The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-05-13


Mercer, Pa, May 12.-James Fl.
BOYLE was sentenced today to life
imprisonment in the western pen
itentiary at Pittsburg for the kid
naping Of BILLY" Whitla.
Mrs. Boyle, indicted as Mary
Doe, received a sentence of 25
years with a fine Of $4,000 and the
costs Of the prosecution.
Boyle did not create the scene
in court he had threatened and
did not utter a word prior to his
sentence. His counsel, however,
made a plea for both Boyle and
his wife, pleading for leniency in
both cases. He stated hat until
a recent period the extreme pen
atty for kidnapping in this state
was 10 years, and in view of the
fact that the boy had been treated
with every consideration and that
ell care had been taken not to in
fict unnecessary mental anguish
upon the parents, he felt leniency
might be asked for with p%ropriety.
She Takes Morphine.
a death Is preferable to impris-
onment in Mrs. Boyle's opinion was in
dicated by q reported attempt to take
\ her own life during last night by swal-
lowing morphine, alleged to have been
secured from a fellow prisoner. Her
threats of q double suicide might have
been carried out, but for the failure
cry by the sheriff OF a razor secreted
IN the clothing of Boyle when he was
searched this morning.
]. p. Whitla, father of the kidnapped
boy, and Frank III. Buell. were present
in court when sentence was pro-
nounced. Ar# ... q
Boyle Shakes Head.
Mercer. Pa, May 12.-After Judge
Miller. OF counsel for the Boyles, had
completed his plea for leniency in be-
half OF his clients, Judge Williams, the
presiding Judge, told Boyle to stand up
and asked him IL he had anything to
say as to why sentence should not be
pronounced upon him. Boyle merely
said: u
Il have not" and shook his head.
Judge williams then addressed the
prisoner and told him of the heinous IA
ture of the crime OF which he had been
convicted. The court said:
Mr.. Boyle, the crime OF child steal
ing in ancient times was punishable by
death. In Pennsylvania the law is
more l~enient."
The Judge then described the different
acts passed by the legislatures on kid
naping, bringing 1t down to the pres
ent time. He said II had been stated
" hU. the affnrnaUa UnlI fDnk pr0Od "a re-
of him, because he was your prize
package" You had to treat him we'll
10 get what money was demanded.
Since your arrest we have investigated
your record.
I'VE find you have been convicted in
the Mercer county court previously to
your arrest for kidnapping. You have
, been charged with larceny, receiving
stolen goods, assault and battery and
escaped from Jail and many other shady
transactions. All these have had their
influence with this our in making US
come to the decision that we have
reached that your punishment shall be
the maximum sentence, Imprisonment
for life" o.
After the sentence had been imposed
on Boyle, he rose and said to the court:
Your honor, you are wrong about my
record"
"T think not. 1t is a matter of court
record replied the Judge.
Woman Is Fresh.
When Mrs. Boyle was ordered to
stand up to receive sentence, she was
asked If she had anything to say:
II did not do 1t and 1 think the evil
dence upon which / was convicted was
very fiimsy," she said.
That was a matter for the jury to
decide" said Judge Williams, and then
after a brief review OF the case he i'm
posed the sentence.
Although no oficial announcement as
TO the effect Of the fine has been made,
II Is customary in this state to extend
Imprisonment until any fine imposed
has been paid. ,f2
Both Collapse.
Both Boyle and his wife collapsed
completely upon hearing their sentences
pronounced. When they were start
ed back to the jail from the court
room, Boyle managed to walk with
assistance down the steps, but upon
reaching the front door he became
limp and unable to stand. He was lift
ed into an old fashioned omnibus In
which the prisoners have been trans
ported for several days, between the
court house and the Jail. When he
Was placed upon the seat inside the
vehicle, he was left for a moment I'M
supported and fell nearly out OF IT be-
Tore he vas caught. He was utterly
unable to support himself and had to
be held all the way to the Jail and car
fied TO his cell,
Mrs. Boyle was eve In worse condi-
ton. She was unable to walk down
the steps from the cou house TO the
street and was carried by Sheriff Chess
and Chief OF Police Livermore down
three flights of stairs to the street.
She was lifted into the omnibus and
again lifted out by these, officers and
carried to her cell, where she wept vto-
iently. No handouts were placed on