The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-08-28

I Nye, Of .Elyria, who had been hastily
summoned from his home to conduct
the proceedings, called the court to
order. Soldiers, with fixed bayonets.
crowded the hall and the stairs. A
full company stood at attention in the
dingy, silent room. The prisoner was
rushed up the stairs, down between the
lines of bristling bayonets to the front
of the room. The grand jurymen, still
in the room and virtually detained by
the military, looked eagerly at the
trembling black man as he stood befor e
the old judge, not even glancing to the
right nor to the left. Outside the jury
men and 10 newspaper men, there was
scarcely a civilian in the room.
RECEIVED HIS SENTENCE.
The stir caused by the entrance Of
the prisoner subsded at a glance from
the Judge, and the clerk advanced to
within few feet of the prisoner and
read the indictment.
Are you guilty or not guilty?" was
the question which caused Peck to look
up quickly, and then gaze wildly about
, the room, for the first time since he
had entered.
I'm guilty" said Peck, in a husky
voice, scarcely audible to the Judge, ten
feet away.
'Mr. Peck" said the court, briskly,
you have heard the indictment read,
charging you with fearful crime. You
have said you were guilty. Have you
anything further to say?"
Peck returned the judges steady gaze,
hunted, helpless look in his eyes.
Il have nothing to say" he slowly
replied.
There is one penalty, and only one,
provided for the crime that you have
confessed" continued Judge Nye,
mercilessly. Have you any reason to
offer why sentence should not be pro-
nounced on your"
Il haven't nothing-Tm guilty and
I will ask for the mercy of the court.
l haven't nothing / want to say" re-
turned the prisoner, with feverish haste,
and there was a most impressive
silence.
COURT VERSUS MILITARY.
An orderly slipped in the door, and
whispered to Captain Hamill in COM
mand of the soldiers who lined the
walls.
quick, men, come on" was the way
the captain gave the command, and the
soldiers, in their awkward equipment,
shuffied toward the door. The noise
drowned everything else.
Order" cried the judge. you men
stay where you are"
I'VE have orders to escort the
prisoner to the train,' retorted the
captain.
"The military can wait" said Judge
NVa ssVptr ttyil1 he mi
Then Judge Nye passed sentence.
1T is the judgment Of the court that
you shall be imprisoned in the state
penitentiary at Columbus for the
balance Of your life," said Judge Nye,
in strained voice. "You must pay the
costs of the proceedings, and for the
first 80 days of your Imprisonment the
court orders you placed in solitary con-
finement."
1t was over The tension was re-
lieved for the moment A half dozen
newspaper men attempted to reach the
door and We're roughly pushed back.
Sheriff Kelly took the prisoners arm,
and Prisonkeeper Washer, who had
come from Cleveland with his man,
stepped up. rush was made for the
door, the soldiers leading the way. II
had been less than minutes since the
prisoner was led into the court house.
COVERING THE RETREAT.
There was no shouting of orders by
Peck's protectors. STAND back,
please" said the guardsmen, as they
deployed out over the sidewalk, and
down into the street The 200 people
fell back respectfully, and the prisoner
and his escort appeared at the door,
way.
"Ready-aim," was the command
Lieut.. Andrews gave the devoted little
squad of a dozen, who stood at the
top of the steps, and the squad covered
the crowd.
Across the street, down past the Jail,
through the lot to the railroad, rush.
ed the two men with the cringing
negro.
The tension Of that moment was
awful. A shot from that crowd, rush
of half dozen reckless fools for the
prisoner, even the throwing Of a stick
or stone, might have precipitated a
fearful scene Of bloodshed. But there
was no attempt at violence. The peo-
pie contented themselves with jeering
and hooting. A minute more and
Louis Peck was on board the train,
with Sheriff Kelly seated beside him,
speeding toward Columbus.