The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-03
A UNIQUE SENTENCE.
THE NOVEL PENALTY A JUDGE I'M
POSED UPON TWO MEN.

V006O OION wv WEI"
Moth Prisoners Were Condemned to
Jail Until One of Them, q College
Graduate, Taught the other How to
Read and Write.
Along in the seventies the late Judge
Arnold Krekel was holding court at
Jefferson City, relates an old timer,
when there appeared before him two
men charged and indicted for a viola
ton of the United States laws, one oi
whom will be called Brown. He was
charged with cutting timber on the
public domain. Brown was about 40
years old and had been reared on the
border in Arkansas and never had any
opportunities for schooling, hence was
unable to read or write. In his en-
deavors to get living he had cut tim
Der suitable for making ak handles on
United States lands, which led to his
arrest and Imprisonment. The other
man will be called Jones, for the real
name of both men are not known in
the memory of any one who witnessed
the incident.
Jones was charged with and indicted
for having sold liquor to the Indians.
Mr.. Jones was native of New York,
a graduate Of Union college and was
educated for lawyer. He possessed
a highly cultured mind, a good Latin
list and thoroughly scholarly in all
sorts Of books. Not succeeding in his
profession in his native state, more
from lack of application than other
wise, he left that country and plunged
into the great west and located no.
body knew where, but he drifted into
the lower strata Of society, and to OBJ.
tain the necessaries of life he resorted
to 'bootlegging" among the red men
of the Indian Territory border. His
arrest and Imprisonment followed.
The two men were arraigned before
Judge Krekel and the indictments
read. They both pleaded guilty and
threw themselves upon the mercy OF
the court. The court questioned both
prisoners at length and drew from
each his history. He recounted the
wrongs they had been guilty of agains,
society. He did this in kindly tone
and manner, suggesting in mild form
that both might have been useful mem.
bers Of some community had they
sought honorable means and methods
to secure livelihood.
The court seemed puzzled how to as
sess punishment that would meet the
ends Of justice and protect the govern
ment, its lands, its wards and society
Finally, sitting upright in his chair
looking over his glasses as both mer
stood before him, in a voice little loud
er and more positive than usual be
said:
"Mr. Brown, it Is the sentence Of the
court that you be confined in the Cole
county Jail until you are educated tt
read and write." The judge then turn
ed his eyes upon the other prisoner a
the bar and, possibly in louder voice
said, "Alr. Jones, it Is the sentence O.
| the court that you be confined in tn,
Cole county Jail until you have laugh
Mr.. Brown to read and write, and
enjoin upon the keeper of the Jail t,
afford you every facility possible will
the safe keeping Of his prisoners"
The lawyers and spectators in cour
looked with astonishment at each 9th
! er as the sentence was concluded, ant
! the marshal led the prisoners out o
the courtroom.
1t was the second term of the cour
conducted Brown and Jones into court
and it was announced by the cour
that Brown had completed his educa
tion-ready to graduate-able to rea,
and write. Judge Krekel looked owe
his glasses and asked that the prisone
give him an evidence of his being abb
to read. Brown stood up and read
few paragraphs from newspaper t
the satisfaction Of the court, when b
said, "Mr. Clerk, will you let him 81
at q table and write me letterY'
Paper, pen. ink and seat were ful
nished Brown. who went to work t
write letter to the court. For som
time the poor fellow struggled wit
the task, and in the meantime Jone
was very nervous. fearing he woul
be compelled to go back to jail an
take up school" again. Finally tn
clerk said. MAY it please your honor
the prisoner can write, but cannot forr
sentences to make 1t Ineligible"
"Mr. Clerk" said the court, not tai
Ing his eyes from the court docket b
was looking at, you will dictate le
ter for him and see what Roadway
makes with that" The clerk dictated
letter that the prisoner wrote quit
readily, which subsequently was pas
ed up to the court, who read the sa IN,
and after giving the prisoners shol
. lecture both were discharged an
walked from the courtroom free mel
Jefferson City Tribune.
Fish That Change Color.