The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-08
sENTEYcED TO DEATH.
Most Remarkable Address by Jadgo
m Known IN Crlminni Annals.

Most 1toinnrkhblc Address by Juugo
Known In Criminni Annals.
American Bar: Judge Benedict, who
was associate justice OF the supreme
court OF New Mexico for thirteen years,
from 1858, was an original character in
many ways One Jose Maria Martin
had been convicted In his court OF MUIR
der under state OF facts showing
great brutality and with no mitigating
circumstances, whereupon Judge Bene-
dict sentenced him to death In the fol-
lowing language: %
Jose Maria Martin stand up. Jose
Maria Martin, you have been indicted.
tried and convicted by Jury Of your
corntrymen OF. the crime Of murder,
and the court Is now about to pass upon
you the dread sentence OF the law. As
usual thing. Jose Maria Martin, It Is
4 painful duty for the Judge Of n court
OF justice 10 pronounce upon a human
being the sentence Of death. There Is
something Horrible about II. and the
mind Of Z the court naturally revolts
from the performance OF such duty.
Happily. however, your case Is relieved
of all such unpleasant features, and the
court takes positive delight In sentence
ing you TO death. Z
you are q youTg man, Jose Maria
Martin. apparently Of good physical
constitution and robust health. ordi-
narily You might have looked forward
to many years OF life, and the court has
no doubt You have, and have expected
to die at Il green old age; but you are
about TO be cut of In consequence OF
your own act. Jose Maria Martin, It Is
IT In tub Ia
the grass Will be sprInglEg up green In
those beautiful valleys. and upon those
broad mesas and mountain sides flow
ers Will be blooming; birds will be sing
lng 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
y you, Jose Maria Martin; the birds will
not carol for you, Jose Maria Martin,
When these things come to gladden. the
senses Of men you will be occupying q
space about six by two beneath the sod,
and the green grass and those beauti-
full flowers Will be growing above your
lowly head ts- a7EIt
THE sentence of the court Is that you
be taken from this place to the county
jail; 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 appoints
ed place and at the appointed time.
That you be so kept, Jose Maria Martin,
until-Nr. Clerk, on what day of the
month does Friday about two weeks
from this time come? (lIarch 90. your
honor)-very we'll, until Friday, the 22d
day OF March, when you will be taken
by the sheriff from your place of con-
finement to some safe and convenient
spot within the county; this Is In your
discretion, Mr.. SherIff-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 to add Jose Maria Martin,
May God have mercy on your SOUL but
the court will not assume the RESPONSE
bl!ity of asking an All-Wise Providence
to do that which a jury of your peers
has refused to do. The Lord couldn't
have mercy on your soul. However, IL
you belong to any religious organiza-
ton. 1t might be we'll enough for you to
send for your priest, or your minister,
and get from him-wei!-such consola-
tlon rs you can, but the court advises
you to place no reliance upon anything
OF that kind. Mr.. Sheriff, remove the
prisoner"
1t is pleasant sequel to this dreade
full sentence that Jose Maria Martin
escaped from jail and died. peacefully
several years ago by falling out OF a
wagon and breaking his neck.