Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-22
GRAY RECEIVES
TWENTY YEARS
Forger Pleads Guilty to Three
Counts in Indictment and
Is Sentenced
suRNHAM SCORES PRISONER
Tells Him He Believes He Belongs
to the Glass Which Thinks 1t is
Smarter Than the officers-Makes
an Example and Imposes Long
sentence-Gray Talks.

Sentence-Gray Talks.
Van Gordon Gray, self-confessed for
ger, was sentenced this afternoon at
2:2O by Judge G. w. lBurnham, in the
district court, to twenty years impris-
onment at hard labor at the peniten-
tiary at Fort Madison. The grand jury
returned three indictments against
Gray at 10 O'clock this morning, and
Gray soon afterwards expressed a will
ingness to throw himself on the mercy
of the court, and enter a plea of guilty.
He had but little to say before sentence
was pronounced.
The three bills returned by the grand
jury were uttering a forged instru-
ment, forgery. and obtaining money
under false pretenses. He was brought
into court at 2 o'clock, and twenty
minutes later year for every minute
he had been in the court room was Civ
EN- in combined sentence on the three
counts. For uttering a forged instru-
ment Judge Burnham sentenced Gray
to fifteen years. On the forgery charge
three years was named, this sentence
to begin ON the expiration of the first
On the charge of obtaining money
under false pretenses sentence of two
~ at la
expiration of the second sentence.
Court Room Packed to Doors.
The court room was packed to the
doors with curious crowd anxious to
see the prisoner. This was just what
Gray wished to avoid, but there was
no help for it. After being taken to a
barber shop to be shaved Gray was
ushered into the court room thru the
clerks office. After he entered his
plea and waived time for sentence
Gray took the occasion offered him t.
speak.
Gray Talks.
Gray's words were SO inaudibly ex-
pressed that even Judge Burnham
could hardly hear him. He scarcely
spoke above whisper, and was very
nervous. He said he realized that he
had done wrong, and was anxious to
lead better life. He was also anxious
to make reparation for his wrong and
had decided to throw himself on the
mercy of the court. Any leniency that
the court might extend, the prisoner
said, he would never regret according
it. He did not wish to be any expense
to the state, and he was anxious to
begin serving his sentence as quickly
as possible. The humiliation l have
suffered" the prisoner added i'm closing,
has already been sufficient punish
ment in itself"
Northup Speaks for State.
County Attorney Northup spoke for
the state He referred to the fact that
the prisoner had been fugitive from
justice, and alluded to his recent escape
from Sheriff Hutson. His work as a
forger, the states attorney said, showed
a special knowledge of the craft. Il
know nothing of the mans past" said
Mr.. Northup, "as he has not seen fit to
divulge anything to me-.
Mr.. Northup concluded with this, and
Gray added that as far as his past was
concerned he had nothing to be
ashamed of. Il never committed a
crime of any kind until six weeks ago,
and l will never commit another one"
Court Scores Prisoner.
Judge Burnham's remarks were short
and directly to the point. He said in
part: 1T is often unaccountable for
the court to see bright and intelligent
man before the court under charge of
a serious crime, with the court having
power to deprive him of his liberty,
and feeling all the time that there is
an element Of manhood and intelligence
that might work about to make him
an honest citizen. 1t is a painful duty
that the court has to perform, and
there are a number of things to take
into consideration in the performance
Of this duty. First, the reformation,
If possible, of the prisoner; secondly,
the protection Of society.
my first thought is to do all can
to help man to. see the error of his
way, and to set him on the right track,
to make him gain not only his self re-
spect, but the respect of his fellow
citizens. Frequently in the case of
young man, who has never before COM
mitted a crime, let him go, and have
him report to the court, trying at all
times to have him observe a moral and
upright life, and not be a disgrace to
himself or to the court granting such
leniency.
"rhere is another class that I have
a great deal of sympathy with, and
HAT is the class that commits crime
in the heat of passion. extend
clemency to this class and do all can
to help them.
"There is still another class, one
which persistently pursues life of
crime. They think they can outWit
The authorities and defy the officers
Of the law.
"Tt seems to me, from what informa-
lion that comes to me, that you belong
Ia this last class. You thought you
we're a good deal sharper than the Of
acers. and persistently pursued a car
ser of crime. In other places you have
similar crimes. You were
to take desperate chances II
became necessary; you would have
AIKEN life. 1t is the duty of this court
q make an example of you, not only to
,rotect this community, for light
sentence would do this. But we are all
;,tay11-ovnr in hrci |