The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-09-11


directed to judge on the bench by
a convicted man about to receive
sentence. Judge G.. w WhitfOrd re
Gently in the West Side court. sen
fenced Harold Frank HenwOod 10
the penitentiary al Canon City fer
the term of his natural life for the
murder OF George +. Copeland in the
barroom of the Brown Palace hotel
on the night of May "a last.
With a face as white as chalk.
ewes that famed red and a form
shaking with emotion. but in tones
that could be at all times clearly
heard throughout the court room. and
a voice that never faltered. Hen
wood denounced Judge Whitford. the
district attorney and all connected
with his prosecution.
All the smoldering bitterness of
weeks spent in broodng in prison
cell all the long pent.up wrath
against the man he dubbed his I'M
lust Judge" were let loose in an
unchecked torrent as Henwood ap-
parently cast all fear of consequences
to the winds and poured out the walls
OF his wrath unrestrained,
The condemned man has the nat
ural gift of oratory and lawyers with
years of experience in the criminal
courts declared that no more dramat-
ic scene had ever been witnessed in
the courts of the state. and probably
e the country.
Looking Judge Whitford straight in
the eyes and shaking a menacing
finger at him. HenwOod declared that
Whittord was first and last a prose
cutting Judge; Judge who had no
other idea but to convict every man
brought before him for trial and
that in his own trial the judge had
joined with the office of the district
attorney to secure his conviction a;
all hazards. that John w Springer
might be successful in his suit for
divorce
The climax came after a dull day
of wranglng between John r. Bot
tom. attorney for Henwood. on enc
side and Judge Whitford. District
Attorney Willis f. Elliott and Chief
Deputy District Attorney John Horn
Chiles on the other. over Bottcm's
motion for a new trial. When the mo-
ton finally was denied and the dis
trict attorney moved for sentence of
the prisoner a handful of spectators,
the lawyers. attaches of the court
and the reporters We're all who were
present.
There was an air OF iStleSSneSS
about the courtroom as the hands of
the clock pointed to the hour of 4
and the reporters and attaches
breathed a sigh of relief as they re
allied that only one more hour of
the days session remained.
The argument had ceased. the mo-
ton for a new trial had been finally
denied and there was nothing to in
dictate that anything unusual was
about to occur.
Il move for stay of sentence,
until the defendant can prepare his
application for a supersedeas.' said
Bottom.
Molten denied" said Judge Whit
ford.
II move for sentence" said Dis
trict Attorney Elliott.
Stand up. Henwood." said Judge
Whitford Have you anything to
say why sentence should not be pass
ed upon you?"
Slowly Henwood arose, and as he
stood erect said in clear voice:
II have"
With a face that was perfectly
cOlOrless. but with firm steps and
shoulders squared. he walked delib-
eratelv to the center Of the railing
in front OF the prisoners pen and
leaned slightly against it. facing the
judge In his hand he held a small
paper-backed memorandum book.
which he occasionally consulted. his
left hand rested lightly on the rail
ing.
The tense silence of the court room
could almost be felt, and every per
son in the room leaned forward and
fixed his eyes upon the man stand
ing so carelessly confronting the
judge who was about to pronounC e
sentence upon him, and in whose dis
erection lay whether the prisoner
should spend only ten years or should
pass the balance of his life. just
budding into its prime. within the
four walls of a prison.
Probably not one of the specta-
tors but expected that the prisoners
speech would be in some form of a
plea for short sentence, but not
once in the course of his remarks
did HenwOOd, even by implication,
ask for mercy. On the contrary. his
every word and gesture showed that
he had abandoned all hope of light
sentence, and was bent only on re-
lieving his mind of all the bitter
thoughts that had ranked SO long
against the men he holds responsible
for his conviction.
Judge Whitford," said Henwood,
Il am not surprised that | am here
for sentence before you after the
attitude you have taken towards me
since this trial started. l am not a
public speaker; perhaps will for
get lots of things that | would like
TO say. | have been over in this Jail
for perhaps two months.
Il have seen criminals, innocent
men and others afraid to come to
trial before you. because you hold
the reputation of being a prejudiced
judge, a biased judge man with
mind for just one thing, and that
is-conviction. A man is guilty be-
fore he enters this court room. in
your estimation. l am not condemn
ing the district attorney. 1t is his
place. as little as | know of the
law, to prosecute.
my idea of judge is that he is
fair and just to both sides. | never
have had that justice from you;
never expected it after l heard you
overrule my attorney one day-a