Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-01
REMARKABLE SENTENCE.
Pronounced by Judge Benedict on a
Murderer In New Mexico.

Probably the best anecdote of Judge
Benedict of New Mexico, says the
Green Bag, is that told with regard
to his sentence of death pronounced
upon one Jose Maria Martin, who was
convicted of murder in the district
court of Taos county under a state of
facts showing great brutality and with
absolutely no mitigating circumstances.
Judge Benedict said:
Jose Marie Martin, stand up! Jose
Maria Martin, you have been indicted,
tried and convicted by a jury Of your
countrymen of the crime Of murder
and the court is now about to pass
upon you the dread sentence of the
law AS a usual thing, Jose Maria
Martin, it is a painful duty to pro-
nounce upon a human being the SEN
tence of death. There is something
horrible about it and the mind of the
formance of such duty. Happily,
however, your case is relieved of all
such unpleasant features and the court
takes positive delight in sentencing
you to death.
You are a young man, Jose Maria
Martin; apparently Of good physical
constitution and robust health. Ordi-
narily you might have looked forward
to many years of life, and the court
has no doubt you have, and have ex-
pected to die at green old age; but
you are about to be cut off on account
of your own act. Jose Maria Martin,
it is now the spring time; i'm a little
while the grass will be springing up
green in these beautiful valleys and on
these broad meSas and mountainsideS
flowers will be blooming; birds will
be singing their sweet carols and ma
ture will be putting on her most gor-
geous and her most attractive robes,
and life will be pleasant and men will
want to stay: but none of this for you.
Jose Maria Martin; the flowers will
not bloom for you, Jose Marie Martin:
the birds will not carol for you, Jose
Maria Martin: when these things come
to gladden. the senses of men you will
be occupying a space about six by two
beneath the sod and the green grass
and those beautiful flowers will be
growing above your lowly head.
THE sentence Of the court is that
you be taken from this place to the
county Jail; that you be kept there
safely and securely confined, in the
custody of the sheriff, until the day ap-
pointed for your execution. Be very
careful, Mr. Sheriff, that he have no
opportunity to escape and that you
have him at the appointed place at
the appointed time. That you be so
kept. Jose Maria Martin, until-Mr.
Clerk, on what day of the month does
Friday. about two weeks from this
time Gomez"
March 90, your honor"
Very we'll until Friday, the twenty
second day of March. when you will
be taken by the sheriff from your
place of confinement to some safe and
convenient Spot NlllllH tllf ''uhIS
that is in your discretion, Mr.. Sheriff;
you are only confined to the limits of
the county-and that you there be
hanged by the neck until you are dead
and the court was about to ad, Jose
Maria Martin, may God have mercy
on your soul but the court will not
assume the responsibility Of asking an
all wise Providence Ia do that which
a jury of your peers has refused to
do The Lord couldn't have mercy on
your soul.
"However. if you affect any reli5i-
Gus belief or are connected with any
religious organization it might b" well
enough for YOU to send for your priest
or your minister and get from him
well. such consolation as YOU CAN
but the court advises you tn place no
reliance upon anything of that kind
Mr.. Sheriff. remove the prisoner"