Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-12
MESKiL HEARS
SENTENCE; NO
SIGN OFFEAR
PRISONER UNM0VED BY DEATH
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ATTORNEYS SERVE NOTICE OF
APPEAL
Youthful Murderer of Patrolman Lyons
Condemned to Hang at San Quen-
tin Within Ninety
Days

"The People against Daniel f. Meskil,
for sentence"
As Judge b. N. Smith of the superior
court called out the words a 10 o'clock
yesterday morning there was a strain
ing of 500 persons crowded into the
court room until it was filled almost TO
suffocation.
Men and women We're there, some Of
them filing the windows, others
crushed against the walls and ratings,
all apparently imbued with the ono
purpose-to hear the sentence of death
pronounced on Il fellow being and TO
study the condemned man, watching
for the least indication of fear in the
face that has shown an almost con-
stant immobiiity since the afternoon OF
his arrest December 3.
If these 1000 curious eyes hoped to
see a change in the heavy face of the
unfortunate man they were destined 20
be disappointed, for while the court
pronounced the solemn words which
will mean the death of a human being
in the first flush of early manhood not
q culver passed over the cOuntenance,
and the eyes that had watched the
face of the judge with lazy indifference
did not reflect the dread that might
have filled his mind.
Prisoner Appears
A narrow passageway was kept open
between the little witness room where
the prisoners sit while awaiting sum-
mons into court and the little gateway
leading to the rallied inclosure in front
of the judges desk
AS Meskil came in, followed closely
by three deputies, every eye was turned
upon him. He walked with apparent
indifference to a position facing the
court, threw back his somewhat stopped
shoulders and watched the judge with
careless gaze.
Meskil wore the light brown suit
said to have been purchased with the
proceeds of a robbery committed early
In November His flannel shirt was
spotlessly clean and a dark blue tie
was neatly knotted around the full,
muscular neck. His hands were folded
behind his back and in one he held a
half smoked cigar.
As the court read the information
against the prisoner Meskil rocked
back and forth on heel and toe, listen
Ing as to tale many times told When
asked if he had anything to say why
the Judgment of the court should not
be passed upon him Meskil's lips did
not move. He shook his head slowly.
and when his attorney, s. NJ. Smyser,
arose to ask for a new trial, did not
even glance at his counsel.
Ask New Trial
The application, which recited that
the court had erred in the decision of
law during the trial; that the verdict
is contrary to law and to the evidence
was denied
You will by the sheriff of the county
be taken to the state prison at San
Quentin and placed in the custody Of
the warden of that institution, and you
will by said warden be taken in not
less than sixty days nor more than
ninety days and hanged by the neck
until you are dead"
Not a word was uttered by Meskil as
sentence was pronounced. His express
sion of indifference remained un
changed and he apparently waited the
next move.
A deputy touched his arm and led
the way to the judges chambers. AS
Meskil passed out of the crowded court
room his head fell forward slightly, but
that was the only visible evidence the
man, whose crime appeared especially
atrocious, coming as 1t did at a time
when the city was stirred with anger
by the large number of desperate deeds
that were being committed, looked with
dread into the future.
Murdered Policeman
The crime for which Daniel f. Meskil
will hang was the killing of Patrolman
Patrick H. Lyons, shot to death the
night of November 80, The shooting
followed the holdup of a winery at
Fourteenth and Central avenue.
Rolla Robe, said to have been with
MeslSil at the time and who is now
being tried as an accomplice, was cap
tured an hour after the shooting. Mes
xii was arrested by Patrolman An
thony Connolly three days later. At
the time of his capture a desperate
struggle took place and it is probable
the policeman would have been killed
had he not succeeded in placing his
finger behind the trigger of a large
revolver in Meskil's hands.
Meskil's examination took place
within as short a time as possible after
his arrest and his trial was set for the
earliest date that could be found on a
fun calendar The trial occupied al
most three days and was watched with
the greatest interest.