The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-21
sinPsoN PLEADS ron slnPsor.
Client Prererred state Frissn. but ne ana
his CsRnsei CO 70 the Rererunatory.

Client Preferred state Prissn, but ne snd
his Cspnset CO 70 the RefertnntsFy.
Frederick Simpson, who was convicted in the
General Sessions on Friday last of forgery, and
who acted as his own lawyer during the trial.
was sentenced yesterday by Judge Mcmahon
to the Elmira Retormatory. When Simpson
was arraiRned in Part III. Of the General Ses-
sions for sentence, no stood up and said:
Your Honor. 1 appear here as counsel for
Frederick Simpson, who IL about TO be sen.
fenced under a conviction for forgery. 1 be-
lievo that lenity should DO extended to the gen.
teman. In the first place, when no was tried
In this court a year ago on an indictment charg-
ing q similar crime, he appeared as his own
counsel and succeeded In acquitting himself,
there being no evidence to show that he was
guilty Of the crime charged. Again he was
placed on trial on a charge of forgery and de-
fended himself. this time the jury disaRreelnG.
Aftor that experience an ordinary defendant
would have been given his liberty. But this
defendant was put on trial for the third time
and then convicted. 1 believe now that II he
was given an opportunity to begin life anew he
would turn out to be a better man. There has
never beer anything brought here against his
character. The ends OF Justice would Be met
pIeases, l now appeal in his behalf for lenity,
and ask you to suspend sentence in his case
Mr.. Simpson, you have made an eloquent ap:
peal in behalf OF Simpson, your client" said
Judge Mcmahon, smiling. You have de-
fcnded his case In an able monnor, and l don't
think he has any fault to find with his counsel.
But l wish to inform you that your client has
eleven other complaints lodged against him,
and, o owing to this fact, there ia nothing for me
to do but to send him to the Eltnira Reformatory.
There he will have n chance to reform, and II
he behaves himself he will be able to come out
and lead n new lifo."
Your Honor" replied Simpson, my client
prefers to go to state prison. The extreme
penalty under the law for tho crime of which
he has been convicted IL ten years. l would
recommend that you send him TO State prison.
as he prefers going there. A State prison
convict stands q better show to reform than a
graduate of the Elmira Reformatory does. Our
cities are now filled with ticket.of.leave-men
from Elinira. They cannot get employ m ont
nywhere tor their records are too we'll known.
Consequently they do not try to reform. They
go on In the same old way. II a man goes to
State prison he is buried there, and his record
is not hunted up when he seeks honest employ
ment; therefore l would prefer that you make
It State prison instead OF the Elmira Re-
formatory."
II will send you to the Reformatory," said
Judge Mcmahon. "or. IL you prefer me to say 80.
l will send your client to the Reformatory, and
there he will have a chance of reforming. II
after ho gets to tho Iteformatory he wishes to
go TO State prison, he can get there from Ell
mira by misbehaving himself. But l think that
the Elmira R~eformatory is the best place for
him."
Simpson bowed and walked back to the prison
non.