The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-17
NUMBER 20.

the mercy of the court, expressing
the hope lis case would be disposed
Of as soon as possible.
Tenney waived examination and
was brought-swiftly against his SEN
tence.
The case was brought up ia court.
about S o'clock in the afternoon, a
good sized audience filling the rooms.
1t appears that influential friends
had interested themselves in behalf
OF the prisoner. Mrs. Tenney carried
several Of their letters with her.
Just before passing Of the sentence
Judge Shilas called Mrs. Tenney into
his private room and talked with her
for half an hour.
When The two returned to the court
room tue judge looked very ave
and Mrs. 1enney's face was inscrut-
able II she knew what was to hap
pen 2 did mo- let anoyne know III
|by he bearing. Taking her seat
close to her husband she waited
The jury had returned an indict-
ment on only one count, charging
Tenney with having opened Il letter
containing 81 and having appropriat-
ed the same to his own use. Marshal
Tracy said that it was not unusual
10 such cases to return Indictments
on only one count.
La telling the story Marshal Tracy
yesterday morning dwelt with pecu-
liar emphasis on Tenney's reply
1Tenney made all excellent
speech said the marshal. HE told
the court there was no reason why
he should not be sentenced. He
acknowledged his guilt and offered
no excuse. But before the passing Of
sentence he said he would like to adj
dress a few words to the court. He
called attention to a service Of some
eighteen years in the employ Of the
government,Sand asked that this long
service, all Of which had been honor
able with the exception OF the last
few months, be allowed to count in
bis behalf for leniency.,, Judge
Shiras then arose and With dramatic
earnestness delivered a solemn ad-
dress, during the delivery of which
the silence was sostense the dropping
of a pin could have peen heard.
~ sentence you to two yearSin the
p~enltentiary at Anamosa and fine you
There was.-a pause after this state
ment and then the Judge continued
to talk.
Tenney was in complete ignorance
OF what was to come, and only the
trembling little woman at his side
had an inkling OF what was to come.
Atsthe close of the lecture to the
prisoner Judge Shiras. with dramatic
Esuddenness, announced that the 6
tence would be suspended during,
good behavior.
enney looked like a man stunned.
Had he been drawn back to life with
a grave yawning before him the re-
,vulslon OF feeling could not have
beenAmore Intense.
With happy tears running from her
eyes bis wife placed her arms about
his neck and kissed him.
Tenney was seen at his home
yesterday morning, but he was not
inclined to talk about his case.
II appreciate very much the kind
ness Of many people in Sioux CITY,
he said, abat ! have nothing to say
now. Many friends unknown to nv
self and to my wife have interested
themselves in my case, and it is
largely through their efforts and hers
that i am now a free man. j did
not expect it and the outcome was
as great a surprise as it could be to
anyone. It's like being dead and
called to life again.
The people in Sioux City charge
me with being responsible for all tha
wrong things that have occurred in
the postof1ce for years, I suppose,
and nothing that / could say would
make them think differently I have
donegWrong and am ready to face the
results However, I pleaded guilty
only to the one offense.
ssI have not vet decided upon my
future plans. have Thought Of
trying to live down my offense here,
but we have decided nothing def
Hnitely. We may leave Sioux City,