The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-06-20
A UNIQUE SENTENCE.
THE NOVEL PENALTY A JUDGE INA.
POSED UPON TWO MEN.

Both Prisoners Were Condemned IN
jail Until One of Them, "A CoIIexe
Graduate. Taught the other How tn
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 n viola
ton of the United States laws, one of
whom will be called Brown. lie was
charged with cutting timber on the
public domain. Brown was about 40
years old and had been reared on the
border I'm Arkansas and never had any
opportunities for schooling, hence was
unable to read or write. In his en-
deayors to get n living he had cut tim
Der suitable for making ax 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. lie possessed
a highly cultured mind, n 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 "bootlegglng" among the red men
of the Indian Territory border. His
arrest and Imprisonment followed.
The two men were arralgned 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. lie recounted the
wrongs they had been guilty OF against
society. He did this I'm a kindly tone
and manner, suggesting In n 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 aud protect the govern
ment. its lands. Its wards and society.
Finally. sitting upright in his chair,
looking over his glasses rs both men
stood before him. In n voice little loud
er and more positive than usual he
said:
MIR Brown, II IL the sentence OF the
court that you be confined In the Cole
county jail until you are educated to
read and write" The Judge then turn
ed his eyes upon the other prisoner at
the bar and. possibly in a louder voice,
said. Mr. Jones. II is the sentence of
the court that yon be confined In the
Cole county jail until you have taught
Mr.. Brown TO read aud write. and |
enjoln upon the keeper Of the jail 10
AFFORD you every facility possible with
the safe keeping OF his prisoners"
The lawyers and spectators In court
looked WIN nstOuisnmcnt ut rnch ON
or as the sentence was concluded. aud
The marshal led the prisoners ont Of
the courtroom.
II was the second term Of the court
after this Incident VIXEN the marshal
conducted Brown and Jones Into court,
and II was announced by the court
that Brown had completed bis educa-
tlon-rendy TO graduate 10 read
and write. Judge krekel looked over
his glasses aud asked that the prisoner
give him an evidence OF his being able
to read. Brown stood up and read n
few paragraphs from n newspaper TO
the satisfaction of The court. when he
said, mir. Clerk. will you lei him SIT
at q table aud write me letterF
Paper. pen. Ink and seat were fur
nlshed Brown. who went 10 work 10
write q letter to the court For some
time the poor fellow struggled with
the task. and In the meantime Jones
was very nervous. fearing he would
be compelled to go back TO jail and
take up school, again. Finally the
clerk said. May II please your honor
the prisoner can write. but cannot form
sentences TO make ii inielligil1le."
MIR Clerk" said the court. not TAX
Ing bis eyes from the court docket lie
was looking ut. you will dictate let
Ter for him and see what headway he
makes with that" The clerk dictated
letter TINT the prisoner wrote qlite
readily. which subsequently was pnss-
ed up to the court. who read The same,
and after giving the prisoners short
lecture both were discharged ana
walked from the courtroom free men
LII IN. tIrII.anrna