The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-06
HE ASKS FOR GODS MERCY
AND ANNOUNCES HE Is READ TO
ENTER INTO A LIVING DEATH.
Judge Hadley Then Sentences the
Preacher to Prison for Life, Ac-
cOrding to the Jury's Verdict.
,ecial to the Indianapolis Journal.

the dramatic interest in 1t continued to the
end. William f.. Hinshaw was brought
into court to be sentenced, and he made a
speech in his own behalf that is the talk
OF the town tonight. Judge Hadley
wished to have as small a crowd as posi-
BILE in the court room when sentence was
pronounced, and only a few people knew
that at u:30 O'Clock this morning Mr.. Hin
shaw was to appear for the last time at
the bar Of the Hendricks Circuit Court. At
that hour he come into the room with
Sheriff Bell. Mr.. Hinshaw appeared to be
the picture of health. He looked stronger
than he has at any time since the trag-
edy. His face was full and rosy. His eye
was clear and he was as cool as If about
to enter the pulpit to talk to his friends.
He wore a Prince Albert coat and a white
tie. He was faultlessly attired, and was
as neat as if just from the tailor. He
was followed into the court room by a
number of friends, his brother Meredith
and wife preceding him. Hinshaw sat down
and spread out on a table two or three
pages of manuscript he had with him. He
turned and spoke to his brother and shook
hands with his attorneys, Mr.. Hogate and
Mr.. Clarke, when they came in. The court
room was half filed, a number of women.
firm believers In his innocence, being pres
ent. Judge Hadley cleared his throat and
said:
"Mr. Hinshaw. have you anything to say
before judgment is pronounced upon your
HINSHAW'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Hinshaw said: II have" He then
arose and, smoothing out his manuscript
on the table, but never once taking 1t in
his hands, he said:
II am very sorry that 1t is the pleasure of
this court to so Unexpectedly call me here
to this place of this trying ordeal, in the
absence of many whom l call friends. and
in the absence of my own immediate rel
atives, who are supposed to be on the ROAD.
/ do not arise to discuss the evidence In
this case; neither do 1 arise TO offer addi-
tional testimony, though It was my earn
est desire to take the witness stand during
ness. / arise to enjoy this sacred right.
which, by the decree of this court, be-
comes my last. the right to speak in my
to speak a few words in defense or my
cause Let it be understood that not a
spark Of the fire of revenge Is smoldering
IN my bosom. / have no unkind words TO
utter concerning anyone. l want 10 NIL
these precious moments with better Things.
hope may not be misunoersio1a . +
may not be misrepresented, which would
This world is said to be a comedy of
errors and history, a record of the mis-
takes of men. Mans inhumanity to mar
makes countless millions weep To love
and worship truth and be accused OF ialses
hood, to aspire to heaven and be CONSIGNED
to purgatory, to possess a character yir-
tuous and yet be charged with that of a
libertine. to have ones m onr 9 Hso,e life
misunderstood and made a carlcature III
the ewes of all men. without the power OF
redress. is to suffer all the unmiugateo
pangs OF inward mortif1cation.
The Jurors, whom l have a right TO call
honorable men, said 1 am guilty OF muir
dering the playmate of my boyhood. tne
sweefheart of my youth. the companion
of my bosom. 1 say l am not guilty or
the awful crime. Either the jury Is mistak-
en- or | am telling a m untri.n.
r admit sir. it is possible for me to lie.
Indeed. if / were guilty of such a crime, TO
save my life or liberties, 1t is highly prooa-
BILE that / would lie to escape the oenalty-
But if a happy home is to count for anZ-
thing. il prosperity is a thing to be desired,
If a reputation unblemished Is to weigh In
the balance, if ones concern Tor ms eter-
nal welfare is TO be considered, is IL not as
highly improbable that 1 should turn my
hack on all these and sink my soul into
utter remorse by becoming a
villainous murderer. without any cause or
provocation whatever, as that an honest
Jury could be honestly mistaken? More es-
pecially when all the evidence Is calmly
considered?
1T crave your indulgence but one moment
longer, for 1 have one other reason why
the verdict OF the jury shall not become
the sentence Of the court. No man Is nor
can be in a condition of mind TO calmly
deliberate in the midst Of such excitement
as surrounded the trial of this cause. The
very laws OF our being make it impossible.
Sir, there is a language that needs no
words to be expressed. Few men need
come to me and say that my words meet
their approval or their -disapproval- / have
read the same already in your counte-
nances. And with this honorable jury.
often Theoretically sealed by a mass Of
humanity, from whose faces they were
compelled sometimes to read their
thoughts, it became utterly impossible for
them to live within themselves.
"And now, let IL go upon record-I see II
is being taken. and 1 want 1t to go on the
records OF this court, as / have not had the
privilege of stating what 1 wish to state
/ want to say that, with my hand on this
sacred shrine of justice, with my face to
the sky from whence shall come my right
eous judge, 1 swear that this accusation is
false. And may God have mercy upon him
on whose shoulders the burden of this IN
justice falls most heavily and mercy upon
Us al.
your Honor, before you perform the last
act which shall constitute my living burial.
for all others you ave done. Perhaps
when We meet again, another will be on
the throne May we be happy then /
want to thank my counsel, who have been
so faithful at all times. l want to thank
the sheriff, who has never been unfaithful
or careless OF the trust committed to him.
and vet has treated me Will such kindness
as has endeared him to me as a well-be-
loved brother. i commend you all to God
and the Word of His grace. 1 will meet
you at His judgment bar. where I will en-
Joy the blessings of another trial, and we
will go into the happy forever. ] now enter
in<o a living death AS i die I shall salute
you. l am now ready for what may come"
There was not a sound in the room while
he spoke except the convulsive sobbing OF
+! some women. Mr.. Hinshaw's voice was,
for the most part, clear and full, but once
or twice he almost choked from the excess
of emotion. AT the close OF some SEN
fences his voice would rise as If il would
| break under the intense nervous strain. He
stood near the spot where he sat during the
trial TO the right of the judge. advancing
in front OF the desk and abandoning h.s
notes when he laid his hand on the desk
| and looked up toward heaven. declaring his
innocence. He stepped back TO his old
place and concluded, his eyes fastened as
il were in a beseeching look on his friends
who sat in the benches.
When the prisoner closed Judge HadIey
| hogan to speak. Mr.. Hinsnaw asked
..Shail 1 stand or sit?" and the court told
him he could be seated. The Judge then
| sentenced him TO prison for life. and al:
was over. Hinshaw stepped to the judges
platform and shook hands with Judge Had
ley. and they talked very earnestly for
some minutes. a smile now and then cross
.ng his. Hinshaw's, face. Then he left the
Judge, his friends gathered around him and
he greeted all OF them pleasantly.