The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-13
BOyles Get the Limit.
Hearing Doom Pronounced Man and Woman
Collapsed ana were Rendered Helpless

James Boyle was sentenced at
Mercer, on Monday to life impris-
onment in the Western penitentiary |
at Pittsburg for the kidnapping Of
BILLY Whitla. Mrs. Boyle receiv-
ed a sentence of twenty-five years,
with fine of S., 900 and the costs
of prosecution.
Boyle's counsel stated that in re-
cent periods the extreme penalty
for kidnapping in this state was
ten years and in view Of the fact
that the boy had been treated with
every consideration and that all
care had been taken not to inflict
unnecessary mental anguish upon
the parents he felt leniency might
be asked for with propriety.
Both Boyle and his wife collapsed
completely upon hearing their sent
ences pronounced. When they
were started back to the Jail from
the courtroom Boyle managed to
walk with assistance down the
stairs, but upon reaching the front
door he became limp and unable to
stand.
He was lifted into the old-fash-
ioned omnibus, and when placed
upon the seat he was left for a
moment unsupported and fell near
ly out of it before he was caught.
He was utterly unable to support
himself and had to be held all the
way to the Jail and carried to his
cell.
Mrs. Boyle was in even worse
condition. She was unable to walk
down the steps from the court
house to the street and was carried
by the sheriff and Chief of Police
Livermore down three flights of
stairs to the street. She was lifted
into the omnibus and when the Jail
was reached she was again lifted
out by these officers and carried to
her cell where she wept bitterly.
| After Judge Miller, of counsel
for the Boyles, had completed his
plea for leniency in behalf of his
clients, Judge Williams, the pre-
siding judge, told Boyle to stand
up and asked him if he had any
thing to say. Boyle merely said:
Il have not" and shook his
head. Judge Williams then ad-
dressed the prisoner and told him
of the Nervousness of the crime of
which had he been convicted. The
court said:
| "Mr. Boyle, the crime of child
stealing in ancient times was pun
ishable by death. In Pennsylvania
! the law is more lenient."
| The judge then described the
| different acts passed by the legisla-
ture on kidnapping, bringing it
down to the present time. He
said: You took good care OF him
because he was your prize package.
You had to treat him we'll to get
what was demanded.
'Since your arrest we have in
vestigated your record. We find
you have been convicted in Mercer
county court previously to your ar
rest for kidnapping. You have
been charged with larceny, receiv-
ing stolen goods, assault and bat
terry and escape from Jail and many
other shady transactions. All
these have had their influence with
this court in making us come to
the decision we have reached, that
your punishment shall be the maxi
mum sentence, imprisonment for
life"
| When Mrs. Boyle was asked if
she knew any reason why sentence
should not be pronounced she an
swered only: mo, only l didn't
do it and I consider the evidence
very flimsy."
| Mrs. Boyle was pale but without
a tremor.
II think you have had fair
trial." replied Judge Williams. II
do not see how the jury could have
returned any other verdict. | be-
lieve the evidence clearly shows
you planned the kidnapping with
James Boyle" :"
After sentence was passed. Mrs
Boyle asked: May speak ?" She
had collected herself by this time
and meant to say something worth
while. But there was no answer
and she sat down.
Later Boyle made a statement
duplicating a brother of Mrs.
Whitla's as the instigator OF the
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