Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-02
LUCES SENTENCE
SIX To TEN YEARS
Soldier Who Killed Station Agent
Albert M. Prentiss Pleads
Guilty to Manslaughter and
Will Do Hard Labor in States
Prison


resident of 32 First street, Troy. N. Y,
ing of Station Master Albert M. Prentiss
on November 25
Private Luce will serve from six to 10
years at hard labor at the States prison
at Windsor. With one month of each
year for good behavior, the sentence
means that IL Luce obeys the rules he
will serve only five years and six months.
Following out instructions from Attor-
ney Rufus K. Brown, his counsel. Pri-
vate Luce pleaded guilty to manslaughter
after the reading of the indictment for
murder in the first degree, as rendered
by the grand jury of this county at n
special session. States Attorney Allen
Martin agreed to accept this plea, but
asked that the sentence be of sufficient
length that it would protect human life,
and do justice to the State as well as to
the respondent
The briefs in the case were then pre-
scented by States Attorney Martin, and
maps showing the Union Station and sur
rounding streets and buildings were
shown to the bench and explained in
detail.
States Attorney Martin, in his argu-
ment for sentence, stated that the case
was one of aggregated granddaughter,
but reconciliation was clearly shown by
the fact that Luce admitted to him in
MS cell in Chittenden county Jail that
he meant to so cripple Prentiss as to
make him unable to chase him when he
ran. Luce did not intend to kill him and
Attorney Martin stated that the State
believed this to be true but the fact
was that the assault which resulted in
the murder Of Prentiss was premeditated,
as Luce admitted that he took the knife
out of his hand and carried it distance
OF 100 feet. the blade open all the time
ready for an opportunity to strike Prem
tiss.
A report of the autopsy as made by
DR.. G. F. Whitney of the State Board
of Health showed that Prentiss' death
was caused by external hemorrhages in
the neck. caused by a long and deep
incson running from the lobe of his left
ear down across the throat to his collar
In one place the cut was three inches
deep. and several of the smaller arteries
were severed, but the jugular vein was
not. The condition of Prentiss blood was
not normal and his sudden death after
the stabbing was due to this condition.
The State then concluded its part of the
case.
Attorney Brown made an eloquent plea
for his client and his trump card was
the reading Of letters as to the good
character and morals of Luce from prom
inent and influential residents of Troy,
n. Y, the home city of the respondent:
from firms where he was employed and
from the United States army captain of
the company of which Luce was a men,
Der.
Among the letters from Troy were the
following.
the Fifth Avenue Hotel. where Luce was
formerly employed as bellboy; from the
Troy Quick Shoe Repairing company, II.
Goldberg, manager. where Luce worked
for two years; from the yardmaster, c.
A. Lord, in the New York Centrals wards
where Luce handled freight for several
months; from John II. Liggett & Sons,
per Joseph Liggett, where Luce worked
at one time; from Judge James s. Byron
from the Rev. James A. Curtin of st.
Joseph's Church, where Luce was an
attendant; from the Rev. Henry r. Free I
man of st. Johns Church. where Luce
formerly attended: from Frank T. Hill, |
manager of the Standard Accident In
surance company of Troy, in behalf of
one Of the large business mems clubs |
where Luce was house attendant at one |
time: from Judge Michael A. Tiernev !
Westinghouse plant at Springfield, Mass.
where Luce formerly was employed as
an armed guard before he went into the
army last August.
During the entire proceedings and up
to the time that he left the courtroom
with Sheriff James II. Allen, Private
Luce appeared to be very calm and I'M
moved by the sentence imposed on him.
He glanced at his father very often, that
gentleman sitting directly opposite him
across the courtroom. Like his son, the
elder Luce displayed no signs of emo
ton whatever.
THE SENTENCE
In passing sentence Judge Slack
said:
The hardest duty, Mr.. Respondent,
that any court has to perform is in i'm
posing sentence upon the unfortunate.
me crime to which you have pleaded
guilty Is very serious one 1t may
carry sentence of life imprisonment,
and 1t may be very mild sentence We
nave heard the suggestions as to how
ms onense was committed, detailed
by the States attorney, and of your
counsel We have been very pleased
20 note and consider the endorsements
which your friends have given you,
your character and reDuta- |
Ion in the past. We have been deem
y moved by those letters and endorse
nents. and did we not have in mind the
act that courts in imposing sentence
must be just, not only to the respon-
lent but to the entire people of the
state. we should feel disposed to make
he sentence somewhat lighter than we
eel In duty bound to make IT, We must
Keep in mind not only your interest.
tut the interest of the people of the
state whom we represent. as well as
We do you. Considering all these things
We have arrived at a conclusion which
Gems to us to be just to you and to
he people of the State.
The sentence is that you be confined
4 hard labor In the States prison mt
Windsor In the county of Windsor for
term of not less than six years nor
more than ten years and stand COM
nitted until sentence is complied with.
Il will say that In reaching these con-
lusions. Jurge Tracy. who sat at the
inquest, considered himself disauali-
ed and has not taken part in the
natter of sentence.
''The respondent is in your custody,
fr. Sheriff"