The times., 1901-05-26
A PECULIAR DEATH SENTENCE.
Curious PhraseoIogy Used by a New
Mexican Judge.
(From the Taos, N. N, Cresset,

Probably the best anecdote of Judge
Benedict is that told relative to his SEN
tence of death, pronounced upon Jose
Maria Martin who was convicted or muir
der In the district court of Taos county,
New Mexico, under a state Of facts show
ing great brutality, and with absolutely no
mitigating circumstances.
Judge Benedict said:
Jose Maria Martin. stand up. Jose
Maria Martin, you have been indicted,
tried and convicted by a jury of your
countrymen, of the crime of murder, and
the court is now about TO pass upon you
the dread sentence of the law. AS usual
thing it is a painful duty. Jose Maria
Martin, for the judge OF a court or justice
to pronounce upon human being the
sentence of death. There is something
horrible about it, and the mind of the
court naturally revolts from the perform
ance of such a duty. Happily, however
vour case is relieved of all such unpleas-
ant features, and the court takes positive
delight in sentencing you to death
You are a young man, Jose Maria Mar
tin apparently of good physical constltu-
ti0n and robust health. Ordinarily you
might have looked forward to many
years of life, and the court has no
doubt that you have, and nave expected
to die at a green old age; but you are
about TO be cut off in consequence OF your
own act. Jose Maria Martin, 1t Is now the
spring time, in a little while the grass
will be springing up green in these beau
tiful valleys, and on these broad mesas
and mountain sides flowers Will be bloom
ing birds will he singing their sweet carols
and nature VIII be putting on ner most
attractive and gorgeous robes, and life
will be pleasant and men will want to
stay. hut none of this for you, Jose Maria
Martin the flowers, viii not bloom for you,
Jose Maria Martin; the birds will not carol
for YOU Jose Maria Martin; when these
things come to gladden. the senses of
men, you will, be occupying space about
six by two beneath the sod, and the green
grass and these beautiful flowers will be
growing above your lowly head.
The sentence of the court is. that you
be taken from his place TO the county
jail; that you rbe Kept there safely and Sc
cl!reIy confined, IN the custody of the
sheriff until the day appointed for your
execution (he careful, Mr.. Sheriff that
he be at the appointed place at the ap-
pointed time)-that you be kept so, Jose
Maria Martin until-(Mr. Clark on what
day does Friday, about two weeks from
this time, come2)-lMarch y, your honor
very well until Friday, the 22d day of
March. when you will be taken by the
sheriff from your place of confinement to
some safe and convenient spot within
the county (that is in your discretion
Mr. Sheriff you are only confined to the
be hanged by the neck till you are dead !;
and the court was about to add may
Cod have mercy upon your soul but the
court will not assume the responsibility to
ask an all-wise providence to do that
which a Jury of your peers refused to
do-the Lord couldn't have mercy upon
vour soul. However if you affect any re-
ligiolls belief or are connected with any
religious organization, ii might be well
enough TO send for your priest or your
minister and get from him-well, such
consolation as you can; but the court ad-
yises YOU not to place any reliance upon
ANYTHING of that KIND.
Mr. Sheriff. remove the prisoner.