The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-30
SENTENCE Of PATERSON MEN
TEARS FOE THREE; FIF-
TEEN FOR THE OTHER.
Extreme Penalty for the Prisoners Ina
the BOssch.eter Murder Case-Justtce
Dixon In Condemnation Great

| Crowd In Attendance.
| Paterson, Jan. 29-Facing thirty
years at hard labor, three of the mer
guilty of the murder of Jennie Bos,
schieter went through their last public
ordeal in the Passaic county court al
Paterson to-day, and heard Justice
Dixon sentence them to the extreme
penalty for their crime. The fourth
man, who benefited by the fact that he
was not present at the beginning of the
: dreadful orgy of the night of October Is
last, was sentenced to only fifteen
years at hard labor, which, though but
half the term the others must bear, is
the extreme penalty under his plea.
When Justice Dixon took his seat on
the bench at 10 o'clock, the father,
mother and sister of Jennie Bosschieter
were already seated in the court room.
Around them were as many people as
the confined space would hold. At five
minutes af.er 10 McAlister, Campbell,
and Death were brought in, and taken
to the seats they had occupied during
their trial. Kerr came in after them
Michael Dunn, counsel for Death,
then arose and addressed the court.
He said that he would refrain from
making any reference to the details of
the trial of the three prisoners. Prior
to the passage of the law of 1898, he
said, the extreme penalty for such a
crime as the prisoners had been found
guilty of was fixed at twenty years,
but the legislature had extended the
penalty to thirty years at the discre-
ton of the court trying the case. II
have seen you exercise discretion many
times" continued Mr.. Dunn to the
court. I'm this case I feel that there
are circumstances that hardly justify
the infection Of the extreme penalty.
The vindictaion of the law is the OBJ
ject of punishment, and 10 restrain
others and protect society. In the
cases of Death and Campbell, thers is
another object, which is the reforna-
ton of the men. Up to the time of his
present trouble, Death had always liv-
ed proper life. In the case of Camp
bell, / want to present a long petition
signed by prominent citizens Of Pater-
son, who have known him for many
years, as industrious, temperate, and of
good character.
A plea for mercy for McAllister was
then submitted by ex-Jadge Scott, his
counsel, but it was wisely very brief,
for, as the sequel showed, the pleas
helped these unfortunate wretches not
at all. At the conclusion of the adj
dress, Justice Dixon ordered three Of
the prisoners to rise, and spoke sternly
to them, although he was plainly much
moved. He said:
You stand convicted of murder in
Tie second degree. Had you been found
guilty of murder in the first degree the
would have been death, but
he leniency of the jury In the exercise
If their lawful authority saved you
rom the gallows. No further leniency
AN be expected in this tribunal, whose
proper function is not to make law, not
% carry out personal sentiment, but to
administer the law.
1T is true that the penalty which I
I'm to impose will destroy your lives. |
t will obliterate every prospect, once, |
perhaps, so bright before you of be-
oming good and useful citizens, and |
I'll for the deeds of that October night.
cannot make a distinction among |
'ou, but I am not to punish or reward |
'ou for your previous condition, but to
'unsh you for this crime, and l can
lot see that in the commission of that
fence there was any difference be-
ween you. l trust that the fearful
consequences of that one night may
clip to teach the young men and women
t this community that they cannot
ope to secure happiness outside Of vir
ue and honor. The judgment Of the
curt Is that you shall each be impris-
ned at hard labor for thirty years"
The three convicts sat down. Even
IcAiister's sulky countenance seemed
D betray regret for his blasted life;
,eath's sullen features were contorted,
nd Campbell's eyes were full Of tears.
lrn came. Justice Dixon told him to
Sc, and the prisoner stood with bowed
cad and slouching shoulders, not once
aising his eyes until sentence had been
assed upon him.
"The evidence in your case" the jus
ce said, did not warrant the belief
rat you We're concerned in the admin
tration of the drug, but it did show
lat you participated in the ravishment
Jennie Bosschieter; and in the COM
ission of that offence in that fact,
lere is on features that makes your
,nduct worse than that of the others. ID,
on were an older man. You had more
,ligations to society. You had wife,
orthy of the purest and highest affec-
on, anu children, whose welfare had
zen your constant concern. You ig- :
,red the lessons of experience. You
'oke the ties that bound you to home.
Oh permitted yourself to drift away :,
ON domestic life and love, and now +
III are on the rocks of vice and crime. -.
nd such a crime! No wonder that its
velation shocked the community. No =
onder that it stirred in every manly r
ID womanly heart pity and wrath.
1t in all that CHASTITY outrage you had +
comm seration for the victim of v
utal lust. You threw her body by the 7
adside reckless whether kindly hui h
an hands first touched it, or the fangs r
dogs. Poor Jennie Bosschieter! c
How gladly would l spare your y
ends and relatives! But human wis
m has not yet devised way of pun
ling the guilty and saving the inno-
Mt from sorrow and suffering. 7 cam
t withhold from you any measure of :,
at penalty which the law deems sur
lent for your crime. The judgment :,
the court is that you be imprisoned =
hard labor for fifteen years. =
4 H. I'D |