Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-16

trial and in arrest of judgment, filed by
counsel for the defendant An appeal from
the ruling to the Court of Appeals was
noted and thirty-eight days allowed for
the completion of the bill of exceptions.
When he arose to hear the fateful words
of the presiding justice Watson displayed
emotion for the first time since the date
of his arrest. He pale, apprehensive
and visibly agitated when Justice Wright
inquired:
Have you anything to say why the sen
teDce of the court should not be passed
upon you?'
If the prisoner made a reply it was in
audible. Apparently he merely nodded his
head and Strengthened up, as though pre-
pairing to receive physical blow.
Watson Hurries From Court Room.
Immediately after the words of the court
fixing the length of his Imprisonment had
been spoken. Watson hurried across the
room and descended the stairway to the
cell room. Mrs. Watson, who stood the
ordeal with less evidence of anguish than
did her husband. also FASTENED from the
room through one of the entrance door
ways and joined the prisoner in the base
ment Former Auditor Petty and several
other District officials were in attendance
when sentence was pronounced.
By reason of deduction of time for good
less than seven years in the penitent!ary
Although he has already served eighteen
months in the District Jail. his entire i'm
prisonment from the date of his arrest will
be less than nine years. in the event the de-
cision of the Court of Appeals shall be
against him and the sentence, imposed to-
day is carried into effect.
The proceedings this morning were in the
presence of an audience that tested the
capacity of the room of Criminal Court No.
l. moment after Watson was escorted in
he was Joined by his wife and by Attorneys
d. w. Baker and Stuart Mcnamara. As
sistant United States Attorneys Turner and
Keigwin were present as representatives of
the government.
Defense Submits Motions.
The motions for a new trial and an arrest
of judgment were called up and Attorney
Baker announced that he was willing that
they be submitted without argument. The
questions of law presented, it was explain
ed, had been fully discussed during the
trial. and disposed of by the trial court
then, and it was not necessary to again go
over the matter. The suggestion was adopt
ed and Justice Wright promptly overruled
the motions
Assistant United States Attorney Turner
thereupon recommended that a severe sem
tence be imposed on the defendant The
prosecuting officer called attention to the
fact that Watson had embezzled nearly
$4,000 and that the theft was a deliberate
one. 1t was possible for the court to send
the prisoner to the penitentiry for a total
OF thirty-fve years. The court was also
told by Assistant United States Attorney
turner that the embezzling of funds from
the District was not WatsOn's first offense
IL was added that heretofore he had COM
united forgery and for doing so was COM
m tied to the reform school
Attorney Mcnamara then addressed the
court lie said he had not contemplated
Whei ne entered the court room this morn
ing that any such request as the one of
severe punishment would be made.
Government, State and Individual.
The government and the state have an
interest in this matter Attorney Nc
Namara went on to say, and so has the
individual. As an officer of the court have
the right to make a suggestion regarding
the punishment. 1t is that the sentence be
a deterrent and corrective-that should be
the end-but not vindctive. A mild SEN
tence will be sufficient. The defendant has
already been confined in Jail for wear and
half The District has an interest in this
man, and II is that he shall serve his sem
tence and. after being released. live prop
erly and be good citizen. The defendant
Is now thirty years of age He has served
eighteen months. mild sentence will en-
able him to regain his freedom while yet
young man, and atone for the past
AS TO the defendants previous offense
10 winch your honor,s attention has been
directed. Attorney Mcnamara Stated "he
was h'tie 10y, fourteen years of age
when that occurred. He was led on and
made the dupe of his associates When the
affair was investigated he promptly told ali
that he knew about il, and was relea sed
soon after being sent to the reform school
Then, for twelve years. he led an exemplary
life. That indiscretion of youth ought not
to be raked up now"
In conclusion Attorney Mcnamara re-
marked that while justice should be salts
fed. Watson ought 70 be given the oppor-
tunity TO begin life over again by the inn
position of a mild sentence.
Constitutes a Temptation.
Attorney Baker briefly supplemented the
statement of his associate. Without desir-
Ing to criticise, he declared that the way
money had been handled In the District
auditors office was a temptation
II entertain for this defendant more than
the feeling of an attorney" Attorney Baker
said. He was my friend, he was liked by
everybody, and l ask, not only as his at
torney, but as his friend, that a severe SEN
tence be not imposed. / suggest that each
OF the two indictments be regarded as one
charge and that sentence be imposed on
those two charges"
After Watson had indicated that he had
nothing TO say why sentence should not he
imposed, Justice Wright announced that
the keenest punishment that could be i'm
nicted on the defendant probably, was
what he had already endured. ANY way,
according TO the court, the punishment of
the individual Is a secondary consideration.