The Detroit times., 1909-05-10
BOYLE Gets LIFE
SENTENCE; WIFE
rs YEARS
Punishment to the Limit Il Noted
Out to the Kidnapes Of willie
Whitla-Woman Breaks Down
at Last and weeps.
Womsn Declares, After Sentenced,
She Did Not Know Boy Boyle
Brought to Her Was kidnapped.

MERCER, Pa, May 10.--A
carefully planned scheme BY Jaa
Boyle and his wife, Helen, the
convicted WhitIa kidnapero, g
cheat Justice Of its ends ives fruo-
trated today. sheriff Chess
found razor hidden between the
lining and silk Of BoyIe's nscktis
and Mrs. Boyle frankly admitted
she had taken enough morphine
to Kill two people," but u did not
have the desired result. Mrs.
Boyle secured the morphine tar
lets from . woman In an adjoin-
ing cell, for whom they had been
prescribed.
MERCER, Pa, May 10.--The heay.
lest penalty that the law OF PennSyi-
vania allows were given James n.
Boyle and his wife, Helen, today for
stealing Billy Whitla. Boyle was sent
10 the penitentiary for life on the KID
MAPPING charge. Mrs. Boyle was sem
fenced to rs years imprisonment for
aiding and abetting the KIDNAPPING
Although the woman IL destitute.
Judge Williams showed his disposl-
ton TO rebuke the crime to the fullest
extent OF the law by imposing on her
the fine Of $1,000 and the costs of the
prosecution, which are allowed under
the statute.
Attorney Millers plea for mercy was
In vain. When Boyle stood up for
sentence, Miller announced that ne
would speak for both prisoners. Il
can imagine case in which the court
should inhict the maximum sentence"
he said. This does not seem such !.
case. There IL no word Of testimony
that James Boyle maltreated Billy
Whitla In any way. He treated tns
boy with kindness.
There Is nothing in the boys letters
to show he was In fear and nothing
was put into the letters TO scare ms
parents unduly. His testimony Is that
no unkind word was spoken TO MIN
while he was In the hands or the ri .
napers.
There is feeling that kidnapins
IL heinous offense. But IL Is MT
worse than murder. The punishment
for second degree murder has unts.
recently not been more than ten years
and ID now not more than 20 years
No harm was intended him. = -zsi
II know the public clamors for
heavy penalty. People have said 10
mo should not defend such people.
Il am glad there IL q streak OF hii
manity In all men. nearly all. and In
all women, nearly all, that grants
these people fair trial. They have
had q fair trial l trust you will not
listen to public clamor and give these
prisoners the heaviest sentence. Thee
have been found guilty and l have no
complaint and ask you to temper JUS
tice with mercy. putting public senri'
ment behind YOU"
Boyle" said Judge Williams, have
you anything to say why sentences
should not be passed.?
Not a word" said Jimmy.
Judge Williams then began his
charge. He spoke of old Hebrew and
Roman laws that made kidnapping pun
ishable with death. In all ages he said
kidnapping has veen severely punished.
THE act under which you were con-
victed," he said to Boyle, was made
SO severe because more lenient pun
ishments were found inadequate to
stop such crimes.
THAT law must be taken as repre-
sentative OF public sentiment. The
court must take the law as he hnds
il, without regard to any clamor OF
which your attorney has spoken.
1T has been stated by your counsel
that you took good care Of the boy.
That may be. The boy was your prize
package"
knew any reason why sentence should
not be pronounced, she answeredst
NO. only | didn't do IL and con-
e.aax ha oyidanro vary AimQv-"
Mrs. Boyle was pale but without
tremor.
IL think you have had fair trial.
replied Judge Williams. Il do not zee
how the jury could have returned any
other verdict. / believe the evidence
clearly shows you planned the kidnap-
ing with James Boyle.
The Judge mentioned her record.
Mrs. Boyle started to speak, but her
attorney sprang up protesting. II sub
nit" he cried. There Ia nothing In
the evidence about her record"
II was about TO state the fact" said
Judge Williams.
After sentence was raised. Mrs.
Boyle asked. May l speak,"
She had collected herself by this
time and meant to say something
worth while, But there was no an
swer and she sat down.
Mrs. Boyle was sick this morning
and for time 1t was feared she might
not be able to come to court. While
sentence was being pronounced, sne
stood stiffily erect, but once outside the
court room she swayed into the arms
of the guard and seemed about to faint.
Then she pressed her hands to nes
face, got herself together and walked
on, head up. Once In Ter cell sne
broke down and wept Historically.
The crowd that packed the court
room received the sentence In apso-