The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-02
ROUND VALLEY
LYNCHERS' FATE.
Constables Crow and Van
Horn Sentenced at
Weaverville.
LONG TERMS IMPOSED.
Vaorc in Prison
Twenty-Five Years in Prison
for the Murder of Jack"
Littlefeld.
COUNSEL PLEADS IN VAIN.
Judge Ellison Finds No Reason for
Dealing -Leniently With the
ASSaSSinS.

WEAVERVILLE, CAL, June 1.-Con-
stable Bayles Van Horn and Deputy Con-
stable John Crow were to-day SEN
fenced to spend twenty-t five years behind
the walls of San Quentin prison for the
lynching of poor "Jack" Littlefeld on
Red Mountain on September 81, 1898.
Judge Ellison's courtroom was packed
when the prisoners were brought in TO
learn their fate. Lone Ridgers had as
sembled in mum ers, and their gratifica-
ton at the heavy penalty imposed upon
the murderers of the vaquero was not con-
cealed. Opposite them were the Round Val
ley people-subiect of liking" George E.
White-who were deeply moved when the
words condemning their former neighbors
and companions to what is equivalent to
life of seryitude were pronounced.
The concluding chapter in this thrilling
drama was impressive. Impassioned APP
peals were made for mercy on the
prisoners, but in vain. They had been
convicted of having put to death in
cowardly manner brave man, whom they
arrested on a trumpedup charge, his only
crime being that he was one of the few
wh o dared oppose the outlaw rulers of fair
Round Valley. Judge Ellison could find
nothing in that deed that warranted
leniency
The morning session was taken UP by
the reading of affidavits on the part of the
prosecution as an offset to the affidavits of
the defense on the misconduct of the Jury.
The counsel for the defense applied to the
court for leave to cross-examine the
atlantis. This application was denied.
When court convened at l 80 o'clock
Hon. D. G. Reid made an eloquent plea
for the defense in support of a motion for
a new trial, asking that it be granted on
the grounds OF the insufficiency of the
evidence, errors of law during the trial and
the misconduct OF the jury. Special stress
was laid upon the allegation that the jury
after it had retired for deliberation had
been treated before taking supper to in
toxicating liquors. After the close of the
argument the court denied the motion for
new trial, and before passing sentence an
other plea was made by Attorney Reid on
behalf OF the defendants.
Then the court ordered Crow and Van
Horn to stand up and receive sentence.
Both listened to their fate without any out
ward semblance of emotion. John Crow
faced the issue without fear or
trembling. Constable Van Horn, the
younger man, had prepared himself to
meet whatever might be in store, and he
was equally composed.
In delivering the sentence Judge Ellison
said the defense had been conducted in an
unusually able and skiliful manner, but,
according to the evidence, he felt that he
must disregard the recommendation of the
jury for mercy (the jury had found the
defendants guilty of murder in the second
degree, with recommendation to the mercy
of the Court), and he imposed upon
each of the defendants a sentence of
twenty-five years in the State prison at San
Quentin.
On motion of counsel stay of proceed
ings was granted Tor thirty days, within
which bill of exceptions and an appeal
to the Supreme Court will be prepared.