The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-05-03
HANSON GETS Is yEHRS.
Practically a Life Sentence In
posed on the AssAilant of
HIS Own Child.
Vim. Charles and Jesse Clements
Each Get TWO Years and
Four Months.


Charles T. Hanson of Lamberton
was given a sentence of 25 years
for carnal abuse of his female child
under the age of 16 years, or rather
just twelve years old, by Judge
Webber of the district court,
shortly before two o'clock last
Thursday afternoon.
Only one indictment was brought
against Hanson. This indictment
charged him with carnal abuse OF
his female child under 16 years ol
age. It was returned by the grand
jury at the opening of the court
Wednesday morning, with two other
indictments against other parties.
After dinner Hanson was arraigned
on the indictment. Before the in
dictment was read he was asked
whether he had the means to pay
counsel and replied in the negative.
He stated that he had property,
but could not get at it, and what
money he had he left with his
woman for the support of his family.
He expressed a preference for E. E.
Harriott as his counsel, and Jud ge
Webber appointed the latter attor.
ney. The indictment was then
read and Hanson took until Thurs
day morning to enter his plea.
He was the first prisoner ar
raigned on Thursday morning and
Immediately entered plea of guilty
to the heinous offense, the maximum
punishment of which is 30 years and
the minimum of which is Z years.
Judge Webber postponed sentence
until 1:30 o clock, when E. E. Har-
riot asked for the leniency of the
court, on the ground that his client
had plead guilty and saved the
county an expense, and on the
ground that he was intoxicated
when he carnally abused his own
child. County Attorney Clague
said that he knew of no crime that
was so repulsive as the one to which
Hanson had plead guilty, and even
though intoxicated, it seemed that
a man who would abuse his child
in the manner charged, was worthy
of no leniency, and no punishment
could be severe enough
In response to questions by
Judge Webber the prisoner at the
bar stated that he was 43 years old
on Jan 1st last, that he had last
been engaged in the saloon busi-
ness, but had worked as a carpen-
ter for period of 10 years. When
asked if he had anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced
upon him, he replied that he was
intoxicated at the time, and that
had he his life to live over again il
would be different. Judge Webbel
said that it was his duty to protect
and not abuse the child, and he
knew Of no reason why he should
be lenient. He then sentenced the
prisoner to % years at hard labor
in the Saltwater prison
During the reading of the sen
tence Hanson's eyes twitched nerv.
ously, and when the ''25 years" fel
from the lips Of the Court this
twitching became very perceptible
for 20 seconds. The eyes KEEP
twitching until he left the cour'
room moment later. 1t is practi
cally life sentence for Hanson
who will do we'll, if he lives ter
years LII OClllWdUcr.
OTHER CRIMINAL BUSINESS.
The grand jury wound up its
business on Thursday morning
bringing in two indictments, only
one OF which was made public, thu
other being against Fred. Dripps
charging him with grand larceny
in connection with having take1
$3.50 from the money drawer of th'
office of the Winona Lumber Co. O
this city.
VIM. Charles and Jesse Clements
indicted Wednesday for grand lar
ceny, appeared in court on that day
and were arraigned. The indict