The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-13
SLEEPY MACS JURY ADDRESS
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Two old friends were reminiscing


Two old friends were reminiscing.
Did you ever come. across Lieuten-
ant Edward McNeill2'' asked the rail-
road manager $40 ..;-..
Edward McNeiIl?" repeated the
former instructor at West Point. why.
there was a, cadet of that name IN my
class at the military academy We
called him Sleepy Mac ] wonder II
that's the man YOU mean He was with
the Twenty Infantry He left the
service about twenty years ago and
took up the practice of law in Port
land i
Hes practicing law still; one Of the
ablest lawyers in Oregon. Sleepy
Mae That's right. I knew him when
was connected with the Oregon Rail-
read and Navigation company. Most
remarkable mani"
SO he was when I knew him. He
belied his nickname He was just
about the most wideawake fellow we
had in college, but he had a solemn.
sleepy look about him. Didn't appear
to observe anything or TO hear any
thing: but nothing escaped him"
Ever hear Of how he convicted
Hyde BRAKEMAN in one of the county
courts IN Oregon soon after leaving the
army? / happened TO be there and
witnessed fl.
BRAKEMAN was known ali over the
northwest as tough citizen: but he
had lots Of friends among the rougher
element who wOuld lay down their lives
for him. II was charged against him
that ne was a horse thief. highway
man, free booteT. mail robber. gambler.
mine salter, and lots OF other evil
things. but he always managed 10
escape justice. He had an alteration
with a friend of Sleepy Macs and
killed him. His excuse was self-defense.
Instead of shooting him on the spot.
Mac decided to take him to court and
let the law deal with him for man
slaughter.
The whole section turned out to the
trial. which was conducted in the
usual frontier style. From the very
start, however. IL was plain that Judge
and jury were siding with Brakeman,
as well as were the spectators. 1t
looked black for Mac. He hadn't
friend to help him If anything, he
looked sleeper than ever. and was
about the calmest man in the whole
bunch. Brakeman. cOcksure OF acquit-
tai was toplftical and insolent to-
ward him.
AT last the judge charged the jury
in BrackmaBis favor. of course, and as
the twelve peers were about to march
out 20 give an imitation of finding a
verdict Sleepy Mac arose. held up his
hand as signal 10 stop. and said with
awful emphasis and solemnity:
- Y our honor has seen ht@to charge
/ in the prisoners favor. and the jury
are about 10 find q verdict of mot
guilty Gentlemen Of the jury. con-
+ slider wei what am about TO say. j
; advise you 10 find the prisoner guilty.
/ for --yOu-knOW--in-- yOuT--sOuls- he
! is-guity, Do your duty gentlemen.
J FIND A VERDICT OF GUILTY. For
/ by the living God. I swear that if you
{ do NOT find him guilty I viii put a
bullet through his heart the moment
/ you free him Of this charge"
Wasn't that hot stuff p
/ Yes. yes. But so on What did the
3 jury dO?"
Returned a verdict of guilty. Brack-
man was sentenced 10 fourteen years
IN the penitentiary, and served his
! time
What did the judge do with Mac?
( IL is the worst ease of contempt OF
court ever heard Of
The judge was a man of sense. He
B overlooked it,.