, 1905-04-03
ONE OF THE sLAYERs OF MERcH-
ANT GERBER PLEADS GUILTY
AND SENTENCE PASSED
BY THE COURT.
conssnded by Attorneys for state and
Defense That He Could Not Have
Been Convicted and Aided Greatly
In Conviction Of Henry Clay, Who
Is Awaiting Murder In the First
Degree-Andrews Acquitted.

10 Awaiting Murder In the First
Degree-Andrews Acquitted.
At 2 O'Clock this afternoon, in the
district court, William Burney. alias
"Dicey," pleaded guilty to man
slaughter, and Judge Carpenter imme
diately sentenced him to serve a term
of ten years in the penitentiary. Bur
ney, in charge of the sheriff INT depu
ties, was taken out of the court room
placed in a hack and hurried down tc
train No. 3 at 3 O'Clock, the horses
going at a gallop. He Is now on his
way to Rawlins.
One Of the most dastardly murders
ever committed in Laramie has beer
at last avenged. On January 10, 1905
George Gerber was brutally murdered
in his store on First street. Three men
participated in the crime. One Of
them, Clay. is awaiting sentence Of
death in the county jail; another, THE
Kid" is. still at liberty. and the third
William Burney, alias "Dicey," was to
day sentenced to the penitentiary for
M slaughter.
The whole affair has been kept a
close secret. At 2 O'Clock the prisoner
was brought into Judge Carpenters
private Office at the court house
There were present at that time only
twelve persons-Judge Carpenter. 8.
G. Downey and ]. M. Fenwick, attor'
neys for the state; Will McMurray and
Judge Bramel, for the defense; Louis
De Lario, court stenographer; Bernard
Featherstone. deputy clerk Of the
court; Sheriff Reals. Mr.. Titus and
MIR. Knadler, deputy sherins; q report
for The Republican and the defend
ant, William Burney.
Judge Carpenter asked the prisoner
II he desired to withdraw his plea Of
mot guilty." He said he did, and that
he was willing to plead guilty to man.
slaughter.
Are you aware that 1t 10 within my
power to sentence you to from one to
twenty years in the ~penitentiary?'
asked the Judge.
II am" said the prisoner.
What have you to say for yourself,
or what have your attorneys to say
for your"
Judge Branel briefly addressed the
court, asking him to take into consid.
GRAFTON the fact that Clay could never
have been convicted without the testi-
mony Of Burney, and to also remember
that probabilities were against any
conviction Of Burney before = jury.
Mr.. McMurry next spoke. asking the
court in the light Of extenuatins cir.
cumstances to be lenient to the pris.
ouer.
Mr.. Fenwick, for the state, said he
was convinced that Burney could new
or have been found guilty Of murder
and he recommended Burney to the
mercy Of the court.
Mr.. Downey. county attorney. said
Clay could never have been captured
without the aid Of Burney, nor could
he have been convicted without his
testimony. He recommended Burney
to the mercy Of tie court.
"Mr. Burney, you may stand up.
You may consider yourself lucky to 60
to prison instead II the gallows. l
have little mercy ON you. You can
never expiate for your crime. The
judgement and sentence Of this court ID
that you shall be imprisoned for . term
Of ten years In the penitentiary."
The judge ordered every person in
the room to remain silent about the
.traasaction until the departure Of
train No. Z.
AZ $50 O'Clock : hack was driven
up 70 the rear door q the court house
and Barney was hurried ont and placed
inside. Judge Carpenter rsmanded
Barney to the sheriff and cdspaties and
told tAsn o. No sooount to II him b
taken from then.
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