The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-30
Four Men Get the Limit
of the Law.
Dramatic Scene After Sentence
Was Pronounced.


Andrew J. Campbell, who We're found
guilty OF murder in the second degree for
the killing Of Jennie Bosschieter, on De-
toneI IS, 1900, by the administration OF
choral and subsequent rape together
with George j. Kerr, who pleaded Eon
vult to charge of rape, were brought In
to the cours of Oyer and Terminer here
today for sentences by Judge Dixon. Nc
AIister, Campbell and Death were each
sentenced to thirty years Imprisonment
at hard labor, and Kerr to fifteen years
imprisonment at hard labor, for the crime
of rape to which he pleaded non vult yes
to-day.
The sentences Of all the men are the
full terms OF imprisonment which the law
provides, but In the case OF Kerr fine OF
81, OCO might have been added.
In Passing sentence upon the thfee
first, Judge Dixon said;
lyon stand convicted of murder in
the second degree. The crime for which
you should have been convicted was
murder In the first degree for you killed
Jennie Bosschietsr.
z "From time immemorial the penalty
FIR that has been death. The lsniencT
Of the jury has saved you from the gal
lows, The function of the court Is to Ad-
minister laws as they are. 1t is trne,
the penalty l am about TO propose will
destroy your lives anu obllterate the
prcmise Of careers so bright before you,
but 1 cannot make this distinction.
al am not to reward you for previous
nonduct, but to punish you for this
crime. / trust the feerful consequences
of that night may so influence the young
men OF this community that they shall
know they cannot secure happiness out
side Of the paths of honor.
1.-The sentence Is that you shall be
sentenced to hard labor in prison Tor 81
years."
Judge Dixon's voice was low, but dis
tinot. At times it fRltered and his eyes
filed with tears.
In eentenoin9 Kerr, the judge said;
Poor, poor Jennie Bossohietsr," and
eyery listener felt the effect Of his words.
Then, Kerr, stand up" said the judge,
''The evidence" said Judge Dixon,
did net show that you were party to
ths administering Of the drug, but the
evidence did show that you did partici'
rate in tbs assault en- Jennie Bosschieter.
"Ihsra is one feature OF your case, how
ever, that makes the commission of this
crime worse so far as you are concerned
worse than the others. You were older,
you had q wife, family, yet you cast
them all aside TO commit that awful
crime.
30, that pitilsss ride o, that bastard
ly outraged Poor, poor, Jennie Boss
chieter. You hal no mercy for her, You
threw hsr by the roadside after robbing
her of her womanly purity. There can
he no mercy for you The sentence oil
the court Ia that you be confined in
stat prison for the term OF u years"
When Judge Dixon finished sentencing
the prisoners there WAS great silence
in the room. so still was it that voices
in the street could be distinctly heard for
brief second was presented the picture
of q crowded room OF spectators whose
faces seemed white ana tensely bright,
with an expression In their eyes as oil
those hypnotized.
Then faint sob broke the briet spell.
1t came from slight little woman in
black, who sat beside a tall man whose
nair was shot with silver. 1t was Mira
Bosschister, mother of the murdered
girl, from whose memory the low spoken
words OF Judge Dixon will reysr be
obliterated. The man wish her was her
husband, whose rugged face softened,
and whose kindly eyes glistsned as he
listened.
When the prisoners had been sentenced,
Judge Dixon made motion of his hand
to the deputies who had brought them In.
MeAlister rose first and he'd mp his
wrist for the manacles Kerr followed,
tear running down his cheek; then
Death, whose face was very flushed, and
lastly, Campbell.
AS MeAlister walked down the aisle
Mrs. Bosschieter, whose nerves werG
overweight. started up suddenly in
front of him, her eyes blazing.
Fer an instant the arch culprit. anC
he mother OF the girl whom he hat
rugged to death, stood facing each
Ithsr. She seemed about TO speak, bui
The stiiiea back the words aud abruptly
turned back.
McAlister paled slightly and passed on
well, I'm glad Tvs over" said he
as he reached the corridor. "The sent.
snce was no more than we expected
Death and Campbell wore almost
pleased look. McAlister for the first
time, lowered his head and his pugna
cious expression gave way to one of ds
jeotion. He seemed ready to break down
when the door of the prison clicked be
hind him.