The daily sentinel., 1900-03-08
DISTRICT COURT.

1uoL0 WAS bCouo III tue ulStrlCC COurC
this morning, not usual with the oper-
ations Of the machinery Of justice, when
seven men charged with various crimes
plead guilty to the informations filed
against them by the offer OF the court,
District Attorney McMullin.
Speaking alone Of the selfish phase of
their plea, it relieves the county from
paying over a thousand dollars for their
trial by jury. 1t mitigates TO a certain
extent in the eyes Of the court the judg-
ment he may render in each of their
respective cases and again it shows de-
sire upon the part OF the district attor-
ney to cut off all possible expense Of tho
trial in these, as we'll as all other cases
which may be brought under his notice.
While it better serves the ends OF justice
to have them make the plea than to ap-
pear as innocent, until proven guilty by
due process of law
Ed LaFevre, Henry Jackson and
George Williams were first called before
the bar of the court. The charge against
them was burglary and theft. These
were the three men who were concerned
in the kidnapping case, full history of
which Appeared in this paper. LaFevre
is but boy. He is not OF the wild and
woody kind, but looks more like one Of
the tough denizens Oh the slums OF the
big cities. He wore high collar and
looked fairly respectable.
jackson had the ear marks of being a
hard character, while to the face OF
Williams there was no life or expression.
All these men, whose faces showed no
sign whatever, when the court recited
to them the maximum and minimum
sentences which he coul1 impose, re-
sponded almost eagerly that they were
guilty, when asked the question.
Charles jackson, evidently the leader
of the above three was then brought be-
fore the court. He also plead guilty
His WAS low face. a face which might
harden to any crime. He was, how ever
| meek.
When G. P. Sheridan was called be-
lore the court and stood up within the
docket, stranger entering the court at
the time, might have mistook him for a
lawyer, with apologies to the Mesa
County Barr or for some other disting-
| uished person. He had a fine large head,
an open expression, full forehead,
slightly bald and the expression upon
his countenance OF a man of parts, yet
he waa charged and plead guilty to the
crime Of burglary, in breaking into the
store Of Mrs. Maud Chapman. This
man has seen better days, he could not
have the forehead development he mas
without being something more than the
crime charged againet him would indi-
cate. A history of the man would
doubtless make some good reading.
Frank Hrarman a pal of the man
Sheridan and one with a face which
would convict upon suspicion, was next
to plead guilty. He was charged with
receiving stolen property.
William Stillman, young man who
is quite we'll known in this city having
gained local reputation as a pianist,
WAS Called on buo cnaTRe Oh ldFCeny db
bailee. Stillman has a good face. Why
young man could be tempted with
such small sum as thirty dollars to
commit crime, which may take him
out OF a free life for a number of years,
especially when he is accomplished in
art, is an enigma and can be determined
better by those versed in eriminalogy
After pleading to the charger the
sheriff started with the men back to the
Jail.
Tomorrow morning the witness OF tho
prosecution and defense will be heard in
mitigation OF sentence which may be i'm
posed.
The office of the dist riot attorney is to
be congratulated upon the handling Of
these cases with 80 little expense to the
county and yet securing plea Of guilty.
District Attorney McMullin seems to
have, and we believe has, tho welfare Of
the county at heart, when he endeavors
to secure confession Of guilt from pris-
oneis
CIVIL CASES.
In the court yesterday case No. ISL