Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-29
Sent to the Penitentiary for Term
of Five Years.
STRONG PLEA FOX MERCY MADE
Late Treasurer of Columbian Uni
versity in the Dock.
THE JUDGES REMARK S

Robert II. Martin. who last week pleaded
guilty of embezzli.s nearly $4,000 of the
funds of the Columbian University while
treasurer of that institution, was today
sentenced in Criminal Court No by Chief
Justice Bingham TO five years impriscn-
ment in the New Jersey state prison u;
hard labor.
The sentence was much more severe
than Martin OF his attorneys. Messrs. An
Grew i. Lipscomb and Charles II. Turner.
had expected, yet, as Chief Justice Iing-
ham explained in imposing sentence, the
Indictment being one OF five counts, each
count relating to separate date and
amount, he could have made the sentence
one of Imprisonment for twenty-five years
and fine of $4,000. While the sentence
was being imposed Martin stood with bow
ed head. flushed face and hands clasped
before him, in the presence of denseiy
crowded court room, and as the court re-
marked that he could not, in justice to So
ciety, make the sentence other than a
term of imprisonment in the penitentiary,
he shuddered- When the judge had con-
cluded, Martin was taken into the private
Office of Marshal Wilson, where he was
allowed to spend some time in conversa ton
with his wife, after which his pedig zee
where he will remain until transported
with the next batch of convicts to the
penitentiary at Trenton, ". j.
Stocks and Drugs.
When Martins case was called UP this
morning by Assistant District Attorney
Shillington. the court was informed that
the government had no suggestions to make
In view of the fact that the court had been
made fully acquainted with all the facts in
the case Mr.. Lip.comb. however. made Il
strong plea for a light term in jail He
referred to the discretion allowed the court
In the matter of making the Imprisonment
In jail or In the penitenttary. or imposing
nne only, ana said that, notwithstanding
the defendants guilt, freely acknowledged
ne mad been an otherwise moral man, and
mad spent the money he took neither on
women nor in drink He lived with his
little family, said Mr. Lipscomb quietly
and in no extravagant manner. But in an
unfortunate moment he allowed the desire
LOT gain through speculation to overcome
him, and the first amount of money was
taken. 1t was. said Mr. Lipscomb. lost at
the New York stock market; a second time
ne lost, and SO 1t went on and on The
man. further explained his attorney, be-
came addicted to the morphine habit, and
that had its effect on him, sending him
further down on his hopeless course
referring to the contention that the
punishment OF Offenders against law is
designed for their reformation as well as to
deter others, Mr.. Lpscomb said Martins
reformation would be fully secured by .
short term in Jail. He had inflicted no per
ihJuiy save On nlm9eI1 and family
said Mr. Lpscomb, and no injury would he
done society by the imposition of such a
sentence. and the mans little family now
dependent wholly on the charity of Others,
Woulu IN short time, should such a SEN
tence be imposed, nave the husband and
1ather with them again to care for and
project them Il hope that your honor
may see nt, said Mr.. Lipscomb, in con-
ciusion to do this. That you NAV feel
justified in giving this man light iai, sen
tence" 'oi' Seii
Passing Sentence,
Martin was then told to stand I'D. and in
reply to the courts inquiry, stated he had
nothing to say why sentence should not be
pronounced upon him.
Shei justice Bingham then proceeded tn
pass sentence. explaining that it was a dutv
ne would gladly avoid. if possible. The de-
Iendant had acknowledged to his guiIt of
HNe separate OffenSeS and If heoen,a -
Imperative duty to impose sentence Tba
court had been made fully acnuaintai III
az ne lacts in the case through the renort
Oh the trustees of The university tho g.
rectness of which report the dsfsnd. oo
niltted- The embezzlements were not m.
@ .els OF sudden impulse, but of studied man-
Fieu on until discovered Ni :
All this time" said the conrt g.. ~,
~ were enjoying a favored position in
socfety. member Of an influential cb,,roi, ~
tb;s al 49, ehe tlme leading double life. All
70 De an upright man and resnectad 49,,
Dy ihe world about you Your disnositior
OF the funds taken by you does NOT e~n,sa
you, Tor IN a man of your education and
positlon there can be no such excnsa 80
you must have known that Won were do;
wrong have no doubt You have snesara59
nave no doubt that you are truIv nani
tent and sincerely sorry for w;nat vo, haIa
oone. but no thought of disgrace or wrong
ooiEs seems to have stopped Won untiI vo,'r
CRIME was discovered. The appeaIs rada
py your counsel and by your friends bauo
been OF the strongest character and wouId
nave induced me to impose a term of i'm
pI.sonment in Jail had been free to foIloyy
my own personal inclinations But I can
rot in view of my duty, in view of the
rights of society, do that Society must he
protected, and all others occupyinp nosj
uons or trust must be taught that thev
cannot disobey the law. To impose merely
a light sentence Of imprisonment In taiI or
inhict q small fine you would be taken
as license by others to do wrong
My duty is, therefore," said the chief
justice, IN conclusion, Ito impose a term OF
imprisonment in the penitentiary Under
the indictment / could make the term one
OF twenty-five years and the fine s25 coo
but that would be unnecessarily severe
Any term of Imprisonment in the penitep
uary viii be severe punishment to q man
Ike you, and in order that the law NAV
be enforced. and that a proper examine
may be made for the guidance of others
the sentence of the court is that Won he
taken TO the New Jersey state prison AT
Trenton, and there confined at hard labor
Tor the period of five years"