The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-27
MERCY WAS SHOWN
Court Was Lenient
In Calvin and Hi
ney Cases.
BOTH WERE FINED $50 EACH.
District Attorney Speaks
a Good Word For the
Defendants.
BOTH WERE FINED $50 EACH.

At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, in
the superior criminal court, after the
cases on the docket had been disposed
of, Michael C. Calvin and Thomas Hi
ney, charged with manslaughter, as a
result of the collision of two cars on
the Worcester and Suburban Street
Railway at Leicester, Dec. q, were
brought in for hearing.
They were represented by their coun-
sci, the firm of Sullivan & O'Connell.
Their counsel waived the reading of
the charges. District Attorney Gen.
lockwood Hoar then addressed the
court and moved for sentences in both
cases. He said that up to the time Of
the accident, the two men had borne
excellent characters, and nothing could
be found against either He reviewed
the case, and told of the accident in
which the car over which Calvin and
Hiney acted as conductor and motor
man, crashed into another car coming
in the opposite direction. He said it
was a very misty day, and it was i'm
POSolDiS " see lar dn6dQ.
The accident resulted in the death of
two persons, Kerrigan and Holbrook,
who were in the car, but it was an ac-
cident which could hardly have been
avoided under the circumstances, and
he trusted the court would take that
into consideration when it came to pass
sentence. In concluding, he wished to
emphasize the fact that both men were
careful workmen in the companys en-
MI ,I,I-
But duty compelled him to move for a
sentence in the matter, however pain
full it might be.
John b. Sullivan, of Sullivan & O'Con-
nell, then addressed the court, and af-
ter short review of the case dilated
upon the characters of the defendants,
both faithful and painstaking young
men. He said that public sentiment
was with the defendants, and he hoped
the court would deal leniently with
them. He said that in addition to the
feelings and sympathy which the peo-
pie of Spencer, Leicester, Cherry Val
ley and Worcester felt for the young
men, the relatives Of the killed had also
expressed theirs, and had asked that
the court might not punish them, and
recommended them to mercy
Judge Hopkins then asked Mr.. Hoar
what form the recommendation of the
&
that the attorney had been approached
by the relatives and friends, asking
that the defendants might not be pun
lshed. A movement was on foot to
present the recommendation in writing
to the attorneys office, but he had re-
quested that it be not done, upon hear
ing which the court considered the SEN
tence.
Judge Hopkins then said that the
GfQf11fHC ,f
freedom in the matter of sentencing.
He knew of cases, he said, where de-
PENDANTS had been sentenced to 20 years
and in others only small fine had been
imposed He read from the statutes
the law on the matter. He said it was
an act of carelessness. but with seri-
Gus results attached. He said he would
impose a small fine, one which he felt
the defendants would be able to meet,
and ordered both to pay a fine of $50,
which they did, and left the court
Following the disposition of these
two most important cases came the
case of Moses G. Largesse of Wor-
cester, charged with incest, and who
had been found guilty by the court
some two weeks ago, but upon whom
sentence had not been passed owing to
the sudden calling away Of the defend
| ant tOuISels y. <. Johnson.
District Attorney Hoar moved for
sentence in the case and said the court
was not dealing with any house of cor
rection case but one of a most serious
nature. Mr.. Johnson in his plea to the
judge informed him that he had been
told the wife of Largesse did not want
her husband severely punished and he
craved the mercy of the court. The
court then sentenced Largesse, which
was not less than three or more than
five years in the states prison at
Charlestown, with one day at solitary
confinement.
Four cases only were heard in the
superior criminal court yesterday be-
fore Judge John Hopkins, but they took
up the time till o'clock, when other
cases came up for sentences. The cases
called were three liquor cases and one
obstruction of the public way.
The first one was that of Mrs. Isa-
bella Tibbetts of Oxford, charged with
liquor keeping. The jury returned a YER
dict Of guilty after having been out
only a short time, and she was ordered
to pay a fine of 500 She was represent
ed by Sullivan & O'Connell.
In only one of the two cases brought
against Michael p. Shea of Warren for
liquor keeping did the government
move for a sentence after verdicts of
guilt had been found in both. He was
ordered to pay a fine of $3.50 and SEN
fenced to 80 days in the house of cor
reetion. In the lower courts he was
fined $3.50 and sentenced to 80 days IN
each of the cases. He was represented
by Sullivan & O'Connell.
The case of George S. Corbin of Web
ster was the last called. He was
charged with obstructing the public
ways with a building. The court or
dered the jury to bring in verdict of
not guilty, and he was thereupon dis
charged.
The court was adjourned to We'd
nesday morning at 1926 o'clock.
CUSTODY OF CHILDREN.