Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-14
A FEARFUL SENTENCE.
Remarkable Condemnation Made by
u Judge and Ii Was Not Executed.
(AmcrICan Bar.)

Judge Benedict who was Associate JUS
tice Of the Supreme Court of New Mexico
for thirteen years from 1888 was an orig
inal character in many ways. one Jose
Maria Martin had been convicted in his
court of murder under a state Of facts
showing great brutality, and with no miti-
eating circumstances, whereupon Judge
Benedict sentenced him to death in the
following language:
Jose Maria Martin, stand mp. Jose
Maria Martin, you have been indicted,
tried, and convicted by a jury Of your
countrymen Of the crime of murder and
the Court is now about TO pass upon you
the dread sentence of the law. As a
usual thing. Jose Maria Martin, it is a
painful duty for the judge of a court Of
justice to pronounce upon human being
the sentence of death. There is something
horrible about it, and the mind of the
Court naturally revolts from the perform
ance of such a duty. Happily however,
your case is relieved of all such unpleasant
features, and the Court takes positive de-
light in sentencing you to death.
"You are a young man, Jose Maria Mar
tin, apparently Of good physical constitu-
ton and robust health. Ordinarily you
might have looked forward to many years
of life; and the Court has no doubt you
have; and have expected TO die at
green old age; but you are about to be
cut off in consequence of your own act.
Jose Maria Martin, it is now the spring
time: in a little while the grass will be
springing up green in those beautiful val
legs, and upon those broad mesas and
mountain sides flowers will be blooming;
birds will be singing their sweet carols.
and Nature will be putting on her most
gorgeous and most attractive robes, and
life will be pleasant, and men will want
to stay. but none of this for you, Jose
Maria Martin: the flowers will not bloom
for you, Jose Maria Martin. the birds will
not carol for you, Josie Maria Martin.
When these things come TO gladden. the
senses of men you will be occupying
space about by 2 beneath the sod, and
the green grass and those beautiful How
ers will be growing above your lowly
head.
"The sentence Of the Court is that you
be taken from this place TO the county
iaiI: that you be there kept safely and
securely confined in the custody Of the
Sheriff until the day appointed for your
execution BE very careful, Mr.. Sheriff,
that he have no opportunity TO escape,
and that YOU have him at the appointed
place. and at the appointed time. That
Won be so kept, Jose Maria Martin. until
Mr. Clerk. on what day of the month
does Friday, about two weeks from this
time come? CMarch 22d, your HONOR
very well. until Friday, the I'D day of
March. when you will be taken by the
Sheriff from your place of confinement TO
some safe and convenient spot within the
county; this is within your discretion,
Mir. Sherin-you are only confined to the
limits Of the county; and that you be
there hanged by the neck until you are
dead. and-the Court was about 10 add,
lose Maria Martin, may God have mercy
on your soul, but the Court will not as
sumo the responsibility Of asking an All
Wise Providence to do that which jury
of your peers has refused TO 40. The lSord
couldn't have mercy on your soul. HOW
ever. II you belong 10 any religious or
ganization, II might be well enough ior
YOU 20 send for your priest, or your min
ister and get from him-weil-such con-
solatin as you can, but the Court ADVISES
Won 10 place no reliance upon anything OF
that kind. Mr.. Sheriff, remove the prl-
sOner."
II is a pleasant sequel 10 this dreadful
sentence that dose Maria Martin escaped
from iail and died peacefully several
wears ago by falling out of a wagon ana
breaking his neck.