Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-13
Gets limit FOR MURDER OF SqUDZ[NSK[
Prison
an Impressive Cheadle
tenceProner Receives sFa
s Sane-C Curtain at Last

One of the saddest and most i'm
pressive scenes ever enacted in
court of justice occurred in the dis
trict court room Saturday afternoon,
when James Sherman was sentenced
to Imprisonment in the state prison
for the rest of his life. While some
further motions and legal moves will
be made in this celebrated case, the
action just taken in reality marks
the end of this drama of crime and
broken hearts.
Sherman was to have been sentenc-
ed last Thursday morning on the
jury's verdict Of murder in the Sec
end degree for the killing of Samuel
Studz1nski, but at that time, the de-
fendant's attorney, J. G. Huntoon, Sc
cured brief respite by filing motion
in arrest of judgment on the ground
that the defendant was insane. This
motion was supported by the affidavits
OF the Drs. Wilson, medical experts
through the trial for the defense, set.
ting out that in their opinion, Sher-
man was Of unsOund mind. Upon this
showing, Judge Cheadle deferred ac-
tion, and appointed ten physicians of
this city. as friends of the court, to
examine Sherman and report as to his
mental condition. These physicians
visited the defendant at the county
Jail, and after thorough investigation,
reported back to the court that Sher.
man was entirely sane. Their opin-
ion was unanimous one. and was
nnrrnhnrofod TIM hry1 1~,
testimony of a number of laymen-.
men who had known the defendant in.
tlmately right up to the time of his
arrest. They also were unanimous in
testifXjag that, according to their best
judgment, Sherman was always per-
fectly sane. Had the opinions of any
of these parties given rise to doubt
in the mind of the court a.. to the
prisoners mental condition, formal
trial for insanity would have result
ed, and if the motion of Mr. Hun.
toon had been supported in such a
proceeding Sherman's home would
have been at the state insane asylum
instead of the penitentiary. But the
testimony raised no doubt whatever
on the subject, and there was nothing
left for his honor to do but to carry
into effect the decision reached by the
jury.
UusuaI Large Crowd Present.
The time for passing sentence was
set for 4 o'clock, and fully an hour
before people commenced assembling
room, except the space within the bar,
was crowded. The ladies were not
out in such force as on former oc-
casions, but there was still a large
sprinkling of them. Sherman's aunt,
Mrs. Wameldorf, who stood by him
throughout the trial, entered the court
room at $780, and the prisoner fol.
, lowed five minutes later in custody
of the officers, and accompanied by
his father, JEFF Sherman. Mr.. Hun
toon, his attorney, followed immedi.
ately, and little later County Attor.
ney Roy E. Ayers, and his associate,
0. w. Belden, took seats in front of
| the bench. To the relief of all, It
was seen that Sherman's mother
would not be present. Her condition
! made it practically impossible for her
to appear.
Knew What Was Coming.
The prisoner was perfectly calm as
he took his seat, and If he was ner-
vous. succeeded in Disgusting it. He
nodded to some of his acquaintances,
but his customary smile was lacking.
He realized exactly what the whole
proceeding meant to him, and in all
probability had figured out just what
to expect. The severity of the sen.
tence may have surprised a few peo-
pie, but the chances are that it did
not surprise James Sherman in the
| CT LII
to stand up, he arose quietly, and
stood like a statue during the some
what extended remarks by Judge Chea-
die When the final words had been
pronounced, condemning him to re-
main in the penitentiary "for the term
of his natural life," he smiled back
at his honor and quietly resumed his
| seat.
An Impressive Proceeding.
The entire scene was most impres.
sive. and it was followed with breath.
less interest by the spectators, many
of whom were deeply moved. Judge
Cheadle himself was much affected
| and sorrow was written on his face
and revealed in his voice as he per.
formed his duty-the most unpleasant
one, as he himself said. that he had
ever been called upon to perform in
his capacity of Judge. The prisoners
father felt it most keenly and tears
stood in his eyes when his honor
concluded. AS he passed out of the
court room for the last time. Sher.
man spoke to several old friends, his
demeanor being wholly self-possess.
ed. yet completely lacking in any ele.
ment of bravado. On the whole, the
prisoner bore himself most creditably
during this terrible ordeal.
Was Sad Scene.
The scene was by all odds the sad
desl one in this whole drama, So pro-
llhc OF sorrow. All realized that ii
meant the closing forever of the
prison doors upon a career that prom
ised to one of unusual brilliance. The
true mystery in the case is really as
tC how a young man of Shermans e
mental attainments, of his uniform
kindness to his parents and natural
sweetness and evenness Of disposi
tion could be led to commit so fright
fui a. crime. His own explanation
of this strange affair is the only one
known-that the gambling mania had