Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-20
SHAVERS GETSONEYEAR
Slayer Of John W. Dent Sentenced by Judge
NoreI To-day.
MAKES A STATEMENT TO THE COURT.


AL Shavers. convicted by jury last
Sunday morning Of Involuntary man-
slaughter, for the killing OF John w.
Dent, at a colored dance In this city
last November, was today sentenced by
Judge Norreli 10 one year in the coun-
ty Jail
Before sentence was pronounced John
NJ. Zane spoke briefly in the defendant S
behalf He called the courts attention
TO the verdict and the Recommendation
TO mercy. There could be no doubt MT.
Zane said, but what the jury found in
accordance with the courts instruc-
tons, Reviewing the testimony, Mr.
Zane said il was plain shaycrs had no
malicious motive in his heart al the
time of the shooting. The jury had
without doubt adopted the idea that
the chair was used by @. Il. Hutton
In an aggressive manner. a man should
not be eensured for drawing a revolver
when he had no intention OF shooting
anyone. Shavers object was to frishteh
of the men attacking him.
Mr. Zane thought some weight should
be given the jury's recommendation.
shavers had been confined for the past
five months in the county jail which
ought to be now considered by the
court.
SHAVERS MAKES A TALK.
AS soon as Mr.. Zane had taken his
seat. Shavers, who had been all the
while standing. commenced TO address
the court In his right hand he held his
hat, which he twirled nervousiy
around.
Il want TO simply state" he said.
'that l was assai.ed by so many OF
those fellows that reached for my re-
volver Just to frighten them. ] had no
intention OF shooting. After l was
grabbed, fell and then the gun went
Off.
HAD BEEN ARRESTED BEFORE.
Mr.. Putnam said Shavers was not de-
serving of any consideration ana ought
therefore to receive the maximum pun
ishment. He further said that the evil
dence showed Shavers to be bad man,
that he had been in the police court
on numerous occasions and fined Tor
breaking the law.
Referring to the verdict and recon-
mendation of the jury Mr.. Putnam
said there was no doubt In his mind but
what the Jurors were laboring under
misapprehenslon
How do you know? Do you get your
information through tine uHliy papers
inquired Mr.. Zane.
my information comes from reli-
able source and know what I'm talk
ing about" replied Mr. Putnam, with
some warmth.
Mr.. Zane was proceeding to relate a
conversation he had with one OF the
jurymen. without mentioning his name.
when he was interrupted by the court.
who said It didn't care to hear what
the Jury thought, said or did: ver-
dict had been returned and the court
could do no other than to sentence the
defendant for the crime of which he
had been convicted.
Continuing, his honor said the state
ments OF the witnesses were somewhat
conflicting, but thought the circum-
stances surrounding the defendant at
the time of the shooting was somewhat
aggravating. So far as the actual
trouble was concerned, Shavers, the
court said. was the cause of It, A man
was always expected to have control
over himself. To pull a gun In
crowded ball room. even II there was
no intention to shoot. showed great
carelessness.
Concluding, Judge Norrell said:
THE maximum punishment, to the
COURTS mind. is not too great The de-
PENDANT has gotten light verdict and
the sentence of this court is that YOU
be confined In the county jail for a
period of one year"
Shavers was then taken to prison by
Dpnuty Shpriff nurt