Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-29
Jennie Bosschieter's Murderers Get
Thirty Years in Prison.
PLEA Fer CLBMENCY REFUSED
Judge Dixon lnfIicts Full Penalty
on All but Kerr.
HE GETS FIFTEEN YEARS

| PATERSON, N. j., January 29.-Walter
c. McAlster, William A. Death and Andrew
j. Campbell, who were found guilty of mur
der in the second degree for the killing Of
Jennie Bosscheiter on October 1S. 19OO by
| the administration OF choral and subse-
quent rape, together with George J. Kerr,
who pleaded mon vult contendre" to a
charge Of rape. were brought into the court
of oyer and terminer here today for SEN
tence by Judge Dixon.
McAlster, Campbell and Death were each
sentenced to thirty years Imprisonment at
| hard labor, and Kerr to fifteen years i'm
| prisonment at hard labor. The sentences
Of all the men are the full terms of i'm
prisonment which the law provides, but in
| the case of Kerr a fine OF 81, 600 might have
been aCded.
| The proceedings began with plea by
| Michael Dunn one of the attorneys for the
convicted men. for emency for his clients
| He urged that in the cases OF Death and
| Campbell the question of their reformation
| was worthy of consideration by the court.
| Counsel also submitted petition signed by
many citizens asking for mercy for Camp
| bell who had been known for many years
| to the petitioners Industrious, temperate
| and of good character.
! Ex-Judge Scott addressed the court IN
| character and high family connections.
| McAlister, Campbell and Death were then
| told to stand up. McAl.ster and Campbell
| looked extremely pale and Death had the
appearance Of suffering greatly under the
| strain.
Judge Dixon Addresses the Men.
| Judge Dixon, addressing the three prison.
| ers, said:
| You stand convicted Of murder in the
| second degree. Had you been found guilty
of murder in the first degree the punish
ment would have been death. but the len-
iency of the jury in the exercise OF their
| lawful authority saved you from the gall
lows. We must administer laws as theS
are. 40
'It is true, these sentences will destroy
your lives, obliterating every prospect OF
an honorable existence among the people
The court cannot make any distinction. but
must sentence you for this crime.
II trust the fearful consequences from
this crime will help young men and young
women of this community and point out TO
them that they cannot hope to secure hap
piness outside of virtue and honor. The
sentence of the court is that each OF you
be imprisoned in the state prison at Tren-
ton at hard labor for term of thirty
years"
George J. Kerr was then called to the
bar, and by his attorney entered plea ot
sault In entering the plea counsel asked
the court to exercise clemency. He spoke
of the prisoners father. said now to be
dying as a result. at least In part, OF the
his sisters. wife and six children. one Of the
latter only two months old, and concluded
by saying: There Is no one who can say
that the prisoner has not been honorable In
his past relations and that he has not
been a peaceable citizen.
Kerr Also Sentenced.
Judge Dixon at once proceeded to pass
sentence. He said addressing the prisoner:
1.-THE evidence In this case does not say
that you helped In administering the drug,
but participated In the ravishment Of the
girl. In one respect your case Is worse
than the others. You were older and had
more obligations for virtue. You had q
wife, worthy of the highest affections. and
children for your concern, but you disre-
garded all and permitted yourself to drift
away from proper domestic life and now
you stand here a wreck OF vice and cr1mex
And such crime! No wonder 1t shocked
the community and startled every womanly
and manly heart That pitiless ride, that
dastardly outrage, the poor victim laid
she would be found by kind friends or by
beasts. How gladly would I spare your
relatives, but in the exercise Of my duty
1 cannot withhold anything which the sen.
tsnce of the law requires. The sentence
of the court Is that you be imprisoned in
the state prison at Trenton for term OF
fifteen years at hard labor"
The four prisoners were promptly re-
moved from the court room after shaking
hands with their counsel and q few friends.
The prisoners probably Will not be taken
to the state prison at Trenton for a couple
Of days.