The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-07-12

sane Schmitz. convicted of extortion,
vas today sentenced to five years il
the penitentiary. The sentence fol-
lowed the recent conviction OF SchmltZ
for extorting 81 It's from French rest
aurant keepers CT San Francisco.
AS the last words fell from The
judges lips the great crowd that had
! stood throughout the dramatic scenes,
| sent up a thunderous cheer. Good
for you shouted a man in the back of
the room. His ejaculation was echoed
and re-echoed by one after another
of the spectators.
Judge Dunno, in pronounciE1g SEN
tence on Schmitz. said:
1T can be said hat the verdict OF
| the jury in this case had a deeper sig
nifcance than ordinarily attaches 10
the finding of guilt. 1t is a message
to all the people in the city of San
Francisco that law and order are su-
preme; THAT no man, however exalted
his station or how strong Or powerful
the political, social and financial in
fuence which surround him, is above
the law. EuSCuo Il. OClilIIru-. YOU IdfC
heretofore occupied the highest Office
which the city of San Francisco: a
confer on one of it's citizens. You We're
elevated TO that position because Of
the confidence and trust reposed in
you by the mass Of the"
Il am here" interrupted Schmltz. in
a voice, though quiet and controlled,
that carried to the far corners of the
room; ITO receive sentence at you"
hands-and not to be Inundated by
a lecture which the newspapers can
repeat in print"
Judge Dunno paid no attention to
the interruption. "You were elevated
to that position, [ say because Of he
confidence and trust repOsed in you y
Attorney Nelson i~nterposed: I'VE
are here to take sentence: not 10 be
lectured. We"
"Mr. Metson," said Judge Dunno,
warmly, III you interrupt these pro-
ceedings again, l will send you to Jail.
You would Zoe in far better business il
court to answer the charge that you
wilfully and improperly attempted to
tamper with a juror in this case"
Turning to Schmitz, Judge Dunno
resumed:
"You We're elected to the position be-
cause of the confidence and great trust
reposed in you by the mass Of the
people. You nave by your wilful Grim
inal act, SO a jury of our fellow citi-
zens declared, broken that confidence
and betrayed that trust"
Here Schmitz again protests against
the lecture"
Judge Dunno took no notice.
Therefore" the judge continued "it
may be said that the penalty which the
law permits in this case is insufficient
to meet the demands of justice. It may
be suggested, however, that by your
conviction you will lose the respect
and esteem of all good citizens, that
you will suffer the humiliation of
knowing that your career Of hypocrisy,
dup1icity and dishonor-"
81 stand here as an American citizen
to demand my rights" i~nterposed
Schmftz. 81 am not asking any leni-
ency at the hands of this court. / am
prepared to receive sentence. | ask
that your honor do your duty, and pro-
nounce it Immediately, and that I be
not subject to the humiliatfng and de-
grading remarks which the papers are
copying, and will print. I say, if
your honor has any self respect, you
will proceed with the sentence"
cit is not unusual was Judge
DUNES reply, for courts to be
? brought into contact with such brazen
acts Of effrontery as yours in the pres
| ent instance. 1t is the duty of the
| court in such cases to view the conduct
of a convicted felon with patience and
= liberation, not to say pity. By youl
= conviction you will lose the respec
and esteem of all good men and citi'
zens. You will suffer the humiliation
of knowing, 1 say, that your career O.
= hypocrisy. duplicity and dishonor has
: been exposed, and that you stand be
d fore those who believed in and honoret
: you, morally naked, shamed and dis
graced."
az deny that" cried Schmitz. 9TH
S people of San Francisco know how
vas railroaded through"
Judge Dunno resumed:
Morally naked, shamed, and dis
A. graced. It is in the knowledge Of thas
|" things rather than in the term of IN
prisonment in a state penitentiary thl
the full measure of your punishmei