The Washington times., 1895-03-24
CHASE RECEIVING SENTENCE

Earnest pleas for ieniency, backed by
petitions from many reputable citizens,
yesterday did not save William Calvin
Chase. publisher of the Bee, from a Jail sem
tence. Judge Cole named ninety days
as the length of the term, and, counting
good time, Chase will not be at liberty
again till June T.
Gossip about the courthouse attributes
the refusal to let the colored editor off with
fine to the fact that he had previously
been convicted of libel and that when ON
the stand in his own behalf he showed a
vindictive spirit and charged Recorder
Taylor with an atrpcious crime, with no
foundation for the charge
When the case was called Mr. Campbell
Darlington, representing Chase, said he
had been directed to discontinue the effort
for new trial and to rely upon the clemency
of the court. The defendant prayed that
he should not be Inundated by imprison-
ment.
LEADER AMONG HIS PEOPLE.
A native OF the District, he had earned
his way to leadership among his people
and had the respect OF many of both races.
He recognized that he had made a mistake,
but it was one into which many newspapers
have fallen.
In addition, the defendant was the sup
port not only OF his own family, bat of two
sisters, and Imprisonment would bring
distress upon them. The offcnse was
only misdemeanor, and it was rare that
court would sentence q useful citizen
to jail for such a cause.
Especially was this so when many good
men were asking that sentence be suspended
or limited to a light fine. He then read
petitions signed by leadi ng newspaper
and business men, ministers, teachers, and
! others.
Mr.. C. Maurice Smith followed Mr. Car
/ ringtonurging that while Chase had beencon-
| victed he had the eXtenuatioD that Recorder
/ Taylor had been vehemently assailed by
| other newspapers and there had been
general sentiment against him il this com
/ munity. Every other newspaper here had
| severely criticised Taylor's appointment
/ and his official acts
Chase's attack had differed from the 9TH
| ers only in that, being less thoroughly trained
! than other journalists he had used bludgeon
| to strike with and had not known when to
stop. Chase had only done what he honestly
! though the had a right to do.
| HADADyANCEDHI RACE.
/ E. NJ Hewlett, the colored lawyer, urged
! that Chase had probably done more thanany
| other one man for the advancement of the
race in the District, and in this case thought
he was serving them. To imprson him
would bea blow to the progress of the colored
! people here.
District Attorney Birney saidhis duty com
! PEELED him to oppose any leniency. Chase
had published many articles and had not
! spared Taylor's private character. Chase
/ had beenlet off before on the plea OF ineXper
! ience, it could not be urged now.
! Judge Cole said he's be glad if he could
/ extend the clemency asked, but his official
J duty would not allow it. The criticisms of
! Taylor by other ne ewspapers made no justifi-
/ cation for Chase. The judge could not
! know officially anything OF these.
To impose a mere fine III this case would
/ say that any man might attack another's
character under penalty OF fine. He could
/ not close his eyes to the fact that the offense
/ had been most unwarranted and that Chase
! had tried to prove his charges instead OF re-
tracting them. The law in some states i'm
| posed penalty OF five years impr soDment
| for this offense. He would give light
punishment as compared with this.
Chase was taken TO Jail and his friends i'm
mediately commenced efforts to secure q
| pardon from President Cleveland.