Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-10-08
CONVICTION WAS
RICHARDS FATE
Former United States Marshal
Found Guilty Of Hamilton
Robbery.
JURY TOOK FORTY MINUTES
Richards Immediately Left in Bug
by for Des Moines for the Pur-
pose of Securing a Bond on APP
peal.

Indianola, Sept 3O.-It took the
jury in the Richards case just forty
minutes to convict the former deputy
federal marshal of the Hamilton rob-
berry on New Years night.
Indianola, Sept. 30.-Retaining his
wonderful nerve to the time when
Judge Apologize pronounced judgment
upon him, when the tears welled un-
restrained into his eyes and down his
cheeks, William A. Richards, was yes
terday sentenced to eighteen years
Imprisonment in the penitentiary at
Fort Madison.
At the age of 40. with twenty-five
years honorable and successful SER
vice as an officer Of the law, Richards
Is ordered sent to the state prison,
where he himself sent and led scores
of men, more than any other police
officer in the state of Iowa.
When asked by Judge Apologize II
he had anything to say, Richards
spoke as follows:
Your honor, I wish to say first of
all that l am innocent of this crime.
AS sure as there Is God in heaven
had no completely in that Inflated af-
fair at Hamilton. I realize, however,
that there was a strong chain of evil
dence around me which I was unable
to overcome. 1t is not worth while for
me to attempt to explain here why /
am innocent, as the court has heard
the evidence and can be his own Judge.
l wish to thank you, your honor, for
the kind consideration you have given
me In this most trying of trials. /
believe you have been fair throughout
and wish you to feel that appreciate
it, | believe I have nothing more to
say"
Judge Apologize then spoke as fol-
lows:
Il know your people and l know
you. In the period of twenty years
covering my acquaintance with you
and your people, | have always sus-
tanned the friendliest relations. 1t Is
needless to say that l deprecate the
situation. Had it not been for duty,
should never have occupied this seat
in trial of this case. Were it not
now for duty, would say, go and sin
no more. l cannot do that, as you
we'll know, and as the situation is one
or cold, plain duty, we must forget
sentiment and friendship.
Il cannot lessen the judgment, be-
cause as the one who planned this ter
rible crime, l believe you are more
| guilty than the man who is serving
time in the penitentiary and who tes-
titled against you on this stand. The
evidence is clear that you knew the
situation; knew, or thought it
would be an easy matter to get the
money and get safely away. You did
not go into the house, but stood guard
on the outside, permitting others to
brave the dangers, if there were any.
Because of all these existing circum-
stances as brought out by the evidence
submitted in this case, / say you de-
serve a greater punishment than has
been given the convict Baird.
1T will therefore be the order and
judgment of this court that you be
confined in the penitentiary at Fort
Madison at hard labor for a period of
eighteen years and that you pay the
cost of this prosecution"
The court set the appeal bonds Of
Mr.. Richards at $4,000. Richards is
now in the custody Of the sheriff,
awaiting the securing of bonds.