The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-29
QUINN'S HEAVY SENTENCE.
1t VIII Be Nineteen Years Before He
Will Again Be a Free Man.

John Quinn's second desperate at
tempt cost him years of liberty. I'm
less his conduct is such that some
future governor thinks fit to pardon
him, the boy will be nearly 40 years of
age before he is again free.
The authorities proceeded with all
due speed yesterday, for the purpose
of getting the desperate young man in
safe place, where he could not be a
prey upon society, and at 10 o'clock he
was brought before Judge Belden,
where he secured fifteen years for the
crime of holding up J. A. Avery, on
NicOllet avenue, near Fifteenth street,
and two and One-half years for jail
breaking. He has yet a year and one
half to serve, which makes nineteen
years full time which he will have to
serve before he is released, unless he
gets good time in which case the pun
ishment may be shortened by about
one-third.
Quinn was taken to the jail by four
officers, and there his disposition again
showed itself. The doors to the cells
are operated by a system of levers
from the outside. Quinn was pushed
into the corridor, and the door was
locked. He was ordered to go into his
cell, that the levers might be swung
to lock him in, but he was obliged to
pass the open cell door where Charles
w. Blake was confined, and he thirsted
for revenge. He was fully convinced
that it was Blake who had told of his
attempts at escape, and with a bound
he was upon Blake, and had struck
him in the face. His eyes flashed, and
as the jailors were outside, it looked
very bad for Blake, who was helpless
with rheumatism.
Blake yelled for help, and a fellow
to- L.
grabbed Quinn, holding him until the
door could be opened again and Quinn
secured. He was placed in his cell
and shackled as a punishment while
preparations were made to take him
to saltwater at lao o'clock. Outside
the Jail office, on the settee, was
QUinn's mother and sister, weeping CO.
piously. Quinn had not glanced at
them as he passed on his way to the
cell, and they were not allowed to
visit him, for the patience of the Jail
ers had been exhausted.
Judge Belden made short work Of thu
highWayman. Quinn was brought be-
fore him, and T. A. Clarity pleaded for
him, saying that he was naturally a
very bright fellow and was repentant.
His first trouble had been through love
for his brother, and consisted in as
saulting an officer with a bottle when
For this he was given five years, which
was committed to four, after which he
was let out after serving two years.
He had attempted to escape because it
was a forlOrn hope, as he had thought
he would pass the rest Of his life in
prison because of so many charges.
Have you anything to say, Mr.
Quinn, why the sentence Of the court
should not be pronounced?" asked the
court.
-. Well, in the first place." was the reply,
lis has been brought out that 1 originated
all these ideas; that it was 1 who proposed
these hold-ups, and I want the court to un-
ders-and that | did not. / am willing to
take my own share for what belongs to me
by rights, and l bear no ill-wll against anv
one connected with this, but all these things
were proposed to me by Mitchell. He was
out of work, and l was getting a good sal
airy. l have never said anything against
MIN, and don't want to now, but it was not I
brought in
'Ycu may, be sworn, Mr.. QUINN said the
court, shortly.
In response to the questions Quinn said he
was born in Minneapolis, Oct. 80 1876. His
mother, Mary Quinn, lived at PIG Blooming
ton avenue. He has an uncle, Thomas Quinn.
who has blacksmith shop. and his other
relatives are Charles and Rose King living
at Fourth avenue and Seventeenth street He
left school at fourteen years of age to go to
work. He had been drunk but twice in his
Il want to say said the court sthat 7
am not personally responsible for the SEN
tence given Mitchell your accompIice.
whether l would have given him the SEN
tence he received l am not prepared to saw
AS far as May White is concerned. I am
convinced that she was only responsible in a
lesser degree. AS for you, there is no doubt
but what you are entirely responsible for
as your attorney said, you are a bright Young
man. The offense committed is Of a very
atT9clous character The crime Of robbery is
outlawry, for the robber defes the law and
becomes the enemy of the public The dutv
deVolVlng upon me at this time is yerv
hard one, but it is nevertheless a duty II
is the sentence of this court that Won he
confined at hard labor at the state prison AT
Saltwater for the period of Is wears. to com
mence at the expiration of that sentence given
you July A. 1894"
Quinn did not change countenanca hut q
deep drawn breath from the crowd, almost
like a sigh.
eff the court please, move for sentence for
the crime of escaping from custody to which
Quinn has pleaded guilty. said Mr. Prrdv
Mr.. Clarity pleaded that the sentence be
suspended and the charge be held over Quinn S
head until he was released finally.
He has the opportunity all convicts have -
sad the court, to shorten his sentence. AS
70 SuSpending sentence, l have looked over
the law carefully, and I am convinced that
no court has the right to suspend any SEN
tence 1t is therefore an imperative duty on
my part when the county attorney moves
Tor sentence, that I impose it, II is tbe
judgment of this court that you be confined
at hard labor at Saltwater for the period of
two and one-half years, the sentence to begin
at the expiration of the former sentence
Quinn shut his teeth hard and Left Tho
court room, almost at a run guarded Nv tho
officers, who feared violence in the hallway
Where many of his friends were congregated
He was, however, safely lodged in iail and
later removed to Saltwater as above stated.