Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-10-09
FRED. YANSANf SENTENCED
To Pay Fine of Two Theusand
Dollars and Stand One Hsur
In the Pillory.
FOR PERJURY IN LYNN TRIAL
The Full Penalty Imposed by
the Court.
vansant Not Being Able TO Pay the Fine
He wiu be Imprisoned for Three Months.
Although 1t VIII be Possible for tho
Court to Release Him Earlier.

Confessing to perjury in the Lynn
trial, Frederic Fansant was sentenced
in General Sessions Court Friday
afternoon to pay fine of 81, 600, and
to stand one hour in the piIlory on
October 18th. Vansant, as witness
in the Lynn trial last December, swore
that be saw John Lynn pay Lawrence
NJ. Whiteman money, whereas, when on
the stand in the recent Patrick Fahey
trial, he testified that he saw no such
transaction. The object Of the original
testimony was TO relieve Lynn Ct the
charge OF obtaining county money under
false pretences, but it was not accented
by the jury. which convicted Lynn.
Yapsant was chief witness in the case
of the State vs. Patrick Fahey, Fahey
being charged with suborning Vansant
to commit perjury. I'he Fahey jury
under 50, 600 bail until the November
term. 1t was supposed that the Van
SAINT case would also be continued, but
/ Vansant was in the court yesterday
morning and afternoon awaiting his
arraignment so that be could formally
plead guilty. A coincidence Of the after
noon was the sentencing Of the de-
fendant and the hearing of memorial
addresses on the late Levi 9. Bird, who
had been one of Vansant's counsel
Walter II. Hayes, the prisoners other
counsel, WAS in court.
When the court was ready Vansant
took seat in the prisoners box and
with upliftea band listened to Deputy
Clerk Of the Peace George Janvier's
reading of the lengthy indictment The
defendant clinched his right hand and
stood with downcsst eyes. Conclud-
ing, the Indictment said that Van
SAINT falsely, wiifully, corraptly and
| feloniously'' committed perjury. to
the great displeasure Of Almighty God
and to the evil example of other per-
sons like offending"
vansant pleaded guilty and cat down.
Mr.. Hayes mentioned to tine eonrt
the fact that the case had csnc to him
and .iour late Brother Bird. The
prisoner told him that be did not pro-
pose to trouble the State win trying
him, and related his story to the
attorney general as soon as comrnunica-
tion could be gotten with Mr.. Ward.
And yansant told the same story on
the stand as he had told the attorneys.
$50 faras ] know, ad led Mr.. Ward.
"his story was told me as an act OF
repentance.
The court was informed that the
prisoner was unable to pay line and
had depending upon him wife and
six children.
During the latter part of the colloquy
between court and counsel, Vansanh
| sat in the box weeping, his head bowed
| and his fingers pressing his eyes.
| When the court was ready to pro-
| nounce sentence, Chief Justice L1re
| directed Vansant to stand up, and said !;
"The crime with which you have
been charged is probably one OF ting
most dangerous known to our law. 1
find in the punishment, prescribed in
| the act of 1926, that a person guilty be
| sold into bondage for not less than four
nor more than eight years, showing that
| the law looked upon such a person aC
not free man for such period. SUBJ
| sequently it was made to apply only ia
| free negroes and mulattoes and after the
| adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment
| that was abolished, and so the law was
| practically emasculated. The penalty
| provided is very inadequate for so
| great an offence. 1t is one of the
| most heinous, insidious and dan
i gerous, crimes because it attacks the
4 administration of Justice is one of its
most vital parts.
.'Althoueh you have pleaded guilty,
the court has no mercy for this crime
and feels that the full penalty of the
law should be imposed in this case. =
/ Then Vansant was sentenced to stand
one hour in the pillory Saturday, Octo-
ber 18th, and to pay fine of $1,000
and the costs of the case No term Of
| Imprisonment was imposed. 1t is said
Vansant will have to serve three months
for the fine, although it would be
possible for the court to release him
earlier.
The prisoner was taken to the work
house Friday evening by Warden A. S.
Meserve. The Vansant case closed the
criminal business of the September
| farm