Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-01-10
sentence Pronounced ON Self-Ccn-
fesSed ReyiStas.


fessed Reyistas.
Very few people were In the court
room when the defendants who had
pleaded guilty were called up for
sentence AZ three o'clock in the az
Iernoon. All responded to the call
except Anastacio Jarer0. who was
not in or about the court house and
could not be located in the city. he
had not been found up TO the time
Of going 70 press.
Nine Of the eleven faced Judge
Burns from the jury box. Amador
Sanchez and Antonio Magnon sitting
with their counsel on the floor.
In response 70 a query from Judge
Burns. Mr.. Hicks said he had no
statement TO make. A similar in
curry directed 10 the prisoners drew
Mr.. Sandoval TO his feet essay that
he and his associates would submit
themselves 20 the judgment OF the
court and asked for the minimum
penalty.
In reply Judge Burns said that II
was ne the purpose OF the court to
s%entince any Of the defendants who
had admitted their guilt to the peni-
Tertiary. To do so would be to give
them a status which they neither
had earned nor deserved. Person
ally. Judge Burns said. he regarded
the prisoners with pronounced favor.
but the Law exacts a strict demand
that the neutrality regulations be
not violated and hence regards their
onense as serious.
1T distresses the court Judge
Burns continued. Ito impose n pen
atty. Among the defendants are men
for whom | have the highest appre
citation and who would be a credit
90 the citizenship either OF. this
try or Of Mexico. The court thinks
they have acted wisely in admitting
their violation Of the law as a frank
admission Of guilt in this court takes
something from the penalty. IN
this case II has greatly lessened he
penalty.
I'm the cases Of AmadOr Sanchez
and Antonio Magnon. two strong.
clean men, citizens OF Webb county.
for whom as individuals the court
has a great warmth Of kindly feel.
ing the one sheriff OF his county. a
former mayor Of his home city and
a man who holds the respect and es-
TEEN Of his people as we'll as Of this
court. and whose ancestors have
lived on the frontier since 1857. have
aided in lis defense and assisted
Houston 10 achieve the independence
Of Texas. IL seems TO the court that
a fine OF $1,000. s200 in excess OF
the minimum as relates TO the last
count in the indictment. while very
mild. will meet the reasonable re-
quirement Of the law"
y. r. Sanchez. whom the court
designated as a youth Of tender
years and perhaps unconscious Of the
fact that his actiins were in viola
ton Of law. was called hex and
fined $500.
After him. Sondoval. Montemayor.
Guerra and Martinez. the four mem
bers Of the so-called Montemayor
party. were sentenced to pay a like
fine. These four Judge Burns said
were strangers to the land and. per-
haps. not fully advised 10 the risk
they were running. Vidal Ortiz
and Sereni villareal Of Laredo.
Guadalupe Mirales and Or. Monter-
ras Of Mexico City and J. Fl. de Cas-
tri Of Jalisco. the remaining defen-
dants present. were called in turn
and. after being questioned by
Judge Burns regarding their occu-
patton and means were fined $500
each. In asking for the imposition Of
n light sentence. DIR. M0nterras as
serted his innocence Of the charge 70
which he said he had pleaded guilty
to save time and because Of the diff
culcult position in which his igno-
n OF the English language had
placed him.
judge Burns informed the defend
ans that me r.. atty OF a hns csr-
rles with it the alternative q ON
mitment to Jail. In case the fine =
not discharged promptly. On the
request of Sandoval. speaking tr
his associates. he agreed 10 desss-
nate the Laredo prison as he place
or confinement.
Following the announcement RI
the sentences, Mr.. Sandoval express
ed In sincere tones the deep appre-
citation OF the kindness and consid-
Grafton Of the court felt by himself
and associates and. as well. their
gratitude for the efforts Of their al
torneys. Mr.. Hicks and Mr. West
In so high regard are the latter
held by the defendants he said. that
their suggestion 10 plead guilty was
accepted with pleasure. because as
-~~h wnr4anwan they held fhQ