The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-05-09
ROBBERS SENTENCED
Swift Justice Melted Ont to Chest.
nut ard Jordan.
COURT RECORDS ARE BROKEN
SsIf.Confessed Express Car Loot
ers Get Seven Years In Pen and
Good Advice From Judge.

At Macon, Ga, Wednesday, O. w.
Chestnut and C. R. Jordan were SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for seven
years each for robbing Express Mes
seuger J. N. White on April 9eth.
Sentence was passed on shem at
12.45 O'Clock by Judge FELTON, in the,
superior court room.
The dispensation of justice in this
case has been the quickest in tho an
mails of the Southern Express Com.
pany.
At 1890 o clock Chestnut and Jordan
were arraigned in the recorders court
under sections Isl and 152 Of the GRIM
inal code, which read as follows:
"Section Isl. Robbery is the wrong
ful, fraudulent and violent taking OF
money, goods or chattels from the per-
son of another by force or intimida+
ton, without the consent of the owner
'sSection 152. Robbery by open
force or violence shall be punished by.
Imprisonment and labor in the peniten-
tiary for not less than four years nor
longer than twenty years.
In the laws of Georgia there is no
such offsnse known as train robbery,
SO the defendants were charged with
robbery by force.
Both Chestnut aud Jordan pleaded
guilty. and Recorder Freeman COM
mitted them to the superior court un-
der bond of 81, 900 each. The hear.
ing of the case in the recorders court
did not consume over ten minutes.
The, matter was then carried imms-
diately before the grand jury, which
was in session, and the defendants
were indicted in very few minutes.
They said they were guilty and they;
were arraigned before Judge Felton,,
who was engaged in hearing the civil
docket. Chestnut and Jordan veTSs
arraigned, pleaded guilty and each:
was sentenced for seven years in the
penitentiary. Chestnut appeared
deeply affected throughout the entire
proceedings, end frequently wiped
tears from his eyes. Jordan was abb.
solutely indifferent and smiled when
sentence was passed upon him. Be-
fore passing sentence Judge FELTON,
asked the men if they had anything to
say.
Chestnut arose and, with much emo
tion, stated in effect that this was the.
first time he had ever been arrested
and was the first offense he had ever
committed. He said his life had been
honorable until the commission OF the
train robbery. That he had served six
years faithfully as policeman and SER
geant on the force at Jacksonville. Fla,
commencing in 1891, and resigned OF
his own accord to accept better pay
ing position in the railroad service,
being an engineer by profession, and
voluntarily left the railroad.
He only commenced drinking about
a year or so ago, and then on account
of domestic troubles. He declared
| that if he had not been drunk he:
| would not have committed the express
robbery. Chestnut expr, ssed great
regret for having done the crime, and
said if he came out of the penitentiary
alive he would never do another cfim-
ipal act. Chestnut said he is thirty
years and was been in North Carolina:
he threw himself on the mercy OF: the
court and asked leniency. Chessnuts
manner of making his statement arous-s
ed considerable sympathy. for him
among the large number of spectators
| in the courthouse.
In passing sentence Judge FELTON,:
said that the term of punishment
| fixed by law for this offense was for
not less than four years nor longer
than twenty years. He said he would
| give them seven years each, which is
| less than half of the extreme limit OF
the law. He took into consideration
| their plea of guilty. He declared tAas,
| seven years was really long period
of time. He advised that when they
get out of the penitentiary they leave
liouor alone it it made them commit
such acts as the one for which they
are to suffer punishment.