Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-12
MURDERER IS
PUNISHED BY
LIFE SENTENCE
ESCAPES MOOSE WITH PLEA
OF GUILT
KILLED TWO MEN AFTER VIo-
LENT QUARREL
Former Federation Organizer Loses
Nerve and Breaks Down When
Called Before Bar
Of Justice

Albert Ryan, former organizer FOR
the Federation of Miners, who pleaded
guilty Thursday to a charge of first
/ degree murder, was sentenced by
/ Judge Davis Of the criminal court
| yesterday To life imprisonment at San
Quentin. Ryan shot and killed Otto
/ Miller and Harry E. Snyder in the
| United States hotel July 16 last, the
! shooting resulting from Miller's inter
| fC- cnCe the day before in a fight be-
/ tween two of Ryan's associates.
Fearing that Ryan would try to
take his own life or commit some other
desperate act if allowed to remain I'm
/ the county Jail, Judge Davis refused
/ his request for a stay of execution,
and he was taken north four hours
! later by Deputy Sheriffs Dan Crowley
and r. II. Fulaway.
Ryans appearance as he entered the
court room from the Bridge Of Sighs
at 10 o'clock was that of a man who
had passed a sleepless night. His face
was pale and haggard, and his eyes
were bloodshot. He was accompanied
by three deputy sheriffs. one of whom
occupied an adjoining seat throughout
the proceedings. Scattered through
the crowded court room were other Of
! ficers, fifteen in all, each man prepared
to prevent any suspicious movement
on the part of the prisoner.
Nerve Is Gone
It was not until Judge Davis ordered
| Ryan to stand up and began reading
the charge that the accused mans real
condition became apparent to every
observer in the court room. The re
markable nerve he exhibited during
the several days trial on an insanity
charge and on Thursday, when he
pleaded guilty to a charge of murder
in the first degree, had given way TO
feeling of weakness. His massive
frame shook and after several at
tempts to interrupt the reading he
| finally succeeded in uttering a request
for permission to sit down.
,"I have been sick since yesterday
morning. May I sit down while you
are reading?" he asked.
Judge Davis granted his request, and
when he asked if there was any legal
cause why sentence should not be
pronounced" one of Ryan's attorneys,
F. J. Spring. asked the court to take
into consideration the peculiar char
acteristics of the prisoner as shown by
the evidence i'm depOsitiOnS and by
physicians in the insanity case He
expressed the belief that RYAN is still
insane, and his plea for leniency was
echoed by Attorney Fred w. Morrison,
| Ryan's leading counsel
1--WE believed the man was insane
when we asked for a trial as to his
mental condition, and we still believe
it," said Attorney Morrison.
District Attorney Agrees
There was no opposition on the part
of District Attorney 1ericks to a
life sentence, and, still sitting in his
chair, his hands clasped tightly to-
gether Ryan listened to the words of
Judge Davis confining him to the peni-
tentiary for the remainder of his days.
Prior to entering the court room
Ryan told his attorneys he would de-
mand the death penalty, but he made
no comment when the sentence was
pronounced. When the district at
torney opposed an application for a
stay of execution Of ten days, Ryan
arose from his seat and, addressing
Judge Davis, said:
IF you can't make it ten days, make
it as long as you can. | have many
| acquaintances whom 1 have known for
| twenty years, and from whom l must
| separate I want to say good-by to
| them and to attend to some small bust
| ness matters"
Since Thursday. when he pleaded
guilty, Ryan has several times
threatened to take his own life and
has been constantly under the watchful
eyes of a Jail attendant. This fact.
it is said was communicated to the
court, and TO it was due the refusal
| of the request.
The complaint in which Ryan is
charged with the killing of Harry r.
Snyder probably will be dismissed next
week, his plea of guilty referring only
to the death of Miller
Shooting Follows Quarrel
Ryan came to Los Angeles last sum
mer as organizer for the Western
Federation of Miners. He quarreled
with Otto Miller. a porter in the United
/ States hotel, on July 10, because Miller
interfered in a fight between two of the
organizers associates. The following
day Ryan returned to the hotel and
killed Miller with a shot from a re-
volver. Snyder, who was sitting in the
lobby, was struck and killed by stray
bullet.
Ryan has held a number of i'm
r ,tant positions with the Federation
| of lners. acting as delegate to sew
eral national conventions and as sec
| retary for different unions, The fed
GRAFTON, however, declined to assist,
financially or otherwise, in his defense
! announcing its attitude several months
ago in its official organ. the Wester~
Federation of Miners Review.
A number of Ryan's friends came Ia
his aid, but his attorneys stated yes
terday that the statements that they
had received large fees for their serv-
ices were absolutely without founda-
ton.
Speaking for Fred W. Morrison anl
himself, Attorney Spring said:
1--WE took Ryan's case on request or
a number of his friends, who supplied
expense money to procure depo ttlpnS
and pay for examinations bv pNNsI-
clans The Western Federation stated
some time ago the case was one m
which Ryan as an individual. and not
as a member of the organization, WaS
concerned, and ii has not contributed
one cent to his defense