The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1901-05-10
ROBBERS SENTENCED.
Quick Justice Melted Out to the
Law-BreakerS--TOok Only
a Short time to Dis
pose of the Case.

Inc ulspeDSation OF JUSTICE In thli
case has been the quickest in the an
mails Of the Southern Express Com
pany.
This morning at 1880 o'clock Ches
nut and Jordan were arraigned In the
recorders court under sections ISL
and IS2 of the criminal code, which
read as follows:
"Section ISL, Robbery is the wrong
full fraudulent and violent taxing o.
money, goods or chattels from the
person Of another by force or intimi
dalton, without the consent OF the
owner.
Section Is7. Robbery by open
force or violence shall be punished by
Imprisonment and labor in the peni'
ttntiaTy ior not less than four years
nor longer than twenty years E"
10 the laws Of Georgia there is nc
such ofiense known as train robbery.
by force.
Both Chestnut and 1rdan pleaded
guilty and Recorder Freeman CON-
mitted them to the superior court un-
der bond OF 900 each. The hearing
OF the case ia the recorders court
did not consume over ten minutes.
The matter was then carried i'm
mediately by Solicitor General Brun>
son before the grand jury. which was
IN session, and the defendants were
indicted in a very few minutes. They
said they were guilty and they were
brought before Judge FELTON,, who was
engaged in hearing the civil docket
Chestnut and Jordan were arrsigned,
pleaded guilty and each was sentenced
Tor seven years in the penitentiary.
Chestnut appeared deeply affected
throughout the entire proceeding, and
frequently wiped tears from his eyes.
Jordan was absolutely Indifferent and
smiled when sentence was passed up
on him. Before passing sentence
Judge FELTON, asked the men il they
had anything to say.
Chestnut arose. and with much emo
ton, stated in effect that this was the
first time he had ever been arrested
and was the FIRST ofiense 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 a policeman
and sergeant on the force at Jackson~
vile, Fla, commencing in 1891, and
resig ned OF his own accord to accept
a better paying position in the rail-
road service, being an engineer by
profession, and voluntarily left the
railroad. He only commenced drink
ing year or so ago, and then on &C
count OF domestic troubles. He de-
clared that II he had not been drunk
he would not have committed the ex>
press robbery. Chestnut expressed
great regret for having done the
crime. and said If he came out Of the
penilentiary alive he would never do
another criminal act. Chestnut said
he is thirty years old and was born
In North Carolina. He threw him,
self on the mercy of the court and
asked leniency. Chestuut's manner
OF making his statement aroused con
siderable sympathy for him among
the large number OF spectators In the
court house.
Jordan also claimed that he was
drinking when he committed the OF
tense, and that he did not do it for
money. as he always had Money. He
said this in a somewhat a boastfnl
spirit Jordan said he was born in
Macon twenty years ago. He made
an uniavorsble impression on all who
heard him.
In passing senterce Judge FELTON,
said that the term of punishment
fixed by law for this offense was not
less than four years nor longer than
twenty years. He said he would give
them seven years each, which is less
than ofthe extreme limit OF the law
He took into consideration their plea
of guilty. He declared that seven
years was really long period
Of time He advised that when they
get out OF the penitentiary they leave
liquor alone if it made them commit
such acts as the one for which they
are to suffer punishment. In a very
impressive manner he declared that
no man would prosper who has in
his pockets money obtained dishon-
estly.
Among those present in the court
room when the sentence was passed
were Assistant General Manager
Mark O'Brien, OF the Southern Elk q.
press Con pany with headquarters at
Chattanooga; Colonel w. w. Hubert,
of Atlanta, division superintendent Of
the company, and Detective Paddy
Byrne, OF the company Messenger
White was also In attendance. The
express officials say the sentences
were fair and Just The grand jury
also came into the court room to see