New-York tribune., 1919-01-15
Chaplin Sentenced
Twenty Years to
Life for Murde,
Plea of Guilt in Second De-
gree Saves Slayer Of Wife
From Trial and a Possible
Death in Electric Chair

Charles Z. Chaplin, former city editor
of "The Evening World" who shot and
He'd his wife, Mrs Nellie Bcebe
Chaplin, in their apartment in the Ho-
tel Cumberland September 16, yester-
day pleaded guilty to charge of mur-
der in the second degree. Supreme
Court Justice Weeks sentenced him to
minimum term Of twenty years and
maximum term Of life imprison-
ment
Chaplin, accompanied by Sheriff Da-
vid II. Knott, entered the courtroom
whore most Of the sensational murder
trials of the county have been con-
Quoted during the last quarter of a
century, at 1856 o'clock. He wore a
dark blue serge suit, tan shoes and
carried dark soft hat in his hand.
He held his head erect, and to all out
ward appearances he was not in the
least nervous.
His case waS the first to be called
by Clerk William Penney. Chaplin was
asked whether he wished to change his
plea of not guilty to charge of mur.
der in the first degree. The prisoner
smiled and nodded in the Affirmative.
Plea Entered by Nod
DO you wish to plead guilty to a
lesser degree?" asked Clerk Penny.
Again Chaplin smiled and nodded.
The plea was entered.
do you wish TO be sentenced at
once ?" asked the clerk
Defendant is ready for immediate
sentence" interposed Abraham Levy,
counsel for Chaplin.
In passing sentence. Justice Weeks
said:
Charles E. Chaplin. you are SEN
fenced to Imprisonment at hard labor
tor minimum term of twenty years
and q maximum term Of your natural
life"
AS the words were pronounced
Chapin's face twitched slightly. and he
turned pale. Otherwise he cvinced no
emotion. He bowed slightly to the court
and then turned to walk away with
Sheriff Knott He was taken first to
the Sheriff's rooms in the Criminal
Courts Building and later to the
Tombs. He will be taken to Sing Sing
on Saturday,
IN ms recommendation MED with
Justice Weeks in favor of acceptance
of the plea which saved Chaplin from
the electric chair, Assistant District
Attorney Alfred J. Talley said that in
view of the circumstances, couplcd
with the fact that Chaplin was sixty
years old, it was doubtful whether a
verdict could be obtained from Iury
Of murder in higher degree than the
second. In this opinion District Attor-
ney Swami joined with Mr.. Talley.
Question Of Sanity a Factor
The prosecutors have had the offer
Of plea to a lesser degree under con-
sideration for more than a month.
/ They suspected that, in spite of the
fact that a lunacy commission found
that Chaplin was not legally insane
when he committed the crime, a trial
jury might decide differently.
On the other hand, Mr. Levy, the de
fendants lawyer, was convinced that
after hearing Chapin's story no Jury
would agree on a verdict of any degree
I OF murder. Friends Of the defendant
finally prevailed OH Mr.. Levy to change
! his mind and consent TO a plea Of sec
ond degree murder.
Since he surrendered to the police
or the day following the crime Chann
mas asserted he meant to kill himself
but lost hic nerve He therefore as
serted IL was his desire TO die in the
I electric chair SINCE his incarceration
/ IN the Tonbs nc has sought consola-
ton in religion, ard has been almost
daIY visited by the Christian Science
ehaEsain.