The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-28
CONVICTED men
WILL Be TAKEN
T0.PRISON SOON
Exact Date Not Known - Attempt
to Locate Sheriff This Mern.
ing Ii Unsuccessful

tin Sherman and Thomas E. Pruett,
sentenced to renitentiary terms for
the murder Of Robert Swearingen
of Aledo On the morning Of Sept
Ii following the holdup of poker
game in Swearingen's room, will
be taken 70 the state prison, is not
known, as all attempts to locate
Sheriff Fleming this morning fail
ed and no knowledge of the time
set could be learned from the Sher-
IFS office. An attempt to gain in
formation from the sneriff's family
at the county Jail proved unsuc-'
cessful, the reporter being met at
the door by Mrs. Wood, mother of
Russell Wood, who, since her sons
conviction, has been located at the
Jail, and VITO refused admittance or
any information as to the where
abOuts of the sheriff. 1t is expect
ed, however, that the men Will be
taken early this week.
Formal sentence was pronounced
on the three men last Saturday.
Sherman displayed little emotion
other than a slight smile, not as
cheerful, however, as that which
marked his actions during the trial.
Wood seemed to be the most af-
fected and when he reached his
cell following the formal sentence,
is said to have grown hysterical
and attempted to smash all the de-
structible furniture in his cell
Pruett, the last of the three to be
sentenced, took his punishment Of
Is years in the penitentiary in the
same matter of fact, fearless man
ner which lie has shown in all the
proceedings Of the trial. For the
first time since his arrest last De-
cember, Mrs. Mary English Of Chi
cago, mother of Pruett, saw her
son last Saturday. A frail little
woman, bowed with grief at hav-
ing her only son facing a peniten-
tiary charge, Mrs. English arous-
ed sympathy from all spectators
in the court room. Testimony Of
her boys life while he remained
home with her before he went into
the army, was given in voice
broken with sObs, her tear-filled
eyes continually fixed on the face
of her son. Pruett's step-father
also took the witness stand Satur-
day afternoon. Following the tes-
timony of the parents, Attorney c.
B. Mccoy of Chicago addressed the
court in behalf of his client. He
called attention to the boys ex-
IRENE youth and the fact that this
is his first offense. A motion that
the plea made by Pruett Of guilty
to murder might be changed to
guilty Of manslaughter was denied
by Judge Graves, States Attorney
Paul ]. Graham recommending that
no change be made in the plea.
Recalling the testimony given by
Pruett's mother, that there had
never been a criminal in the fam
lily before, Mr.. Mccoy asked that
the court consider that while the
youth was out of work he was prob
ably urged into the crime by older
men and not through a mere desire
to do wrong. while we are not
asking that this man 60 unpunish-
ed. for he is guilty" said Mr.. Nc
Coy, I'VE are asking that the court
give him all the encouragement
possible, for l believe that the
serving of this sentence will de-
termine his future life. He will
either come out of the penitentiary
a man who will 60 straight or one
who will be a menace to society,
and if he is given the encourage
ment to go straight believe that
he will"
Following Mr.. Mccoy, Attorney
A. J. Allen of Aledo addressed the
court. He called attention to the
fact that Pruett willingly cooper
ated in every way in aiding the
state in the trial and that every
statement that he had made had
proved to he true. having been cor
roborated by state witnesses. Mr..
Allen declared that while the boy
was guilty and should be punished,
he felt that his sentence should be
made as light as possible. Fol-
lowing Mr.. Allen. Paul j., Graham
corroborated Mr.. Aliens statement
as to Pruett's help as state wit
ness at the trial and recommended
that the court give him a 15-year
sentence. Judge Graves then call
ed the youthful confessed murder
er before him. He carefully and
kindly explained the degrees of
punishment, and asked the boy
questions concerning his past life. |
Pruett answered the questions |
clearly and fearlessly and admit
ted having been arrested once be- |
fore for speeding, but said that un-
til this trouble he had never been |
in jail. Judge Graves told him