The times., 1899-03-28
o'MEARA GETS FIVE YEARS.
The Ohio Politician Goes to the
MOundsvilIc Penitentiary.


Rody o'Meara presented a pitiable ap-
pearance yesterday as he stood up before
Justice Clabaugh in Criminal Court No. /
to receive sentence for the crime OF which
he was convicted, that of housebreaking
and robbery. The prisoner is about fifty
years OF age and of respectable appear
ance.
When he was called for sentence he asked
the indulgence of the court to say few
words in his own behalf in extenuation of
the crime of which he had been convicted
and to appeal for mercy. With the con-
sent of Justice Clabaugh, o'Meara. in an
eloquent and touching manner, recited the
cause Of his downfall, which he ascribed
to the failure of his country to recognize
his services and his worth. He referred to
the way in which Congress has recognized
'.Schley. our Schley, Admiral Schley," and
others, but that he could not get even
justice. He said he had served three years
in the Union Army. having left his home
in the West against the wish of a widowed
mother, who told him never to return un-
less his shield was crowned with honor.
For his service in the war he applied for a
pension, but he said, was thrice turned
down by the Government, and 1t was on
u
time his application for pension was re-
fused that he was led to drown his grief
and shame in driI\ and while in this con-
was convicted. In closing his appeal.
O'Meara said sit was to save such as
that Christ died upon the cross on Cal
vary
When the prisoner finished his appeal
Justice Clabaugh said that he had learned
something of his past record and sentenced
him to five years Imprisonment in the
penitentiary at Moundsville, w Va. 1t was
learned after the trial that OMeara had
already served two terms in the peniten-
tiary in the West, once for grand larceny
and another for burglary. He came to
Washington about year ago to prosecute
a pension claim and afterward became
candidate for the position of captain of the
watch at the Census Bureau. 1t was also
stated that for some time in the immediate
past he has been something of a political
power at his home in Cleveland. and was
endorsed for Office by Senator Hanna and
Colonel Dick, Representative in Congress
from Ohio.
oMeara was charged with entering the
store OF c. H. Raub, in New Hampshire
Avenue between NJ and n Streets, on the
night of March Is last.
The testimony for the Government was
conclusive as to the commission of the
crime charged TO the defendant. Mr.. Raub,
the complaining witness, and the police
officers who arrested the defendant at the
time the crime was committed testified to
O'Meara having entered the house and TO
having found the articles taken on his per-
son. 1t was also shown that the defendant
tried to effect an entrance by boring
through the doors with an anger
Among the articles which the defendant
took was bottle of whisky, of which he
drank freely. The prisoner did not take
the witness stand in his own defence His
attorney Charles A. Calvert, however,
made strong appeal TO the jury in behalf
of his client, asking that he be acquitted
because he was intoxicated at the time he
committed the crime.
Assistant District Attorney Shillington.
who represented the Government argued
that there was no evidence to show that
O'Meara was Intoxicated at the time he
committed the crime with which he was
charged. All the testimony on this point,
he claimed went TO show that the defend
ant was sober when he went to Raub's
house and that he became intoxicated from
drinking the liquor he found there