The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-07-24
Upon His Plea of Guilty the
Court Decided to Pass
Judgment Without the For
maIity of a Trial by Jury.
PROSECUTOR FAVORED
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Fisher Was Unmoved by the
Sentence and Remarked
He Got Off Easy---Goes to
Prison Probably Saturday.

Lon Fisher colored, wife murderer
was sentenced to life imprisonment IL
the Michigan City penitentiary thi.
morning by Judge Fox. This actor
was most unexpected, as it was the
general opinion that Fisher would en-
ter a plea of not guilty and would be
tried before a jury. Prosecutor Jes
sup refused to accept Fishers plea OF
guilty and asked the court for a jury
trial. The prosecutor wanted Fisher
hung for his cold blooded crime, but
much to his disgust, Judge Fox over
ruled his petition and imposed the life
sentence on Fisher.
When Fisher appeared in the circuit
court his attorney, Perry j.
Freeman, held a consultation with him,
after which the murderer was arraign-
ed before Judge Fox After reading
the grand jury indictment charging
Fisher with murder In the first degree,
County Clerk Harry r. Penny, asked
Fisher If he was guilty or not guilty.
In a low tone of voice Fisher replied
guilty
Immediately Prosecutor Jessup arose
to his feet and objected to the plea and
petitioned for a jury trial. Il will
accept the plea" answered Judge Fox.
When Judge Fox overruled the pros
ecutor's petition to have Fisher tried
by jury. the prosecutor stated that the
state would insist that the court pro-
nounce the death sentence. This de-
mand was unheeded by Judge Fox.
Then turning to Fisher. Judge Fox
stated that with the exception of trea-
son, he was charged with the most Sc
rious of crimes, punishable by either
death or Imprisonment for life. Con-
tinuing, Judge Fox said that he had no
conscientious scruples against inflict-
ing the death penalty. and that he had
the authority to inflict this punish
ment, but that he would not assume
the responsibility. Judge Fox told
Fisher that he would sentence him to a
death. Imprisonment for life
behind prison bars. He then formal
1y pronounced the sentence of life i'm
prisonment and ordered the sheriff to
remove Fisher to the Michigan City
prison.
Fisher Was Unmoved.
Fisher. with elbow on the arm of
his chair. and his head resting on his
hand. heard with Indifference the pro-
nouncement Of his sentence As he
left the court room Fisher remarked to
fhat Ia oeS
easy" Fisher confidently expected
that he would be hung in the event
that his case was tried before a jury.
He also stated to the sheriff that he
would be model prisoner. Fisher is
not quite twentysix years of age and
as he is in splendid health. his life be-
hind the prison bars will be a long one.
Attorney Freeman after Fisher had
been taken back to the county Jail
said that he had had a consultation
with Fisher Tuesday at which time he
had advised him to enter a plea of
guilty and throw himself on the mercy
Of the court. by chance learned of
some of the testimony given to the
grand jury and when I heard it 1 at
once realized that Fisher had abso-
lutely no defense. The case against
him was a most damaging one." said
Mr.. Freeman. so | told him that if
he wished to escape the death penal
ty he stood better chance at the
hands of the court than at the hands
of a jury. I knew that one man would
not care TO assume the responsibility
of sentencing another to the death
PrnvinftC n
ment Fisher told me that he had
considered my advice and had come to
the conclusion that it was best to en-
ter plea of guilty before the court"
Favored Death PenaIty.
Prosecutor Jessup stated after the
of the sentence that he
as a general rule did not approve of
the death penalty but in the Fisher
case he thought that it should be inn
ciousness OF the crime and because it |
would have a most Statutory effect
In this community. Five of the
last six murders that have been COM
mitted in this county have been done
by colored men and all of their VIC
Tins have been colored women. The
prosecutor was confident with the tes-
timony he had at his command he
could have any jury bring in a death |
verdict. Judge Fox complimented the |
prosecutor for his zeal in prosecuting
Fisher, but stated that he thought his |
verdict would be the same as any jury
in this county would find and that if |
The case had been tried it would cost
The county from 1000 to $1,000. |
Fisher will probably be taken to Mich |
gan City, Saturday