The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-25
PECK PLEADS
GUILTY AM. is
Sent TO The PEN.
Secures a Life Sentence in the Ohio
Bastile-Throws Himself on the
Mercy Of the Court.
TROOPS STILL AT AKRON.
Tho Day Quiet, and No Trouble oc-
curred-soldiers May Remain
Until Tomorrow.

CLEVELAND, o., Aug. 24.-Louls
Peck, the colorcd man, who last Mon
day evening assaulted four-ycnr-old
Christine Mans at Akron. and whose
crime alone Is responsible for the fear
full rloting; that. occurred Mt Akron,
"Wednesday night and Thursday morn-
Ing, was this afternoon taken from the
jail at Cleveland. where he had been
removed for safety, rushed to Akron,
taken to the court house and within
five minutes after his arrival In Akron
was convicted of the crime and sem
fenced to the penitentiary for life ut
hard labor. He had been indicted by a
special grand jury, which had been
empaneled during the afternoon. Judge
D. j. Nye, of Elyria. pronounced the
sentence. Within two minutes after
the sentence had been pronounced Peck
had been placed on board Cleveland,
Akron & Columbus train and in charge
OF the sheriff and an assistant. he was
taken to Columbus.
~ ~ - s4 =
AKRON, o., Aug. 24.-The train car
rying the negro Peck, arrived here at
$3.50 p. m. A carriage Tas waiting at
the railway station and Peck was
quickly bundled into II. In three min
utes the court house was reached and
Peck was arraigned before Judge Nyr.
The Indictment was read. Peck stood
up and pleaded guilty. He declared he
had nothing to say except that he threw
himself on the mercy OF the court. The
court then sentenced Peck TO life Inn
prisonmcnt In the state. penitcntiary.
Troops were on guard at the railway
station and along the route to the
court house. There was no demonstra-
ton whatever. /.
After Peck had been sentenced he
was at once taken In closed carriage
to the Center street crossing OF the
Cleveland. Akron & Columbus railway.
and placed on beard the train in charge
of Sheriff Kelly and taken on TO the
state penitentlary. 5. - .g-.,,,,,.
So quickly and quietly was Peck
brought Into the. city, sentenced and
sent on to Columbus that but very few
people knew what had transplrel.
No Crowd at the Railroad.
There was no crowd at the railroad
either when the train arrived or de-
parted. Few who glanced ut the rapil-
ly driven carriage suspected TINT Il con.
taincd the man the furious mob, OF
Wednesday night wanted to lynch.
Peck was taken In at the rear door OF
the court room.
Judge D. ]. Nye, OF Elyria, presided.
He arrived In Akron at noon to-day.
Two minutes after Peck reached the
court, Deputy Sheriff Ed Hershey read
the indictment. Peck stood up with.
manacled hands. He pleaded guilty In
firm voice. His worn eyes shifted
nervousiy about the room. Then he sat
down and Prosecutor Wanamakcr
whispered with him briefly.
Then Judge Nye said:
2 MT. fech- you nave helrd the lndlct-
ment read charging YOU with rape.
You have pleaded guilty. Have you
anything to say"
II have nothing to suy except that I
throw myself on the. mercy OF thu
court" replied Peck.
Judge Nys's Words.
Continuing Judge Nye said:
Tn crimes such as that to which you
have pleaded guilty. there Is but one
penalty provided. That Is lmprison.
mont for life. II Is the Judgment OF the
court that You be confined in the peni-
tcntiary for life. You must pay the
costs Of this proceeding and that for tho
first three days OF your imprisonment,
you shall be placed in solitary continc-
mcnt."
There wns stir In tho back OF the
room. and n rush OF tho few spectators
for the door A company of troops hur-
ried forward to escort the prisoner to
the train waiting at Central stree,
crossing, IIe Was tn,enn to r,o,,,.,,