Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-01
COURT breaches
POWERFUL SERMON
JUDGE WILBUR PLEADS WITH
YOUNG OFFENDER
Releases Him on Probation When Re-
quested to Do So by Prison.
er's Victim and Her
Father

A fathers intercession in behalf of
a youth, although this youth had
wronged the mans daughter, yester-
day influenced to a great extent the
merciful imposition of a probationary
sentence and sent the offender again
into the world of freedom, his deter
mination strong to trample under foot
the memory of past misdeeds and
spurred on by kind words of advice
from the lips of a judge whose heart
has often ruled in his decisions.
Perhaps never before has a prisoner
appeared before Judge Wilbur of the
superior court and been recipient of
such an expression of mercy and coun-
sci as was given to Peter King yester-
day.
1.-THE evidence introduced shows
clearly that you are guilty of this
offense," said the court, and you are
not denying it. The court, under the
law, can do one of two things; indeed,
must do one of two things-either send
you to the penitenitary for a term
ranging from i've years to life or put
you on probation, giving you an oppor-
tunity to show that you mean to do
right.
"You are young man 90 years of
age, and there is nothing in the circum-
stances here that appeals to me very
much as requiring leniency, except
that older persons no doubt influenced
both yourself and your victim to some
extent. The injury you have done can
never be repaired.
There is no way on earth that you
can repair the injury you have
wrought in the life of this young girl
and her family. 1t would not help her
or her friends to have you go to the
penitentiary; the only reason for pur-
suing that course would be that the
example might deter others from like
offenses At the same time, if you
are sent to the penitentiary you will
room with some CONVICT cannot tell
who-and you would be thrown into
that undesirable society month after
month, year after year. for twelve
hours a day.
There is a saying that he who
makes his bed must lie in it. l did
not bring you here; you brought your
self here. If 1 could undo, or you
could undo what you have done, I'M
doubtedly 1t would be undone, but this
may not be.
IF you are released on probation
two things must happen in your life in
order to make of you a success. One
Is you must keep yourself straight;
avoid anything of this kind in the flu
ture; stay away from saloons; do your
work faithfully and be a citizen we
can be proud of. That is one thing
The other is this: If you are sent to
the penitentiary the great reason
would be, as have said, the example
to others. But if, when you mingle
with your fellows and talk with them,
you throw your influence against
wrong and for right, you may do a
great deal more to make men better
than you would living there as an ex-
ample to others.
Now am going to put you on pro-
baton. / am going to do it in the hope
that you will do these things.
while I think that the court must
determine all these things for ITSELF
yet l may say that I am somewhat
influenced in this matter by the fact
that the father of this girl has grace
enough In his heart to forgive you; at
any rate he does not desire that you be
punished This girl herself-and l say
this thoughtfully, perhaps more than
she can ever realize-that this girl is
willing and wishes that you be given
this opportunity The charity they
now extend to you I hope and trust
you will extend to others, showing
them the same spirit of helpfulness
and forgiveness"