Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-06

CRIME FOR WHICH NEGRO WAS
FOUND GUILTY WAS ONE OF
MOST BRUTAL IN CiTY'S HIS
TORY

Oscar Hogan, colored rapist, was
sentenced to the state penitentiary at
r't Madison today, for the remainder
of his natural life, by Judge M. A.
Roberts in the district court.
In speaking of the indeterminate
sentence the court said. The new law
has not yet been passed on by the
higher courts and it Is the purpose OF
this court to fix definite time of SEN
tence Mr.. Hogan, sentence you to
Fl Madison penitentiary for the re-
mainder of your natural life
Hogan Makes Statement.
Preceding the passing of judgment
Hogan was permitted to make state
ment. He said that he was at Sea-
mans farm home at the time of the
assault on Miss Mary ]. Mahoney on
the evening of September %, the last
day Of the street carnival"
"The states witnesses have sworn
me into tho penitentiary, said he. Il
am an innocent man.
Il have no power to pass on
facts said the court. That has al
ready been done by the jury and it is
only my province to pass judgment, :
A motion of Walter Coen for new
trial was overruled in advance of the
passing of sentence.
Mr.. Coen said that the evidence re-
garding the foot prints in the flower
beds at the Sax home, as told by Chief
Gallagher should never have been adj
mitted into evidence and that there
were probably several other matters
that ought not to have been admitted
In reviewing the evidence. Mr.. Coen
said that the fact that Hogan had
washed his clothing and 4 sheet at the
Seaman home and then sent them to a
laundry were not eliminating.
To, this the court replied that the
procedure was an unusual one just at
the time it happened, as he had not
been in the habit of sending his
washing to a laundry.
One of the main reasons advanced
by Attorney Coen for new trial was
the plea of Attorney Moon to the jury
whose talk he characterized as int
passioned and more or less liable to
infame jury regardless Of the guilt
| of the defendant.
Horrible Crime.
| The crime for which Hogan WIS
convicted and today sentenced was
one of the most brutal in the annals
of the city Miss Mahoney, who was
a member of the J. B. Sax family,
had Just been down town and was on
her way home, had Just reached the
walk leading to the Sax home when
an unknown colored man grabbed her
around the throat from the rear. Out
cries were prevented and the neg-o
dragged her to the rear Of the Epis-
copal church on Fifth street. There
after beating her. breaking three ribs
and brutally assaulting her, he made
good his escape Miss Mahoney was
in the hospital over two weeks from
injuries sustained in the assault. and
today is in poor health as result.
Hogan Arrested.
| Hogan was arrested about a week
after the assault, at the home OF
William Seaman, several miles from
Ottumwa, or rather he was induced
to come to town and to allay the pos
sibiities of mob he was arrested
on a charge Of drunkenness.
In the September term of the dis
trict court he was tried but jury
failed to reach verdict and the case
was continued to this term of court
The trial consumed nearly all of las
week and the colored man attempted
to prove an alibi. but without success
as Judged by the jury.
Hogan will be taken to the peniten
tiary Immediately.