Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-25
GIVEN THE FULL LIMIT
William Clark Sentenced to Eight Years I'm
prisonment for Assaulting Kessler.
Judge Bradley Serves Notice That
ccive No Mercy From Him.

Judge Bradley, this morning, in sentenc-
ing William, alias bliss" Clark, the young
negro who shot Zadock kessler. the 25d
of last February, served notice on the
criminal classes that they will receive lit
tie, If any, mercy, when brought before
him and convicted of sucn offenses. Sew
eral years ago, when Judge Bradley was
as now, holding Criminal Court, he pub
Hcly announced that in all cases of assault,
with intent to kill he would impose the
maximum penalty. He said there was en-
tirely too much shooting and cutting here
and he intended to see if the imposition OF
the maximum penalty, eight years in the
penitentiary at hard labor, would not stor
! 1t. The judge made good his promise, with
the result that there was a material de-
crease in the commission of such crimes
during his presence in the Criminal Cour,
That Judge Bradley intends to readop,
such course is evident from his action to.
day in the case of Clark
MI. hessier runs a store at 10th and C
streets northeast and on the evening of
the I'D of last February two young negro
men entered the place. While one of
them held a pistol at Mr. Kessler's head
the other proceeded to rob the store. In
some way the weapon was discharged ard
Mr. kesSler fell with bail il his neck,
the negroes running off.
Recently Clark and William Hall, an
other young negro, were arrested and SEN
| fenced in the Police Court to year each
i'll jail for petty larcenies, and the police
authorities became convinced that the
men were implicated i'll the shooting OF
Mr.. kessler. Hall finally confessed that
they were, and on his statement Clark
was yesterday afternoon indicted for as
saulting Mr. kessler with intent to kill
MIN.
Clark was brought before Judge Bradley
this morning and pleaded guilty. He adj
mitted that ne and Hall entered Mr.. kess-
ler's store for the purpose of robbing him,
and that he held the revolver at Mr.. kess-
lcr's head for the purpose of intimidating
him. But l didn't intend to shoot the
man." the negro explained. ''You see. the
pistol was a self-cocking one. judge. your
honor and somehow it went of. Then we
| lit out and run, like we always did
Judge Bradley demonstrated his knowl-
edge of firearms by remarkinS to Clark:
Yes, and unless you had pressed the
trigger that pistol would, in the first place
never have been cooked, and in the second
place. it required another pressure OIL your
finger to fire it "
Deed. your honor" protested the ne
gro, Il never tended TO shoot the man..
why did you carry the pistol, then?''
inquired the judge.
''Jes' to frigheen the man. your honor, .
said Clark.
II regret said Judge Bradley that
the law does not permit me to impose a
penalty much more severe than that pro-
viGed for assault, with intent to kill. for
/ think you deserve more. If the law pro-
v6ed a longer term l would not hesitate
to give you the limit. You deserve 10
mercy aud you will receive none from me
The sentence is that you be confined in
the New Jersey state prison at hard la
Dor for the period OF eight years. this SEN
tence to take effect upon the expiration
or the one you are now serving in jail
The severity of the sentence rather stun
ned Clark. but there a rlurmur OF
approval in the crowded court room as he
was led to the cage below. Mr.. Kcsser
was able to appear in court TODAY but the
ball is still embedded in his reck he hay
1rg narrowly escaped death. Hall, Clark s
companion. having been used as a wit
ness before the grand jury by the govern
for the offense