The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-06

Ogden, April 5.-The courtroom was
crowded to its utmost capacity this
morning half an hour before the time
for the sentence of William Edison had
arrived Edison was brought in and
appeared no whit disconnected by the
position in which he found himself. A
number of hs faithful relatives and
friends were with him as on former
trying occasions.
Whispers went around that Judge
Rolapp was going to give a lenient
sentence-that the tears and pleadings
of the young mans mother, sister and
other relatives had prevailed and
would soften the harshness of the SEN
tence. But the feeling was dispelled
when the judge entered. The stiffness
was intense when the court began the
perfunctory part of the charge, say
ing:
ION the Sth day of December, 1896
the county attorney of this county
filed an information in this court
charging you with the offenSe of as
sault with intent to commit murder.
On the 18th. day of the same month
you were arraigned and pleaded not
guilty to this charge. You were there
after lIleQ Nv jury, anu lllC july
found by their verdict that you were
guilty as charged in the information.
Have you anything TO say at this
time why the judgment of the court
should not be pronounced upon that
Yerdict?'
Edison promptly answered, No, sir"
A PERJURER.
Your mother and sister," continued
Judge Rolapp, have been TO see me,
and / sympathize deeply with them,
and it must be a hard thing for
mother and a hard thing for relative
to have a son or brother charged with
a crime, and particularly hard TO see
YOU charged with ii, under the peculiar
circumstances of this charge; but the
jury byrtheir verdict have Said-and L
think properly-that you committed an
attempt 10 murder Lille OFT. l nave
not the slightest doubt, from the evil
dence that has been disclosed here,
that such was your intention. You EVIL
IDENTIFY did intend to kill the girl you
said you loved. Besides that, the YER
diet of the jury has said-and 1 think
properly-that you committed an adj
ditional crime-you perjured yourself IN
saving that the girl had improper re-
lations with you. The evidence does
not subscantiate such statement,
and but for the interference of provi-
ready to be sentenced TO death; and
but for the interference of this verdict
a good many people might believe that
girl dishonored. She is now Vindlcated
SO far as that is concerned.
NO MERCY.
.eThe court has the discretion. under
the statute. given by the legislature, /,
to vary the judgment, vary the number |
of wears imprisonment that a person I
should suffer for mis- crime. evidently /
intending that there were degrees Of |
this crime, and there no doubt it; but /
am inclined to think that if there ever /
was a case where the full intent of |
that crime was committed and inten- |
siffed. you have demonstrated that TO
the court.
Il think that if. during the time you
may be in the penitentiary, you indi-
cate by your conduct and future be-
havior that you have repented of this
wrong. that you viii right it and be-
come the good citizen you ought TO be,
after you have served your punish
nent, and the person whom you have
most wronged viii join in appealing for
you. I viii be glad then To extend the
mercy which at this time I am unable
TO.
The sentence of the court is that
you be confined in the state prison at
salt Lake City for the period of ten
IearS.
EDISON NOT AFFECTED.
Edison was TO all appearances the
,almest person in the room when the
udge concluded. Re looked about with
faint smile on his handsome face.
Deputy Sheriff Ballantyne touched him
N the shoulder and the young man
ook his hat and quietly went with the
fficer.
EFFORTS TO DELAY JUDGMENT.
The sentencing was preceded by eff
crts OF the young mans attorneys to
ave new trial, and an arrest of judg-
lent. The motions were overruled. ,
II the statutory grounds were plead {
Or the new trial and the stay of judg- !
lent, but without avail. One point on
rhich the defense laid great stress was
hat the information named Lille h.
ut as the injured person. whereas the l
roof showed that Lillian May OFT was l
ne girl shot.
WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN TODAY.
William S. Edison will be taken to {
he states prison at 8 o'clock tomor- !
NV (TUesdayl morning, to begin the
crying of his sentence !
Just what win be done with the other /
large against him has not yet been Z
stermined. ?