The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-06-25
HOT SCATH|NG
BY THE COURT
Fiend Guilty Of. Abusing 12-
Year Old Step Daughter
Got Life Sentence

Los Angeles, June 25.-For the mis-
treatment OF his 12-year-old step.
daughter, of which he was convicted
last week, E. E. Duncanson, a physlc-
ian, was sentenced to life imprison-
ment at San Quentin by Judge Davis
today.
Duncanson denied his guilt to the
last, and by permission of the court
made an extended statement before
judgment was pronounced, in which
he declared that for the thirty-fiva
years of his residence in California he
had been prosecuted.
II can only account for the story of
the child by the theory that her mind
was poisoned against me-" said Dun
canson. 1T has been charged that
murdered my late wife, the mother OF
this child. caused an autopsy to be
made, and proved that she died from
natural causes. believe that my
enemies taught the child to say tho
things she has said, sby making her
believe that in that -;~ay she--could
bring about the punishment OF tho
supposed murderer of her mother.
II have never laid an evil hand, nor
spoken an evil word, to that child. II
any man had committed against her
the crime of which l have been con-
victed, I believe would have killed
him. I realize that l may be SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment. To me,
that would mean death, and would
prefer straight death sentence"
Duncanson went OH in an attack
upon everybody who had testified
against him. In closing, he said, II
am ready now for any sentence which
it may please the court to give me-"
In imposing sentence Judge Davis
said:
"Cncerning the offense of which
you stand convicted. it is frequently
said that the charge is one which is
easy to make, difficult to prove, and
more difficult to disprove. 1t is, there
fore, always important that trial up
on such a charge should proceed with
great care and with freedom from
passion and prejudice
1T has been my endeavor to so di-
rect the. trial of your case that you
might have the fullest benefit of all
your rights under the law. Able coun-
sci have been vigilant at every point
in guarding your interests, and 1t IS
my belief that you have had fair
and impartial trial
"The jury. by its verdict has pro-
nounced you guilty. and l have seen
no grounds for disturbing the verdict.
1T remains, then, for the court to
deal with you upon the basis of guilt.
and to impose the penalty OF the law.
In the performance of this duty tho
range of the courts discretion covers
latitude extending from five years to
life imprisonment. For the purpose of
fixing the punishment tho circum-
stances of the crime should be largely
controlling. What. then, in briei, are
the circumstances as disclosed by tho
evidence in this case: They show
that the victim of your lustful nature
was from within your own household
your stepdaghter, a child Of but IL
years, whom the death of your wife, a
few months previous. had placed in
your exclusive control.
This little girl, bereft of mothers
care and counsel, looked confidingly
to you for home and protection. and
every instint of honor and manhood
required that you should have been
her protector against tho vipers o.
tho world.
Instead, however. as the evidence
shows. you made her tho prompt sub
ject of Your own lecherous designs.
and shamelessly continued these re-
lations until the child was taken from
your custody by the officers of the
Humane society.
"A man Of your age. possessed of
liberal and professional education.
who could be guilty oi such revolving
conduct. is certainly menance
against which society Is entitled Ia
protection
1T is the sentence and judgment of
the court that. you be punished by i'm
prisonment in the state prison at San
Quentin for the term Of your natural
life"
ssa = SO
THE WEATHER.
North Dakota--Partly cloudy
y with possibly showers tonight or
Saturday. Warmer tonight.