The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-07-11
SCHM|Tz DERIDED
Grating Frisco Mayor Sen-
fenced to Five Years.
JUDGE DUNNE IS LAUDED
Cheers Of Big Crowd Broke Forth un-
checked in Courtroom When Sen
tence Was Pronounced-Seene
Most Remarkable.

At San Francisco Monday Eugene
E. Schmitz, convicted Of extortion, was
sentenced to five years in the peni-
tentiary. When the sentence was pro
nounced there was a remarkable out
burst Of applause from the hundreds
of persons who crowded Judge Dunne's
courtroom.
| Judge Dunno sentenced Schmitz
to imprisonment in San Quentin peni-
tentiary. Sentence followed the recent
conviction of Schmitz for extorting ST.
IT'S from French restaurant keepers
Of San Francisco.
AS the last words of the sentence
fell from the judges lips the great
crowd that had stood throughout the
dramatic scene sent up a thunderous
cheer. Good for you!" shouted man
in the back of the room. His ejacula-
tion was echoed and re-echoed by one
after another of the spectators. Sew
eral threw their hats into the air. 9TH
ers scrambled On chairs to look over
the shoulders Of the crowd. The great
est confusion prevailed.
| Attorney Frairail of the defense rails
ing his voice above the din, called
out to Judge Dunno: Your honor,
this cheering is a very unseemfy oc-
currence."
"Well," retorted Judge Dunno, with
spirit, IF we had a sheriff worthy of
the name, it would have been stopped
instantly"
Sheriff Thomas Odell was standing
inside the trial rail and he turned to
the court and protested: "Nobods
could have stopped that, your honor"
Special Agent Burns of the prosecu-
ton led number of bailiffs and said:
"Clear the courtroom! Clear the court
room!"
But only few of the hundred, and
odd apparently delighted men obeyed
the sharp order. Some of them hust'
led unceremoniously out into the hall.
ways. About one hundred others kept
their vantage places around the coun.
sci table, where Schmitz sat debating
statement to the newspaper men.
| The dramatic atmosphere was height
ened by a staff of newspaper photog.
raphers who exploded flashlight after
flashlight until the courtroom was so
filled with smoke that it became sti-
fling.
The sentence of the convicted mayor
was in one respect without a parallel
in the criminal annals Of San Fran
cisco. Half a dozen times Judge
Dunno was interrupted by Schmitz,
who protested in strong words against
the delivery of a lecture" instead Of
the pronouncement Of judgment. He
accused the court Of unnecessarily hu-
initiating him and giving opportunity
| for further humiliation by the report
ing of his remarks in the press. Once,
replying to the prisoner, Judge Dunno
said:
>"Such brazen effrontery was proba-
bly, no more than should be expected
and it was the duty Of the court to-
hear it in patience"
At another time Attorney Metson
of the defense interposed vigorous
objection in support of his client ito
the courts lecture"
Judge Dunne's reply was that Mr..
Metson, instead of interrupting the
proceedings, ought to be given a day
in court to answer to the charge that
he had attempted to tamper with the
jury which convicted Schmitz.
Metson, restraining himself calmly,
answered in the same spirit, saying
that he was ready to answer any
charge that was made against him.
Judge Dunno warned Metson that an
ether interruption would provoke jail
sentence for contempt.