The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-12
WIFE MURDERER
MIGUEL ESOUEDA
SENT TO PRISON
Is Given the Limit of
the Law.
HIS AGED MOTHERS PLEA
ASKS THE COURT TO SEND HIM
TO SAN QUENTIN.
Judge Lawlor Grants Her Request
and Sentences the Inhuman
Criminal to Ten Years
imprisonment
ASKS THE COURT TO SEND hin
TO SAN QUENTIN.

Miguel Esqueda, the inhuman murderer
Of his wife, Soledad EsQueda. who was
convicted Of manslaughter by a lenient
jury in Judge Lawlor's court, was sent to
San Quentin Prison yesterday for term
of ten years, the limit allowed by law for
the offense committed. During the trial
of the convict it developed that he was a
perverted monster Without cause he
locked his wife, then in poor health, IN q
room Of their dwelling at 1917 Powell
street. and when she protested he beat
her down with fists and bludgeon, and as
she pleaded for mercy kicked her on the
abdomen until unconsciousness ended her
misery. Some time later she was found
by other occupants of the house and car
ried to her deathbed. Restoratives were
administered and she came back to con-
SclousneSS just long enough to make a
statement of the brutal abuse she had
suffered at the hands of her murderer
and then succumbed.
The trial of Esqueda occupied several
days, but the doubt raised as to whether
or not the wretch meant to kill his wife
resulted in a verdict of manSlaughter,
which is defined as the unlawful killing
OF human being without malice. Es-
queda, happy at the thought that he had
escaped the galoWs, failed to make a mo-
ton for new trial and yesterday he was
taken before Judge Lawlor for sentence.
AS the prisoner stood before the bar
Judge LaWlor said:
THE same impulse which has led you to
refrain from making a motion for a new
trial-an impulse which bespeaks your
knowledge of your own guilt and proves
your thankfulness for your fortunate es-
cape from a worse fate-prompts me in
passing judgment upon you to impose the
maximum punishment allowed by law
for the offense of which you have been
adjudged guilty. The offense committed
is ipso facto murder. The killing of
human being, although unintentional, by
a person engaged in the commission Of
the crimes of burglary, robbery, mahem
or criminal assault upon female is held
to be murder. but in this case the law IS
deficient. 1t is the Judgment Of this court
that you be confined in the State Prison
at San Quentin for a term Of ten years"
Esquida would have been sent into the
quarries of Folsom Prison but for the in
tervention of his aged mother. She came
into court at the opening Of the sitting
and pleaded with the court to send her
son to San Quentin, as she had but
short time on this earth and wanted him
to be near so that she could visit him az
often as possible during the closing days
of her life. Judge Lawlor granted her
request and the convict, his murdered
wife in the grave and his aged mother
nearing the tomb with a broken heart,
left the court on his way to prison.
James +. Kelly, who shot his wife.
Florence, some time ago in their Brannan
street home and who was convicted on
charge of assault with intent TO commit
murder, was given six years in San Quen-
tin by Judge Dunno. William w Han
ley, who took q camera away from
stranger while under the influence OF
liquor, was sentenced to pay fine of $50
or spend twenty-five days in Jail