The times., 1897-06-05
THE TALCOTT SENTENCE
Defendant Fined $3.50 for As
saulting Five Little Girls.
JUDGE KIMBALL'S REASONS
Said He Had No Doubt the De-
fendaut Was Guilty of the Helm
ous Grimes, But on Account Of
His Feeble Physical Condition
Would Not Imprison Him.

Sentence was imposed upon Alfred b.
Talcott, the aged electrician of the Capitol,
in tie police court yesterday for debauch-
ing five little girls, the eldest not yet
fourteen, OF which crime he was convicted
about three weeks ago, as 1ully detailed
in The Times. Moved by the prayers of
Talcott's counsel and by a letter from
his family physician, stating that lie could
not survive imprisonment, and in con sideT-
alton of the fact that the convicting jury
recommended mercy, Judge Kimball con-
sented to make the penalty line instead
of a Jail sentence. Accordingly the Of
fender was fined $50 in each case, or
$3.50.
Talcott was brought up from the District
jail to receive sentence and sat beside hs
counsel, looking at least live years older
from worIy and from the imprisonment
winch he has already undergone
II had at first been the intention of the
counsel for Taicott TO make a motion for a
new trial, but when the time came for
argument il was decided to allow aloott
to receive sentence, and to throw himself
upon the mercy OF the court Lawyer
c. Maurice Smith made the plea.
He called the attention of the court to
the fact that f Mr. Talcott should receive
a Jail sentence it would fail most heavily
not on his shoulders. but on those of his
family. Mr.. Talcott is an old man. and
even if given long Jail sentence, he said,
there not tie slightest doubt in the wosli
that he would die after very short period.
Even as it is,'' Mr. Smith continued,
pointing tc his client, who sat beside him,
the tears streaming from his eyes, your
honor can see how even this short period
of confinement has told upon this poor old
man How attenuated he appears. How
weak he evidently is.'
Lawyer Darlington also lsomadeanextended
prayer for mercy from the court. The jury
which convicted Mr.. TaIcott itself, he
said, had asked that the court would ex-
ercise clemency In the case. The prison
er had already suffered much in the shame
of the proceedings against him, and the
publicity to which 1t was given, and he
begged therefore, that the Judge would
impose a fine, instead OF jail sentence,
and that he would make the fine as light
as possible. as the principal burden would
fall on innocent shoulders-those of Mr..
Talcott's family.
In conclusion the attorneys for the lie
fense submitted to the court letter from
DIR. j. B. Gregg Custis. in which iJ was
stated that in the physicians opinion, ini-
prisonneut would he dangerous to Mt
Talcott's life Furthermore DR. Custis'
letter said that as Talcott's physician he
would professionally say that many Of the
facts alleged could not occur.
.u.-.x
for the Government, said that under ordi-
nary circumstances he would have asked
that long term of Imprisonment should he
imposed, but after consultation With lis
superior officer, District Attorney na is,
they had decided to leave the matter IN
tIreiy in the Judges hands.
This course, he said, was taken In con
sideration of the offenders extreme age,
the modification aud expense already IN
dergoue by himself and his family, and the
doctors certificate.
In imposing sentence, Judge Kimball ex-
pressed a heavy sense of responsibility
in handing such a case as that against
Talcott
II never in all my experience" be said.
"bave conc cted such a trial. An old man,
seventy-six years old, who has earned the
respect Of the community, who brings prom
inent citizens by the score TO testify to
his good character, is convicted on this
heinous charge, aud from the evidence in
the case i have no doubt justly convicted.
"But his old age, the jury's reconmenda-
tion to mercy, and, above all. the certifi-
cate attesting his ability to stand i'm
prsonnent, all combine TO induce me to
impose a fine instead of a sentence of
imprisonment. On the other hand, there
iF the Influence upon these girls and the
community TO he considered. If could
believe that the effects of his acts upon his
little vi,tms would stop where 1t is now =.
j would be most glad to impose light
fine, but who can doubt that his influence
viii last for many years. 1 am, there
fore, moved TO impose the heavy fine Of
$50 in each case