The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-21
GREAT SEVERITY.
Judge Hudspeth Gives Sherlock
Fifteen Years and Colt
Six and a Half.

James Sherlock, who was convicted of
brutal assault on little eight year old Mary
Deip at Harrison. was the first prisoner called
for sentence in the General Sessions Court
yesterday afternoon. Judge Hudspeth said to
him that he had been convicted of one Of the
most heinous crimes possible to be committed
and If the penalty was death the Court would
have hesitation whatever in imposing it,
The maximum penalty, however, is fifteen
years and the Court had decided that the
prisoner had deserved all of it.
The sentence of the Court is that you be
confined in the State Prison at hard labor for
the costs are paid Sherlock WINGED as
sentence was pronounced.
Senator DAILY his counsel will take out a
writ of error. and as that will act as stay
of judgment. Sherlock will remain in the
County Jail until a decision is given:
Thomas O. Colt, the hideously disfgured
man who shot Miss Carrie Plate of Arlington
because she refused to marry him. was told
make any comment. but to let him know at
once what his fate was. Judge Hudspeth
Court must perform its duty. He sentenced
the prisoner to six years and six months in
State Prison.
Miss Plate had written him.
Assistant Prosecutor Noonan said that they
were part of. the evidence in the case and
therefore the property of the State.
The prisoner insisted that they belonged to
him and made a demand for them. His anxiety
to get them created the impression that he
probably wanted to have them published, and
Judge HudSpeth asked him II that was his
intention. He answered no.
1t was finally arranged that the letters
should be sealed up and placed in the GUS
Uody Of the County Clerk to be delivered to
Colt when his term expires.
William Burns and Henry Hoffman were
called up to get their medicine for stealing a
pocketbool belonging to Mrs. 0'Hara the
wife and senior partner of the Grand street
undertaken who beat her badly not long
ago. and who is still missing. Burns stated
to the Court that he had been employed by
the O'Haras. Mrs. o. T1ara was in the habit
of attending mixed ale parties and 1t some
times became part of his duty to escort her
home when she was not able to go home
alone On one of these occasions he found
the pocketbook in the hallway. 1t contained
two diamond rings, seal ring and a plain
gold ring. He exchanged one Of the diamond
rings for another ring and took $3.50 to boot.
He assured the Court that Hoffman had moth
ing to do with it, but happened to be in his
company when he was arrested. Burns was
sentenced to six months in the Penitentiary
and the Assistant Prosecutor entered nolle
pros in Hoffman's case.
The sentence of Henry Miller. who was con-
vieted of having burglars tools in his pos
session, was reconsidered and changed from
five years in State Prison to year in the
Pcnitentiary. Miller's sister had pleaded for
him, and the Court investigation, learned
that HIS story about how he got the skeleton
keys was true.
George W. Brown, the proprietor of the dis
orderly house in Montgomery street, was let
off with a fine of $50 and costs on account OF
DrayiOuS good character.