The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-17
SCHMITZ in JAIL.
Five Years in 4Pen" for the 6oo0-
ling Mayor.
A HISTORICAL TRIAL.

Great Victory of Citizens Over Poll
tica, Extortion. Judge Dunno
Granted No Mercy. The One-Time
Hero of San Francisco to Be
Plugged Into Prison for the Betray-
al of His High Trust.
Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz, of San
Francisco, convicted Of extortion,
was,l asst week, sentenced to five
years in the penitentiary. When the
sentence was pronounced there was
remarkable outburst Of applause
from the hundreds of persons who
crowded Judge DUNES courtroom.
The Judge prefaced his announce
ment of the penalty by administer
ing a stringing rebuke to the DIS
credited mayor for his breach OF
trust and betrayal CT the confidence
reposed in him by the people Of San
Francisco.
Scarcely had the last words Of the
sentence fallen from the lips of Judge
Dunno when the vast crowd that
thronged the courtroom broke forth
in cheers. Schmitz's attorneys pro-
tested that the display Of feeling was
1nwarranted and unjust, but the
sheriff and other court officers We're
unable to drive the people from the
room, which rang with the cheer,
Good for you. The dramatic at
mosphere was heightened by staff
of newspaper photographs, who ex-
ploded fashlight after fiashlight, till
the courtroom was so filed with
smoke that it was sitting.
When Judge Dunno, having dis
posed Of some matters preliminary
to other trials on bribery charges,
called for the calendar: The People
VS.. Eugene E. Schmitz," District At
torney Langdon and Attorney Fair.
all answered in unison, ready.
The Judge inquired Of Mr. Langdon
whether he was ready to proceed with
the other four charges Of eNtortlon
against Schmitz. The district attor-
ney interposed that the calendar was
very long and that the prosecution
was ready to receive sentence. Attor-
neys for the defense moved for a
new trial, but the motion was de-
MED on the ground of insufficient
reason, motion for arrest Of judg-
ment also failed.
Judge Dunno prepared his pro-
nouncement Of sentence with lee
ture in which he called attention to
the fact that the verdict indicates
that no matter how high the station
Of a criminal he can be sentenced by
the law when found guilty. Attorney
Metson, for the defense, interrupt
ed, but was promptly squelched. He
was warned that further attempts
to interfere would result in his being
sent to prison for contempt. Schmitz
interposed frequent protests against
humiliation. The judge commented
on Schmitz's career Of hypocrisy,
duplicity and dishonor and the wilful
criminal acts by which he had betray-
4, the confidence of the people Of
San Francisco. In concluding his
remarks Judge Dunno referred to
Schmitz as morally naked, shamed
and disgraced. The words Of the sen
tence followed: ''It is the judgment
Of the court that you be confined in
the state prison at San Quento for a
term Of FIVE years. Motion for an ap-
peal was made and it is probable the
case will be tried in a higher court.
Immediately after resuming his
seat at the counsel table Schmitz die
tated the following statement to the
newspapers:
'tThe court wherein received my
sentence for the charge of extortion
again demonstrates, and more clear
" than anything else that it has here
tofore done, a charge l made upon
my immediate return from the East
that Judge Dunno was prejudiced
against me, and that it was impossi-
bic to procure in his court fair
trial. The animus that he has treas
ured in his heart for some time came
clearly and positively to the surface
this morning.
I have never asked for leriency,
but / have expected, as every Amer
can citizen has the right to expect,
justice l ask the people to withhold
their final judgment in this matter
until the iniQuitous proceedings
which have been held in Judge
Dunne's court since the beginning of
my trial shall be brought before the
highest court.
81 have never asked for mercy, and
before a court where did not re-
ceive fair trial | certainly did not
expect it. l intend not only to fight
this case step by step, but all the
charges that have been brought
against me; and, with the knowledge
In my own conscience of my entire
innocense, | expect to be successful
in the contest.
81 now repeat what | have stated
already, that ! will be a candidate
for mayor Of the city and county of
San Francisco this fall, when the
people of San Francisco will have an
opportunity by their votes Of demon
strating whether they believe me
guilty or innocent. The people are
always right. | am satisfied to leave
my case with them.
It was the confession Of Abraham
Ruef, boss, that made the conviction
of Schnitz certain. Ruef declared
he and Schnitz had been partners in