Evening star., 1898-03-04
, SENTENCED TO DEATH..
Nest Remarkable Address by n Judg,
Known In Criminal Annals,

Nest Remarkable Address by u Judge
Known In Criminal Annals.
From the American Bar "a - s'''''t -..'i'F
Judge Benedict who was, ass aciate justice
of fhe supreme court of New Mexico for
thirteen years, frem 1858, was an. original
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 mitigating cir
cumstances, whereupon Judge Benedict
sentenced him to death TN the following
language: ,,.,-,......- s.,. ..-.,.-
Jose Maria Martin. stand up. Jose Maria
Martini tOu have BEEN indicted. tried and
Convicted by jury Of your countrynden of
the crime Of murder, and the court Is now
about to pass upon YOU. the dread sentence
OF the law. AS unual thing, Jose Maria
Martin. it is a painful duty Tor the judge Of
a court or Justice to pronounce upon a
human being the sentence Of deaIh There
ia somethtlg horrible about, it,, and the
mind ot the court. naturally revolts from
however, your case is Relieved OF III suth
UNPLEASANT features, and the court takes
positive delight in Sentencing you-to death.
i. nHou are young man. Jose Maria Mar !alr
tion and ROBUST health. = QrdinarQy you
might have looked forward to many years
of life, and the court has no doubt you
nave, anu nave expected TO Ole Ut a green
Old age; but you,are about to ke, cut OFF. IN
consequences Of your own act. Jose Maria
Martin, It Is how the spring time; tnAa little
while the grass will be springiag iup green
in those beautitut valleys, and spen those
broad mesas and mountain sides flowers
will be blooming; birds win be singing their
sweet carols. and Nature will be putting ON
her most gorgeous and most attractive
ropes, and life will be pleasant, and men
Will want to stay, but none of this for you,
Jose. Maria Martin; the flowers will Eot
bloom. for you, Jose Maria Martin; the
birds will not carol for you, Jose Maria
Martin When these things come 10 clad
ing @ As spaee 81 s99 two bsaeafs n 5Se
81 eEssS aaa above
:. ..rhe sentence. .bftthe court is that you
be taken from Ais place to the county
Jail; that you BE- 4tH9re kept safely and
securely confined mi 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 fsH the appointed place
and at the appointed lime. That you be so
Kept, Joss Maria Martin, until-Mr. Clerk
about two weekly III frSm ii this time time comay uaay
lMarch 22, your 'hprbr' ')-very well. until
viii be taken BY isHe sherifr from your
place Of confinement to some safs and con-
ycur discretion, Mr. sherin-you are only
confined to the nfniB Of the county; and
that you be there hanged by the neck until
you ara dead, and-the court was about to
add jose Maria Martini MAys God have
mercy on your SOUL but the court will not
assume the responsibility OF asking an ALI
Wise Providence to do that which q jury
ofs your peers has refused to do. The Eord
ceulfn,t have mercy on your soul. How
ever, II YOU belong to any religious organa-
cation, It might be wen enoughsf for you. to
SEND. for your priest, or your minister, and
get from him-well-such consolation as
you can, but the court advises you to place
no reliance upon anything. OF that kind.
MT. Sheriff, remove the prisoner
g It is a. pleasant sequel to this dreadful
sentence that Jose Maria Martin escaped
ago by falling out of wagon and breaking
his neck. -