Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-24
Woman Slayer UnmOved
as She Hears Judge
Pronounce Fate.
WRIT OF ERROR GRANTED
WHICH ACTS AS STAY
Counsel Makes Eloquent Plea
for Mercy, but Prosecutor
Flags Prisoner.

After her counsel had made a plea
for clemency because of the Christmas
festival and Prosecutor Mott had sar-
casticaIly replied that among those
who would not take part in the Yule-
tide feast was her murdered husband.
Mrs. Mary Jane Wilhelm, convicted OF
the murder of her husband in their
home. 44S High street, was today sen
fenced TO twenty years in State prison
Owing to Mrs Wiihelms age-she is
now 45-it is almost equivalent to d
life sentence.
Mrs Wilhelm did not move a muscle
of her face when sentence was pro-
nounced. and was led back to a cell
in the Essex county Jail, where she
will be confined until higher court
passes on a writ of error obtained By
her counsel on the ground that the yer
dict-tilat of second degree murder
is against the weight of evidence.
Mrs Wilhelm was led into court be-
tween Constables George Gorham and
William Arcularius She was garbed In
black and her face had a jail pallor.
She did net look TO the right or left as
she took seat within the rail. When
Prosecutor Mott moved for the pro-
Eyck asked if counsel had anything to
say, Mr.. Beasley arose and said:
Tomorrow the civilized world viii
celebrate the birth of our Lord, ana
there will be rejoicing and feasting m
every household, but to this unfortunate
woman there is only sadness, sorrow
and remorse far away in her solitary
/ prison cell, sadness over the death of
her husband and remorse for her life Of
shame
Ar. Beasiey then said that he knew
the co-Irt had : duty to perform and
that he realized that. in yiey..9f--the-
TACT that twelve men had found Mrs
! Wilhelm guilty, punishment should be
meted out He asked the court to take
into Consideration the fact that the
woman had already suffered much
'tShe has heen in Jail ten months
said he, .'and has passed through many
severe ordeals when she faced the po-
| lice, grand jury and trial inquisitions
| After Mr.. Beasley had called the
courts attention to the ''recommenda-
tion for mercy" By the jury. which he
said demanded a light sentence, he con-
cluded as follows:
VIII you not listen to the angels Of
Mercy ringing in your ears at this Yule-
tide and have mercy for this unfof=
tunate woman before your
There was a quizzical expression on
the face of Prosecutor Mott as he arose
and said:
st is only fair and just to remark 10
the court that among those who will not
participate in the Joys of this season
and who viii not hear the Yuletide bells
Frank J. Wilhelm, the husband Of
| the prisoner"
/ Mrs. Wilhelm, who had remained
seated during the talks of counsel. was
then ordered by Judge Ten Eyck TO
stand up He told Mrs Wilhelm that
she had fair trial. and that he would
take into consideration the recommen-
dation for mercy by the jury.
1.-THE sentence of the court is thar
4 you be imprisoned In State prison for
twenty years" said Judge Ter Eyck
( Mrs Wilhelm turned without word
and walked between the two eonstables
as she was taken back TO the jail
The extreme penalty for second de-
gree murder is thirty years in prison
There is no minimum penalty. it being
| left to the discretion Of the court Mr..
Beasley says that he Is confident that
7 a higher court viii reverse the convic-
ton. as there was nothing shown to
prove that Mrs. Wilhelm had killed her
/ husband