The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-05-19
PLEADS GUILTY.
Hill City Postmistress Pleads
Guilty and is Fined.

AAoy 0Ao 10 l00u.
The May term of the federal court
has convened in Deadwood, Judge
John E. Garland, presiding.
AS only a petit jury has been
summoned it is expected the term
will not last more than week at
most, the recent decision of the su
preme court of the United States to
the effect that it was not violation
Of the federal statutes to sell liquor
to an Indian who had taEen his al
'otment of land, having greatly re-
duced the number of cases.
Sadie Ford pleaded guilty aud
throwing herself on the mercy Of
the court, was sentenced to paw
fine of $50, which she paid. The ele-
ment of leniency entered largely into
the case, and q court room full Of.
people were visibly impressed by
the pathetic features that were
brought out.
At the opening OF court Tuesday
Mrs. Ford was arraigned and her
plea taken. In reply to the ques.
ton, guilty or not guilty." she
answered that she was guilty. and
it was at this juncture that Attorney
schrader of Rapid City interposed
his appeal for clemency. His choice
OF words was excellent, bis delivery
was deliberate and touching, and
altogether his address was q eem Of
English usage. He reviewed the
circumstances of the defendant,
whom he described as a hard work.
ing woman, who had known much
poverty and but little of the bright
side of life. Two years ago, he said,
the hand of death had entered her
family and removed her eldest child.
This had preyed heivily upon her
spirit, for she had grieved many
months. She become assistant post
master at Hill City under her hus.
band, and the offense committed was
under misunderstanding of right
and wrong. Shortly previous to
that time scandal had arisen in
that neighborhood, and Mrs. Ford 's.
motive in opening the letters and
committing the offense for which
she was indicted was in the hope
that she might be Of assistance to
some OF her dearest friends. Mr..
Schrader pictured in terms OF pity
the young children dependent upon
her. and declared that it was her
desire that they should be reared in
the correct understanding of their
duties and what is right and what
is wrong. He awoke the sentiment.
that always responds in the human
breast when the recollection OF moth.
erhood is recalled, and as he spoke
rough visaged men in the court room
were compelled to restrain chok-
ing sensation, and number of them
were observed to be clearing their
Ieyes.
At the conclusion OF Attorney
Schrader's address, Hon. E. W.
Martin, congressman from South
Dakota, spoke to the court, stating
that he was not associated in the
case officially, but that he had made
an investigation. He said he was
satisfied the defendant had not in
tended the commission Of any wrong
and he thought justice would not
suffer by the interjection of mercy.
Judge Garland, from the bench.
asked the district attorney if he had
any statement to make, and w. G.
Porter informed the court that he
fully Endorsed what Mr.. Schrader and
Mr.. Martin had said. The court then
announced that while an interfer.
ence with United States mail wasa
a grave matter, as mail is supposed
to be transmitted in private. he was
satisfied that the law did not con.
template any Undue severity in such
a case; that the defendant would
not repeat the offense, and that 9TH
ers would be evually deferred. He