The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-23

Pleas of Guilty Entered Are Caus-
ing the Movement They Are En-
gagged in to Degenerate Into a
Farce--Same Causes for Leniency
Do Not Exist Now as at the Be-
ginning Of the Movement.
After the Grier case went to the Jury
yesterday, court took up the task OF
imposing sentences in number of
cases in which convictions were Sc
cured during the term of quarter ses-
sions. which closed on Saturday, or in
which pleas of guilty were entered.
When the first case was called, l.. B.
Sturges. of the Mems union, came be-
fore the court and made a statement
with reference to the policy of the
union concerning the suspension OF
sentences In cases in which it is in
terested.
The matter came up when Mrs.
Philip Graft was called for sentence.
She kept speakeasy on Cedar avenue,
and her attorney, NJ. j. Donahoe, start
sentence, stating that the plea of guilty
had been entered with that understand
ing. Judge Edwards wanted to know
what the commonwealth had to say
about the matter, and District Attorney
Jones turned to Attorney Fred Il.
Beers, of the Mems union, for state
ment as to what the union had to say
about the case.
Mr.. Beers started to say that the
union is prepared to recommend the
suspension Of sentence only in special
cases.
Just then Mr.. Sturges appeared with
in the bar enclosure and, learning OF
the desire of the court to know If there
was any objection to the suspension Of
sentence, stepped before the court and
Said:
WHAT STURGEs SAID.
want to say a word in general as to tho
policy OF this prosecution once and for ALL
When we began this movement we came upon
many law breakers by SURPRISE for the breaking
of the law had been 80 common as to be a
matter OF course. The law was SO generally dis
obeyed that at first we had no desire to be I'm.
duly severe with these people, believing their
arrest would be a warning tc them.
After large number Of arrests were made
as your honrs know in nearly all eases where
there was any reason why clemency should be
extended we joined with the defendants in ask.
irg that clemency be extended We are not
here for punishment but for publication and
obedience of the law. This movement has been
going on for about six months and all Of.
tenders have had ample notice and warning
that this means business; that the laws must be
obeyed; that the courts do not sit here to be
trifled with. We have recently been solicited
by almost everybody who has been convicted
We have declined to interfere except in special
cases. have no peace at my house, have no
peace in my office, ! almost had to stay out OF
town on account Of petitions and begging let
tcrs and applications from personal friends and
from brother attorneys, whose friendship I still
covet, to have sentence suspended in certain
cases. So my life has been made miserable
I may say.
Generally the appeals have come from those
against whom it has been most difficult to get
testimony. Now this has begun to be rather a
farce, and that farce eliminated a week ago last
Friday. None of your honors were interested
and the judges who were here had undoubtedly
been deceived by our conduct in other cases
when two Of the most notorious and persist.
cnt law breakers escaped Just as if they had not
been acused or convicted These were Anthony
Dunleavy, whose petition for a suspension IVES
signed by some Of the most reputable citizens
who should have known better. or should have
at least, tried to ascertain more fully rs to the
| facts and Mrs. Catherine Crane, two OF the most
notorious and persistent offenders and against
whom we have had the greatest difficulty in Sc.
curing testimony
HAS BEEN EXPENSIVE.
This whole proceeding, which has been extreme.
iy expensive to few, seems to he in danger Of
desenerating into farce These law breakers
make it troublesome for us to get testimony
and then they have the benefit of the doubt be.
fore the grand Jury, and most vigorous dc,
fense in this court, and, then if convicted. there
is Sturges and the prosecution to fall back on.
Now, we want to say that they have not the
prosecution to fall back Oh any more. am not
talking about this lady, but | say this prosccu.
tion should mean something. After have had
all this trouble they should be dealt with rs
lawbreakers and sentenced accordingly, except
there be some special reasons. We have found
in some cases where they received extreme elem.
ency they have gone right back in business again.
and it is almost utterly impossible to get the tes.
tmony the second time.
With this statement, which I simply make IL
one of the leaders in this matter to define our
position at this time leave the whole matter
! in your honors' hands We want to put ourselves
on record that we are not after punishment or
revenge, but the publication OF this city and the
~
to existing laws, whether these laws b. right or
wrong. Ii they are wrong they should be re-
pealcd.
We feel it is necessary where offenders are
convicted to receive punishment. About this
lady want to say that Mr.. Beers informs me
that some promise was made in our indulgent
days that il she should plead guilty we would
make no objection to supension of sentence.
Judge Archibald in speaking for the
court with reference to these cases
said:
In the matter of these prosecutions as in
every other, the natural result of conviction is
sentence. There must be something extraor.
dinary or special to have sentence Sis
pended or deferred, that is to say, to have tbs
hand OF the law arrested In many cases we
have taken from the Mems union suggestions as
to whether the sentence should he suspended
and have many times referred and deferred to
their Judgment In the matter. We do not mean
to put an undue burden upon the Mems union
or to make them board OF pardons, simply to
know from them whether there is occasion OF
suspending or whether the sentence Of the law
should be imposed.
MRS. GRAFT ESCAPED.
Mr. Donahoe then made a plea for
Mrs. Graft. He said her husband con-
Quoted licensed hotel OIL Cedar ave-
nue. for number of years, but last
year failed to take out license. He
became Ill. and Mrs. Graft sold for a
time to support her husband and chill
dren. She has retired from the busi-
ness and is about to move from the
place. Court decided to suspend SEN
tence on payment of the costs,
Mrs. Ann Lally, who came into court
crinnlp1 N