The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-16
Albert Speed Not Only Finds
His Neighbors. Enemies,
but Gets No Sympathy
from Wife in Court.
A LONG JAIL TERM
is GIVEN BY JUDGE
Mrs. Speed Has Sued for Di-
vorce and Alleges He Had
Treated Her and His Fam
lily in Brutal Manner.

Besides having all of his neighbors
as enemies. Albert Speed of Middle
borough on Wednesday morning, fol-
lowing his conviction on a charge of
starving his live stock, found he could
not even count on the sympathy of his
attorney or his wife, who with her two
children have felt the pangs of hun
ger many times during the past two
years, according to her divorce COM
plant.
An effort of reconciliation with his
wife was made by Speed, who. when
he learned of her divorce complaint,
carefully penned her a letter, which
she received on Wednesday morning
in the courtroom. After reading the
epistle she Immediately replaced it in
the envelope and gave it to Attorney
P. J. Freeman, asking the latter to re-
turn it to his client Il want none of
his property" was a remark she was
heard to make.
Speed after being told by Judge Fox
of the circuit court he was guilty of
la most aggravated case of cruelty, a
dastardly and excuseless starvation of
his live stock, two horses and a COW,
was deeply depressed by his wife's op-
en- hostility, manifested by her return
of his letter and the fact that she
would not even look at him and while
she held their baby in his presence in
the court room.
Gets Long Sentence
He was returned to the Jail to serve
out a sentence of $50 and costs and
sixty days in the county jail. and on
his way to the bastile he sobbed to
Sheriff Steen how unjust he thought
his punishment was, and how mean
those for whom he had worked had
treated him, by not making efforts to
assist him.
On Saturday Speed pleaded not gull
ty. On Wednesday he was still OBJ
stinate and was going to fight the
charge, but his attorney, p. J. Free
man, after explaining to him the hope
lessness of the case, and that he might
have a lighter sentence imposed by
an admission guilt, finally gained
Speeds consent to enter such a plea.
Prosecuting Attorney Charles Ladd
and States Attorney r. K. Shiveley
addressed the court, explaining the
circumstances and denouncing Speed
as vicious, cruel and wicked. His at
torney attempted to excuse the star
vation of the animals, stating that
Speed could not get work with his
team, which was mortgaged, and
which, because of the mortgage, he
could not sell. Speed told his attor-
ney the neighbors would not let him
picket his livestock on the highway,
where they might browse on the grass,
SO he left them in the barn to starye.
The court thought little of Speeds ex-
cuses.
Speeds attorney did not attach any
value to the defendants excuses, al
though in Difference to the mans wish
es stated them. He didn't offer any
sympathy when Speed was found gull
ty.
Were SO Witnesses.
81 = I
In the court room were perhaps fif-
ty witnesses, all for the state. Some
summoned by the defense failed to
show up and others who did were
more anxious to testify for the state,
it was understood afterwards. There
was no necessity for anyone to give
testimony when Speed entered plea
of guilty through his attorney. Prac-
tically all Of Ajddleborough's popula-
ton was in TN court room and none
seemed displeased with the sentence
except Speed
Arrangements were made for Speed
to have his clothes removed from his
Middleborough home. OF his live
stock one horse died OF starvation and
starved they -oould not stand up. They
will be attea4ed to by the neighbors.
A picture of the surviving horse, sus-
pended in horse hammock, was
shown to the court.
In the divorce action. filed on Tues
day afternoon, Mrs. Speed. who is OF
neat appearance. alleges she was SO
terrorized by Speeds threats that she
remained silent about his abuses OF
the family and the livestock. She
says he would beat their youngest
child about the face and head and IL
she demonstrated, she would be ST
fenced by his threats on her life. She
| was SO afraid of him she said nothing.
only endured his abuse. curses and in
suits. For the past two years she says
he has not supported her nor the child
rem. They were married on Novem-
Der 26. 1906, and separated on August
10th. The custody Of the two children.
Homer. aged 8. ard John, aged about
q rear. is asked by the mother.