The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-08-28
SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
Quick Justice Melted to the Negro
Who Caused the Akron Riots.
Hustled on to Columbus, where He
Is Locked Up, Safe From the
MOb-DetaiIs of the Rapid
Trip and Trial.

Akron, o., Aug. 25.-Lewis Peck, the
Negro who raped the little Mas giy'
and caused the Akron riots, had JUS.
tice melted out to him at quite a
rapid rate. Prison Keeper Washer,
of this city, went to Cleveland and
had conference with Peck. The
prisoner was willing to plead guilty
TO attempted assault, the penalty for
which is 20 years. Washer said no;
that if he would not plead guilty to
criminal assault, the penalty for
which is life imprisonment, he would
be taken to Akron for trial Lewis
shuddered at the very thought, but
finally agreed to plead guilty to Grim
inal assault and accept a life SEN
tence.
In the meantime grand jury here
indicted Peck on the charge of Grim
inal assault.
After Peck's agreement to plead
guilty to criminal assault he was
taken to the depot, where a train
was taken for this place.
Just after leaving Cuyahoga Falls,
while the train was en- route from
Cleveland to Akron, Peck begged
Prison Keeper Washer to shoot him
instantly in the event a mob was
awaiting at Akron.
The train arrived here at $3.50. a
carriage was waiting at the railway
station and the streets to the court
house were patroled by the state mi
litia. Peck was hustled into a car
riage and in three minutes the court
house was reached.
Few who glanced at the rapidly
driven carriage suspected that it con-
tanned the man the furious mob of
Wednesday night wanted to lynch.
Peck was taken in at the rear door
of the courthouse. There was a stir
among the soldiers crowding to the
rear of the court room. Judge d. j.
Nye, of Elyria, presided. He had ar
rived i'll Akron at noon. Two min
utes 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
nervously about the room. Then he
sat down, an Prosecutor Wanama-
ker whispered with him briefly.
Then Judge Nye said: ''Mr. Peck,
you have heard the indictment read
charging you with rape. You have
pleaded guilty. Have you anything
to say?"
Il have nothing to say except that
l throw myself on, the mercy of the
court" replied Peck.
Judge Nye then said: SIN crimes
such as that to which you have plead
ed guilty there is but one penalty
provided. That is Imprisonment for
life. 1t is the Judgment of the court
that you be confined in the peniten-
tiary for life. You must pay the
costs of this proceeding, and that for
the first 80 days of your imprison-
ment you shall be placed in solitary
confinement"
After Peck had been sentenced he
was at once taken in closed carriage
to the Center street crossing of the
Cleveland, Akron & Columbus rail
way and placed on board the train in
charge of Sheriff Kelly and taken on
to the state penitentiary at Column
bus. So quickly and quietly was Peck
brought into the city, sentenced and
sent to Columbus that but very few
people knew what had transpired
There was no crowd at the railway
either when the train arrived or de-
parted.
Columbus, O., Aug. 25.-Peck ar
rived at the penitentiary in the GUS
tody of the sheriff of Summit county
at 8:45 o'clock. He felt greatly re-
lieved when the heavy iron gate
closed behind him and he realized
that he was safe from mob violence
He had little to say and was quickly