Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-10-08
impressive Sentences.

aI'n tell thee what is hell thy memory;
Recording, too,
With stern fidelity, the thousand Wrongs
Worked upon weakness and defenceiees-
ness.p
Judge Faulkner has had very on
erous duties to perform during the
term of court just about ending.
None heavier, can attend q citizen g
duty, and none nearly equal it, save
the conscientious, earnest considers
tions of jurors. Two instances have
occurred for infection of penalties,
where the crime committed was not
even tempered with the integer Of
mslicc, where the rending of human
flesh was not the object Of yen-
geance, but tue pastime OF inordi-
nate, carnal lust. Ia the one case,
that of Grant Hull for rape, after q
careful reviewing of the evidence,
the motion pending for new trial
was over ruled, thus sustaining the
verdict of the jury, the Judge pro.
ceeded to pass sentence. Calling
attention to the enormity of the
crime, the surrounding circum-
stances OF husband, father, also step
father of the young girl making
the accusation, the prisoner was adj
monished that the sole essentials
for moderate punishment, was the
careful verdict of the jury. and the
evidence of good character that fur
nished basis for the conclusion,
that his act was rather. that Of sud-
den passion, than generalization,
which could not furnish justification,
as single thought should have
halted, controlled and prevented so
vile an act. His term was fixed at
years in the penitentiary, but the
execution of sentence is withheld to
permit an appeal, If iesired, to the
Supreme Court.
In the case of the State vs.. B. f.
Fellers, those who heard Judge
Faulkner's remarks were seriously
impressed with the gravity of the
proceedings i the heinsusness of tho
crime, and the bestial appetite Of the
criminal,to such an extent, that only
the great dignity OF the law and ita
opponents, alone prevented an ex-
plosion OF emotion that would have
inflicted sudden and final punish.
ment. Right here, it may be said,
that during the trial, when the young
attorneys were struggling SO gallant
~, under appointment Of the Court,
in behalf of the accused, the great
dense crowd present was as q volca.
no, ready to burst forth in fury at
the slightest whisper of laws silence
or inaction. The majesty of the law
was perfect and of right, prevailed.
Judge Faulkner's remarks tersely
condens ed were as follows: His
duty was unpleasant, with the relief
however, that the prisoner had been
ably defended by attorneys, without
recompense, that the jury had been
careful in considering and rem
dering a verdict sustained by
his own conscience. The case
was aggravated, the crime mex
cusable, m.eriting, even most ex.
IRENE penalty, either the ending OF
life by legal process, or what might
be worse, a living death for life, in
the penitentiary, hut the sentence
provided by law, was the length of a
generation, long enough for repent
ance unto God and man, long
enough for atonement even to self
publication from such disgrace, long
enough for consistent virtue of man
hood and womanhood to hope that
he will be able to plead to mercy fol
release from his brutism, and to for.
get his usefulness and be classed
with the reclaimed, the regenerate
The solemn sentence, confinement
and treatment according to law in
the penitentiary, for twenty years.
followed and this sad drama 80 dis
tastefully interviewer with the
events of our people, ended.