The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-05
AssAULTER
GIVEN FIVE To
TEN YEARS
)ndge Phelan Scores Bob" Willis,
Oolored Lawyer, for Insinuations
Made Against Character of Pris-
oner's Girl Victim.
Aftorney Is Also Holly Rebuked BY
Rev. N. p. Fixes in Sensational
Court Scene.


NJ vtcted in tie recorders court, Friday
afternoon, on the charge OF attempt
Ing to assault Miss Beatrice Hutcln'
son on High-st., near Trumbull'a C.,
in the evening of Nov. 5. was sentenc-
cd by Judge Phelan, Saturday morn
ing, to serve not less than five years
and not more than 10 years In lhe
state prison at Marquette. The court
said that the prison board should see
n to II that the defendant serve the
maximum sentence, adding mat the
community in which Pry had been liv-
q ing would be the better without MN.
The court also took occasion, IN SEN
fencing Pry, to score Attorney RoD-
ert j. Willis, counsel for Pry for the
4 attack he made on Miss Hutchinson 8
character during the progress OF the
trial. The Judge said. addressing
Pry:
'The evidence in your case. and
speak advisedly from the record, es-
tablished your guilt beyond any rea-
sonable doubt. and any other verdict
than the one the jury handed in would
have been a reproach to the jury sys-
tenn, and a reflection on the intelli-
(, xence OF the men who tried you. There
was no testimony in the case the re
nected in any manner on the young
lady's conduct. and | wish 10 state
y that the yelled insinuations OF coun-
sel are wholly unjastitable, and re-
\ 6ect upon himself.
''Your cowardly attack upon this
defenseless girl stamps you as men
ace TO the decent and sef-respecting
members of this community. Too
much cannot be said in praise of the
conduct OF the young men whose time
~ interference saved this girl from
4 tho more serious crime which the
evidence proves you intended TO com
init
TRUST that the punishment the law
h metes out to you for this crime will
z serve notice on all those who prowl
about the streets at night. waiting
TO assault unprotected women, that
the streets of this city will be kept
safe, and that those who may be con
victed OF brutal assault, such as tie
one you have been convicted OF will
be made to feel the certain and speedy
retribution OF avenging justice"
Pry. when asked ii he had anything
\ TO say why sentence should not be
4 passed on him, said he had not so
Tar as the attempted assault case
h was concerned. He declared that he
had fair and impartial trial. He also
thanked the court for the protection
Afforded him during the trial. He took
occasion, however, to tell the court
OF an incident which happened after
he returned TO the county Jail, Friday
afternoon.
II picked up a knife in the court
ROOM said Pry, land took il to my
Gel. with me. The Jail officials found
&c when they searched me and they
put me in solitary confinement.
{ tell you this. Judge, so you will know
how got the knife"
II don't want to hear anything OF
that nature" said the Judge. 1T does
not concern the case before the
court"
The officials in the Jail say they
uearched Pry and found the knife on
him after a couple OF other prisoners
IN the ward had advised them that
\ Pry had threatened 10 "cut their
hearts out" The officials locked Pry
mp In a single cell after the discovery
= OF the knife. They think that he got
1t from a colored woman he was al
bowed to talk with in the court room.
\ and that he told the court the story
about picking 1t up on a table TO pro-
lect the woman from prosecution.
1t was a singing rebuke the Rev.
Maurice Penfield Fixes administered
20 Robert J. Willis, Pry's colored at
torney, In Judge Phelan's court room,
FRIDAY afternoon. And in the opinion
OF witnesses TO the little episode the
xobuke was deserved one.
Pry had no defense He was afraid
10 take thu stand, so Attorney Willis.
vhn AofanAad the falInW ad
TO prejudice the jury against the girl
ny insinuations that were wholly un.
Warranted. Several times spectators |
4 mnttered audible protests, and Judge |
khelan finally found IL necessary to |
lend for police officers 10 maintain !
& order.
The bitter feeling against the Ne |
ITO defendant and the attorneys In |
8nuattons again found expression
when the spectators applauded the ad.
y dress or Assistant Prosecutor Koscin.
eki, In which he bitterly assailed VIII.
"A lis.
When the jury had retired DR..
Fixes, who had been an interested
+. npectator at the trial, and. who, by the
y way, 10 a southerner, stepped up to
h willis and sad:
M II am astonished at the manner in
s. winch you discussed the young lady
IN this case. Ii was neither fair nor
1ust. II is we'll for you that / am not
= relative II this young woman. II
you were II the south"
You don't understand the facts, -
4 Interrupted Willis.
-Oh, yes, do. have been here
+ MI day, listening 10 the testimony"
"And you are a minister OF the Cos
yes. minister of the gospel, Rev.
{>M. p. Fixes, Of the Woodward-ave Bap-
IlDf church. Put that down In your
book And | shall have something
nrther to sa. about this case"
To those present IL seemed as
1hough the reverend gentleman re.
G1yainsd himself with some difficulty.
Asked Saturday morning II he in
&onded to base a sermon on the incl.
&ont, Pastor Pixies said he would
lave to think the matter over first.
~ h not improbable that he will take
~ up. publicly later on.