Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-03-31
Highway Robbery Bill.

Because he once looked down the
barrel Of a gun held in the hand OF
"stick.up-gent." Senator Anfenger yes
terday afternoon made heroic effort
to save his bill increasing the terms Of
sentence for robbery.
Although the bill finally passed with
the maximum sentence. forty years.
UNTOUCHED. IL was practically killed.
for Senator Hill succeeded In getting
an amendment through leaving the
minimum penalty to be fixed in the
discretion of the court.
Senator Anfenger introduced his bill
at the request OF the district attorneys
Office. and II was drafted us result
OF the long series OF holdups with
which Denver has been suffering for
several years. II Is based upon the
stringent Illinois law. the operation of
which is said to have resulted In .
marked decrease in that state OF high.
way robberies. Under the present law
In Colorado the most a convicted hold
up can get Is fourteen years, and Il Is
said that IL Is because OF the laxity OF
the local law which caused Denver to
become infested with robbers OF this
character a year or SO back.
The first section OF the Anfengcr bill
which was the only one allowed by
the committee. reads rs follows:
Every person who shall be con-
victed OF feioniousiy taking the prop
erty OF another from his person or In
his presence and against his Will. by
force or violence to his person. or by
the use OF any drug or liquor. or by
putting him In fear OF some immediate
G..ts 80 l.l sha bal Ian.
convicted OF fcioniousiy taking the
property OF another from the person Of
his wife. servant. clerk or agent. in
charge thereof. and against the will
OF such wife. servant. clerk or agent.
by violence TO the person OF such wife.
servant. clerk or agent. or by putin.
him or her In fear of some Immediate
injury to his or her person. shall be nd.
judged guilty OF robbery In the frst
degree"
The punishment for robbery In tho
first degree was fixed by the bill at
not less than ten years imprisonment
in the penitcntiary. nor mor- than
forty years.
Senator Parks, when the considcra-
t!on OF the bill came on. wanted tho
minimum sentence raised to twenty.
Ave years. and made this an amend
mcnt.
Senator Hin objected and offered
substitute amendment striking out tho
minimum sentence altogether.
1T seems n little Inconsistent" he
said. for Senator Anf"nkcr. who has
iathcrcd all the juvenile court bills. TO
come before us with bill Of this kind.
am against this minimum sentence
for tho reason that IL often happens
- Eg..st l.xf -
boys. To take ten years out Of their
lives is to give them no chance what
ever at reformation.
Il admit that In this bill and In my
juvcnil. court bills IL looks like was
playing on both sides OF the fence"
replied Senator AnfcnE-r. ~But hold.
ups are no, committed by the boys OF
Judge Lindh-y's court. tf they arc
committed by young men at all they
arc nearly always rx.consicts or with
strong criminal tendencies.
ANY one who has ever had the OK.
p-r!cncc. as I have. Of being held up
Mt 1 O'Clock at night. will feel that ten
years Ia no, too heavy n minimum sen
tcncc. took jus, one look down the
barrel of that gun and then took TO
my heels. and ever since have wanted
that fellow to come within the tolls OF
the law. Any one knows that hold'up.
II resisted. IL prepared To NIL. think
the law ought 10 be made as stringent
as possible"
Senator Hiii took the position that
tho tendency of modern times vas TO
lrR7c the minimum sentence 10 tho
court. lie said that in rcccn, years
Congress had left this matter entirely
to the federal judges to decide.
Upon vote the Hill amendment
carried. and thCn the bill was passed
on second reading with this amend
msnt.