The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-17
RENOUNCES LOVE
In A COURTROOM
Mrs. Emma Yates Creates ORA
matte Scene When Sentenced
for Arson.
Falls Swooning When Court Says
She Must Serve Ten
Years.

With flashing eyes and me1odramat-
1c manner, Mrs. Emma Yates, appearing
before Judge John Day Smith today
to be sentenced for the crime of arson,
of which she was recently convicted,
suddenly turned toward the crowd that
packed the courtroom and, pointing an
accusing finger at Erwin A. Perry, ex-
claimed in loud voice:
That man sitting right there is the
the witness stand made me out COM
mon woman. He put me down among
the lowest Of women. Is that loves IF
It is love to put me behind prison bars,
have seen all want of it,
Mrs. Yates made a long plea for
mercy and reiterated her declarations
Of innocence. She was vehement and
characterized some Of the witnesses
who appeared against her as drunkards,
and said that they knew nothing about
her or the fire. She disputed with the
Judge as to Perry's testimony, and
grounds that her daughter, whose hus
band Is dying, would be deprived of a.
mothers help in her hour Of trial.
Ten Years in Saltwater.
IT am as innocent of this crime as
traught woman. eff fi'V WASH sme t. u's I
couldn It stand here at this bar of JUS
tlce. This is not justice-it is sin.
how can you sentence an innocent wom-
ans l do not
- have not passed upon your guilt, y
interrupted the judge; ''The jury has
done that. Ny. only duty now is to ac-
cep - the1r verdict and pass sentence.
you, Emma Yates, for the crime Of ar
son in the first degree, of which you
nave been duly convicted in this case.
shall be confined at hard labor in The
state -penitentiary at Saltwater FOR the
period of ten years,
The convicted woman threw back her
head, gasped and sank-into the arms Of
FIRST Assistant County Attorney John
Z Dahl, who was standing beside her.
The deputies and Matron Woodburn
rushed to her. Cold water was applied
to the woman who had some Of the an
pearances Of fainting, and she was f1il-
ally carried from the court room TO the
jail. 0'' ~ 'no
A stay of sixty days was granted
pending the argument of motion for q
new trial. An appeal will be taken IA
the motion Is denied.
Emma Anderson Denies Guilt,
Emma Anderson, convicted with Mrs,
Yates Of planning the burning Of the
store and dwelling house at 728 Fifth
street NE, was sworn and asked several
questions by the court. She also pro.
tested her innocence in broken English
"Haye you told everything you Know
about this cases' asked the court.
Yes, sir Everything.''
The judge then said that there was
nothing left to do but give her the min.
imum sentence for arson in the first de.
gree viz; ten years in the penitentiary
After further consideration, however
the defendant was remanded to Jail and
will be sentenced Monday. ". ~
Hewitt, her attorney, was not in court
and his absence was responsible FOR the
postponement.
Erwin A. Perry, the man who admits
| setting the fire at the instance Of the
two women defendants, was arraipned
and pleaded not guilty. The plea
/ caused q general smile, but it was done
50 that the case could be continued Over
the term and kept on the calendar &c
that the witness could be used in the
event Of a new trial being granted
Perry will remain in Jail.