The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-24
PUNISHMENT PRONOUNCED.
DALTON can PIRATES SENTENCED
BY JUDGE FITE.


sions of Chain-GanE Sentences.
The Judge Treated Them All Alike
as MisdemeanOrs-Capt Peoples
Fined but $500 and Costs Because
of His Being BOndsman for His
SonS-Chief Car Pirate BOhnnnOn
sent to the Penitcntiary for Ten
Years in Two Cases. and Sentences
in Two CnseS suspended.
Dalton. Ga. Oct 23.-The car pirates
trial came to an end to-day. for the pres
ent term. with the pronouncing Of SEN
tence upon the members of the Bohannan
gang. who were found guilty or entered
Meas as well as their accessories. who
received and sold the stolen goods.
The court house was crowded, and the
array Of prisoners was remarkable, being
without parallel in the courts of the state
for the number Of men who had been trust
ed and honored in the community.
Judge Fite in ascending the bench pre-
paratory to dealing out the sentences said:
Il am not going to sentence any of these
men for receiving stolen goods TO the peni-
tertiary, mainly because your juries have
recommended them 20 the mercy of the
court. neither am ] going to send those
there who pleaded guilty. am going to
treat them all as misdemeanors. At one
time this morning, thought would make
a distinction between those who pleaded
guilty. and those who were found guilty,
bv sending the last named, those found
guilty. to the penitenuary or jail, but
have since decided that would treat them
all as misdemeanors.
The first man. Judge Fife told to stand
ap and receive sentence was John II. Ben
der former Dalton merchant and, until
last night. onetof the city aldermen. He
rendered his resignation to the city coun-
Gil last night. As Bender commenced MAX
ing his statement to the court his body
shook with emotion, the tears came to his
ewes. and in a trembling voice he told the
court of his misfortune. He said he went
into business with 1000 in cash, and when
he was burned out a few months ago he
owed 81. 500, but he was now trying to pay
every honest dollar he owed. The judge
asked Bohannan how many times he had
sold Benders goods: Three times" was
the reply. Bender had been found guilty in
one case and pleaded guilty in another.
oMr. Bender. owing to your financial
condition" said the court, Il will only
fine you $3.50 and twelve months in the
ehain-gang the chain-gang sentence to be
suspended on payment of the fine and
costs" The costs in each case amount TO
about $50
Next came Capt. T. J. Peoples, former
local agent of the Western and Atlantic
railroad at this place, but who resigned
last Monday He did not make any state
ment to the court, but stood up to re-
ceive his sentence.
capt. Peoples" said Judge Fite you
and l have been good friends, and I re-
greet having to pass sentence on you in
a case of this kind. l had intended put
ting a heavy fine on you, but your sons
having left you, and you being on their
bond, 1 will not fine you as heavily as
intended. You will pay fine of $500, all
costs, and serve twelve months in the
chain-gang the chain-gang sentence to be
suspended on payment of the fine and
Costs
Next G. NJ CMackO Cannon, Dalton's
richest merchant was brought before
court. He made a statement about the
same as that published yesterday. Judge
Fife said: "A man of your prominence
should not have been guilty of doing what
you udNW uOIlts Dul L all GOAlS " lilc
you enough to settle this case, and the
others against you will not go any fur
Their. You will pay fine of 1000 and
costs and serve twelve months in the
chain-gang the last part of the sentence
TO. be suspended on the payment of the
fine and costs"
G. ]. Koran was fined 800 and six
months in the chain-gang.
w. b. AcCarson, 500 and six months in
the chain-gang.
J. Kirk Farrar. $3.50 and six months in
the chain-gang.
Clee Cambee, $50 and six months in the
ehain-gang.
Ed Roberts, S25 and three months in jail.
Anderson Giddens, $500 and six months
On the chain-gang.
The Changing or Jail sentence in each
of the cases, was suspended on payment of
the fine and costs.
The Bohannon gang was then sentenced.
Walter Bohannon, the leader of the car
pirates, had heard the state in convictlng
those, who had received stolen goods from
him. He had entered a plea of guilty in
four cases. For two cases he was SEN
fenced to ten years in the pententiary,
and the sentence was suspended in the
other cases.
Tom Kinniman, who pleaded guilty,
three years in the penitentiary
Sam Painter, who had pleaded guilty,
went 70 the penltenuary for three years.
Ben Pearce, with the same plea, receiv-
ed the same sentence.
Bill Long, with the same plea, but who
Us not considered very bright, was given
one year in the penitentiary.
ia. Morris, a negro, under a plea of
guilty, was sentenced to three years in
the penitentiary.
Lutte White, same plea, and mitigating
circumstances, one year in the chan-gang.
Ralph Ellison was found guilty in one
case and pleaded guilty in another with
mitigating circumstances, one year In the
penitenuary.
Jim Harris, who has been designated by
oil the lawyers at the bar as Judas
lscariot," was not sentenced and will not
be until next week.
There are other indictments, but the
trials will not take place until the next
term of court.
on account of the robberies of which
these suits were the result, the Southern
railroad claims to have paid damages
10 consgnors amounting to 900 during
the five years the gang were making their
depradations.
RECEIVER APPOINTED.