
weakness rather than the awful deprav-
ity which he stood charged with. lie
,rembled while he stood up, and his an
sweTs were given in tone so low and
shaky that they could scarcely be heard.
He waived the statutory time to plead,
said that he did not want lawyer, and
entered plea of guilty to the charge.
He alao asked for immediate sentence,
but desired to make a statement before
sentence was pa sed on him. Being IN
formed that it was his privilege, he said
that ever since he was hurt by a wagon
running over his head some years ago
he had had bad spells in his head and
he thought that he must have been out
of his mind when he committed the
crim9 to which he had pleaded guilty.
For this reason he asked the court to be
lenient with him. lie spoke in such
low ana DEOKeH lOIltS tilh' llS COuIt
could scarcely comprehend him.
In passing sentence Judge Benton eald
that the crime Weir had committed was
one of the most atrOciOus that it was
possible to conceive. Every circumstance
surrounding 1t added to its enormity
His victim was a seven year-old infan,
afflicted from its birth, doformed, blind
deaf, dumb and paralyZed and totally
helpless, left in his care by those who
had been his friends and benefactors
He did not think that the Legislature il
fixing the penalty ever considered that ;
case like this could occur or they woult
+ have made more fitting punishment Th'
! statute prescribed the penalty for rapI
!, to be imprisonment IN states prison 10
y not less than five years nr more than life
+ at is the sentence OF the court that 70,
be confined in the state prison at Dee
O Lodge for the remainder Of your natura
/ life ard kept at hacd labor concluded
a Judge Benton.
n The prisoner ehutled of to his sea
4 agnin. aad, pulling out a handHerchief
q commenced to cry and sob, til the Hhef
e iiT told him to follow him. he Wa
q taken from the court house and hDFt(e'
Il away Ia rip to place Of coucoalment