The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-07
MAYOR SCHM|Tz TO
PRISON FOR FIVE YEARS
Wild Demonstration of Approval
in San Francisco Court
JUDGE DENoUNCES CONVICT

eUVe SCdtihllS ACCeuiCi "AnSA
schmitz Interrupts Many Times
With the Demand That He Be
Inundated No Further.
San Francisco, CAY Eugene E.
schmitz, recently deposed as Mayor
of this city, was sentenced to five
years in San Quentin Prison. The
consigning to convict's stripes Of one
who, when convicted, was serving his
third consecutive term as chief ex-
ecutive, was attended by several feat
ures sensational and dramatic; with
out parallel in the criminal h%istory'of
San Francisco.
When sentence was pronounced
the representatives Of a delighted
citizenship made a remarkable DEM
o%nstration, orally and by applause,
which the Court made no effort to
suppress.
The sentence followed the convic-
ton of Schmitz for extorting s1175
from the keepers Of French restau-
rants, by, the payment Of which they
were allowed to defy the law. There
are four other indictments for extor-
ton against Schmitz and indictments
for bribery and other crimes.
eugene E. Schmitz, stand up"
commanded the Court.
The large, black-bearded prisoner
arose at the counsel table. His face
was the color Of ivory. His lips were
pressed tightly. He bent his eyes In
a piercing glance on the Judge, and
not once during the dramatic mo-
ments that followed did he drop
them. His shoulders were thrown
we'll back and he held his head high.
Eugene q. Schmitz," said Judge
Dunno, after reciting the facts OF, his
trial and conviction, have you any
cause to show why judgment should
not be passed?" ....,. -. BE-.
I'VE have" responded Attorney
Fairall, and as he arose to move for
a new trial the Mayor sat down.
Bairall read briefly six grounds upon
which a new trial should be granted.
The motion was promptly denied.
Fairall excepted to- the ruling and
maped for an arrest Of judgment.
This also was denied. The Court
then asked il the defense had any
other cause to show.
mo other" was the reply.
Judge Dunno, turning TO- Scnmitz,
who had again risen;. said:.
"Engene E. Schmitz,. you have
heretofore occupied the highest Office
which the city Of Sam: Francisco can
confer on one Of itE' citizens. You
were elevated to that position be-
cause of the confidence and trust re-
posed ir you by the mass of tile
IT am here" interrupted Schmitz,
in a voice, though quiet and con-
trolled,. that carried to- the far cor
ners of the room, "to receive sentence
at your. hands-and not to'be' humil-
lated by a lecture which the news
papers can repeat in print"
At this there was a. buzz or eX-
element: Judge Dunno paid NO at
tention to the interruption. -.
You were elevated to- that posi-
ton, I say, because of the confidence
and trust imposed in you-
Nelson interposed: w are here
to take sentence, not to"be lectuTed.
We"
"Mr. MetSon," said Judge" Dunno,
warmly, ."if you interrupt these pro-
ceedings again 1 will send you: to- jail.
You would be in far better business
If you were here begging for a: day
in court to answer the charge that
YOU wilfnily and improperly attempt
ed to ta1uper with a. Juror in this
case"
"I stand here as 4" American clti-
zen to demand my rights" interposed
Schmitz:. Il ask that be not sub
jected to- humiliation and degrading
remarks which the papers are copy
ing, and will print. I say, if Your
Honor has any s~elf-respect, you Will
proceed with the sentence"
"You' stand before" those who be-
lieved I'm and honored you morally
naked, .sftamed and d~isgraced,,:" con-
tinued the Court.
"I deny that" cried Schmitz:. ~The
people of San Francisco know now
was railroaded through"
judge Dunno resumed and finally
pronounced the sentence.
: The7Sreat crowd set up a thunder
GUS cheer. "Good1f6r you! shouted
one man, and his ejaculation was
echoed and re-echoed by others: Sew
eral threw their hats into the"air, and
others; scrambled upon chairs: The
greatest confusion prevailed: A staff
of newspaper photographers exploded
fashiight after" fiashlight till the
courtroom was filed with sitting
-moke.
Attorney Fairall asked that
Schmitz be admitted to bail pending
an appeal.
ScRmitz dictated a statement say
ing: Judge Dunno was ~prejudiced and
he, did not have a fair trial. He re-
peated that he would be'a candidate
fs,, HTnyor naYfa fall