Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-02-14

@"@'sf dnu Soiiily every step
in the case from beginning to end.
A jury was empaneled and the trial
proceeded. 1t lasted two full days,
but not foI an instant during the 10.
PRODUCTION Of the evidence, the argu.
ment OF the counsel or instructions OF
the court was there the least sign Of
consciousness shown by the defend
ant AS the trial Desred its close, some
oil tbe.members Of the bar, not con.
nected with the case, and many Of the
spectators, the court roon being
crowded during the entire trial, be-
came strongly impressed with The be.
lief that the defendant was in fact up
conscious. The jury retired and after
a long elaboration, returned and re.
ported verdict of guilty as charg.
ed IN the information"
The defendants counsel, who were
strong in The belief that great wrong
had been done their client, at once fl.
ed a motion for new trial, The hear.
ing Of which was continued until the
closing day Of The term, when il was
presented, very strongly urged and
finally overruled. In the intervening
time, the judge made frequent visits
to the room in which the defendan,
was kept, hoping he might surprise
him or catch him off his guard, but
without the slightest reward. 1t was
heieiore with some trepidialion that
ne ordered The prisoner brought in
for sentence. Lying on his cot in FROM
OF the Judges stand in the same posi-.
ton and condition maintained during
the trial, the defendant was intensely
watched when the court said,
"Mr. Afford you have been fairly
tried by a jury ofyour peers. YOU
counsel with great ability and untiriDs
energy and diligence have defended
you from the first to The last. Every
thing possible for them to do ha.
been done in your behalf. A jury Of
talr and / impartial men have founc
you guilty. They have beeen led t.
believe from the evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt, that you committed
the offense charged and that low YOU
are not laboring under any mental de
rangement. 1t takes thirteen men in
this court to send man to the peni.
Tertiary but the court agrees with the
jury in their verdict. 1t believes YOU
hearsand understand every word thai
is being said TO you, and thinks you
now understand what the court is
saying. Your cfense is a serious one
You intended to murder the man and
appropriate his money. Have you any
thing to say why the sentence of the
law should not be pronounced; If YOU
have any plea for mercy or any rea.
son why you should be leniently deal,
WITH now is the time TO speak. Iii:
not yet toslate to implore mercy and
have the contemplated sentence less.
ened, The court will wait a minute
before pronouncing the sentence.
The crowded court room was as
silent as the grave. Interest was in.
tense, and all who doubted the gen
uineneSs OF the defendants condition
expected him to speak. One minute,
two minutes but no sign, no moan,
no change OF countenance, not the
least evidence. Of consciousness. Slow
ly, deliberately but with evident trep-
idiation and emotion, the sentence
was then pronounced as follows:
at is the sentence of the court
that you be taken to the Jail Of Bar.
ton county and at the convenience of
the sheriff, to the penitentiary of the
state, near the city Of Levenwortb
and be confined therein at hard labor
for the period Of six years from this
date March 18th, 1871"
{ the following day the sher if
am is assistants placed the man and
co. in an improvised conveyance,
took him to the station and upon the
arrival Of the train, carried him into
one of the coaches. 1t was 230 miles
to Topeka. During this long ride the