The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-12-25

- ~>e- @~sS>sS SSSAe A<<s<& - "a
20 years of age. after full trial. was
found guilty on the charge of "statu-
tory rape" and was sentenced to the
penitentiary for a term OF from six to
ten years.
The public was excluded from the
trial and the story of the trial is ex-
cluded from the newspapers. This IA
probably wise.
Although 1t seems sometimes that
the people do not know enough about
such things and the unhappy conse
quences that follow.
In this very case we are led to won
der il this same Henry Harmon ant
his gray-haired old father who sat by
him throughout the trial. had ever
Witnessed trial of this kind-hae
ever fully realized the sad conse-
quences OF the frivulous life led by
this wayward boy-they might not
have been spared this tragedy In their
lives.
We believe that greater publicity,
decent publicity. OF such instances
help to warn some and save some who
are not kept straight by higher prin-
ciples.
It would be q good thing for ev-
erybody to know what statutory
rape" is and what the penalty for II Is.
And II the reader does not know he
should ask some pe.ssn who does
know. The penalty Is a sentence TO the
penitentiary for n term Of not less
than three years and from that up to
life.
In this case the remarks OF the Dis
trict Judge. in sentencing this youns
man to the peniteniiary. are quite
worth reading. We copy them from
the files Of the case in the office of the
District Clerk.
The Judges Remarks.
The Court-"You may stand up
Harmon. Harmon. you have been pre-
scented to the court In regular form
upon the charge OF statutory rape. and
trial has been had upon that charge
and you have been ably and well de-
Tended by your counsel. and the jury
has returned n verdict OF guilty. and
your counsel have urged in your be-
half a motion to review the proceed.
ilgs had =, the trial and To set ths
verdice aside because OF possible er.
ror that might have been committed
in the course OF the trial. and that mo-
tion has been overruled. The verdict
stands.
Have you got anything now further
TO say why the Judgment OF the Law
should not be given upon the verdict
OF the jury. and the sentence OF the
Court upon the Judgment of guilty
Have you. yourself. got anything to
say why the Court should not proceed
to give Judgment and sentence,'
Mr.. Harmon--No. think not"
The court-"weii. my boy. am aw-
fully sorry to see you here In this at
titude. am sorry for your father. VINO
has been 50 faithful here. and for your
mother, and for your brothers and
sisters. and 1 am awful sorry for the
credit and character OF American
young men. Since ! have been on th .
bench there have been a good many
men. young and old. before the court
upon the charge OF crime.
"It is n humilinting thing to me as
an American-born man and to all OF
us who engage in the administration
of jusctice I'm the court. who are prin-
cipally American-born men. that the
great majority of the men who come
before the court. as you are now bo-
fore the court. are men born here. not
foreigners. men who have all the ad-
vantages OF the civilization OF this
country. the schools. the churches. tho
cultivation OF the spirit OF love Of