The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-03-03
The Times
Evening
7 Story
Story

PRISONER, have you anything
lIVJI 70 saw before sentence is pass
I'LL ed upon your
The Judge. In whose race inc
cot lines of duty contended
with his native instincts OF compass
sion. turned his eyes inquirinSiy upon
John Warren, who stood before MN
convicted OF the crime or killing
fellow man. A mercifui jury had par
anced the circumstances OF the KILL
ine--a quarrel over a point OF honor
ana warren's hasty temper-in favor
of the accused, and adJudgeu niI'
guilty OF manslaughtef,
The young wife had sat faithfully
al his side during the long ordeai OF
the trial She heard with leaping
heart the verdict which tempered ner
, fear OF the long, long separation tnat
che had anticipated through verdict
Of murder In the first degree; an ]
now. her hand clasped in his, and her
year-old boy on her knee, she sat
trembling at his side as he awaited
the sentence OF the court.
Judge Randolph repeated his ques-
ton and all eyes turned toward war
rem.
what I would say" answered the
prisoner In clear, firm voice, rs
hest presented by the woman and ner
babe who are at my side. don't ask
for mercy for myself ask for mercy
for them. They are all ! have-anu
| am all they have. Every year that
I am sent away VIII increase tneir
misery. Prison Is awful TO me cnleny
in the fact that 1t means starvatoh
for them. have been told tnat the
| law is merciful. In the name OF thai
mercy I appeal for my wife and effi
and I warn you. sir, that whatever
punishment may be inflicted upon me,
will be reflected back upon my WIG
and child a hundred times over. That
all have to say"
Absolute silence hung over inc
court room as the ringing, almost de-
FAINT tones of the prisoner died away
His wife beside him was CONFUSED
with weeping and grief. The chlio
chung fearfully to It's mothers breast
| In various parts OF the chamber men
and women with glistening eyes gaz-
ed alternately at Judge Randolph
stern-faced, calm, deliberate; ana at
warren--pale, resolute, alert. Two
minutes of the silence ensued while
Judge Randolph pondered, and then
IN measured, impersonal tones he dis
charged the duty imposed upon him
"The court has heard your appeal
Warren" he said, "and Is disposed TO
the extent that Is permitted by the
Law to give heed TO II. By your own
TASTY ill-considered act you have been
brought here. Had you given that
thought TO your wife and child when
Won committed the crime OF which you
have been convicted that you now be-
stow upon them, you would not now
be here. That you have been saved
from the extreme penalty OF the law,
Is due to that mercy OF the law to
which you appeal. So much mercy
having been shown you already, the
court 10 discharge the duty which the
court feels that II remains only for the
law and society impose upon II. That
same society. 1t may be hoped, VIII
bestow upon your wife and child the
care of which they will be deprived by
your necessary sequcstration. The
sentence OF the court is that you be
confined in the state prison for the
term OF twenty years"
The wife uttered a piercing shrek
and fell back In a swoon. Warren,
stunned by the severity OF the SEN
tence. and his temper awakened TO
murderous pitch against the Judge who
had thus visited upon him the venge
ance of the law, leaped forward with
cleaning eye and outstretched hauu.
The court room was Ia an uproar -
mediately Judge Randolph, undis.
turbed amid the tumult. kept his eyes
riveted upon Warren as he raped
vigorously for order Several
guards seized the prisoner before
he reached the goal, ana he was drag
ged from the court room. Two days