The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-03-12
CIRCUIT COURT.
KELLER AND BUTLER SEN
FENCED.

VIC AublOI 4Oh OI1uulndl OOCk0l
Disposed of and the Jury Dis
charged-Judge McSherry's Re
marks-A Peculiar Insane Case
Court convened IN regular session
on Friday last, took up the docket
and imposed sentence upon the con
victed murderers, Robert +. Keller
and Benjamin F. Butler.
Judge McSherry in his predatory
remarks said that the crime Keller was
guilty of was the most atrocious and
diabolical in the criminal annals Of
the county, aud only the ability Of
his counsel saved his neck from the
gallows. The jury which sat upon his
case was one of the most intelligent
and attentive that was ever empannel
ed in the court room and the verdict
of murder in the second degree was
rendered in strict accordance with the
evidence in the case. Keller was sen.
fenced to eighteen years in the peni.
tentiary-the full limit.
Butler was next called and after q
few words by the Judge received the
full penalty for his crime-ten years
in the penitentiary. Full accounts OF
the crime for which Keller and Butler
were arraigned appeared in the last is
sue of the CITIZEN. Both men are
now serving their terms. Each may
get two months off every year for good
behavior.
The case of the State VS.. Charles
Cramer, on two charges of assault,
was then taken up. Cramer was in
dicted for assaulting w. P. Edwards
in Frederick, aud for an assault upon
Mr.. Miller, conductor upon the Fred
erick and Middletown Electric Road.
In both cases of assault verdict of
not guilty was rendered.
The next case taken up was that OF
the State vs.. Otis Speaks. in which the
prisoner was charged with assaulting
Lysander Etchison. The jury render
ed verdict of guilty and the court
imposed the penalty of thirty days in
jail.
Lorenzo Watkins, charged with an
assault and attempt to kill on Samuel
Holloway, was adjudged guilty of
common assault aud sent to Jail for go
days.
The case of Samuel Whiting, charged
with bastardy, was settled by Whiting
marrying the woman.
This was the last case to be tried be-
fore the petit jury and they were dis
charged.
Before the adjournment of court
Judge McSherry, in the course OF his
remarks said:
"Another thing / intend to speak of
is the manner in which witnesses are
summoned who are entirely ignGrant
of facts in the cases in which they are
to testify. In the case just disposed of
ten witnesses were summoned, and no
less than seven knew nothing what
ever of the trouble. Such methods in
vOlve an unnecessary expenditure OF
public money. Witnesses are paid one
dollar day for their presence in court,
and they must not be summoned I'M
less they are known to be acquainted
with facts concerning the case that is
to be tried"
Reuben Whitmore, of Rocky Ridge,
was tried before jury de lunaticO in
quirendo and adjudged of unsound
mind He was committed to Monte
Vue.
This man, upon complaint of resi-
dents in that vicinity, was arrested by
Sheriff Mcbride and brought to this
city. His appearance suggesteda life
of the most degenerate and degraded
kind. He had not shaved for years
and his apparel-if it could be called
such-was in the most dilapidated
state of decay. He lived in a mud hut
and shared his humble quarters with
his dogs and chickens. His family con-
necUions are good, and he owned sew.
eral hundred dollars. He is perfectly
harmless and wanted only to be lei
alone In conversation he is not unin-
telligent and discussed his case with
much interest. He was disguised with
mankind and took to hermit's life on
that account He suggests the old say
ing, and probably had it in mind, "the
more / see of men the more like
dogs"
There is a great diversity of opinion
concerning the verdict, many believing
it injustice to deprive man of his lib
erty without better grounds than harm
less insanity. Many also doubt this
diagnosis and say he is only cranky
and peculiar.
He appeared in Frederick the othel
day dressed in new suit, clean shaver
and washed. and very few recognized
him as the Hermit of Rocky Ridge.