, 1925-01-07
PERRY IS SENTENCED
TO TWENTY YEARS
IN The PEN|TENTIARY
Judge Could Find No Extenuat-
ing Circumstances in Case
Takes Sentence Stoically-
Makes Statement.

David H. Peery, charged with a
statutory crime against his step
daughter, Ruth McKain, was sentenc-
ed to not less than twenty years nor
mordothan thirty years in the state
penitentiary, by Judge Metz, this
morning. He will be taken to Raw
Inns Immediately.
Asked if he had anything to say
before sentence was pronounced, he
stated that he had nothing to say ex-
cept that he was sorry for his crime,
had never been in any sort of trouble
before, and hoped to make a mar of
himself in the penitentiary.
Former prosecuting attorney, Err
nest Goppert, advised the Judge that
there were proven cases of insanity
in the Peery family, and that as far
as he could learn the crime vas COM
mitted when Mrs. Peery knew that
her husband was sleeping with her
daughter without protest. Sheriff
LOOMS corroborated Mr.. Goppert's
statement.
Judge Metz stated that as far d
insanity in the family was concern
ed there was no evidence that the de-
PENDANT inherited it, and the fact that
he had led an honest life before had
no bearing on the crime. The crime,
declared Judge Metz, was next to
murder, the life of the girl was ruin
ed, and her health probably i'm
paired.
After sentencing Peery the judge
instructed Sheriff Loomis to notify
the state humane officer to investigate
the case of the girl to learn whether
or not she was now in proper environ
ment. The girl, according to testi-
mony, is now paralyzed from the hips
down, but it is understood that she is
recovering and will not be incapaci-
tated after a month or two. With
her baby, the girl is making her
home with her mother on the Peery
farm. Peery's entire property has
been turned over to his wife. the act
being voluntary on his part.
The by-paths travelled before Sher-
if w. H. Loomis succeeded in locat-
ing and arresting Harold Peery, who
was wanted here on a statutory
charge, would make an interesting
story if placed in the hands of a writ
err of sleuthing tales.
After Peery succeeded in evading
the sheriff and his deputies last No
vember, the sheriff Immediately be-
gan the task of picking up the scent
in Livingston, where Mrs. Peery and
her daughter, Ruth, were i'll in a hos
pital. By watching events at the
postoffice in Livingston, the sheriff
learned that Peery had sent a letter
to his wife. Visiting Mrs. Peery, Mr..
Loomis informed her that he knew
she had n letter from her husband,
and finally she admitted receipt of
the letter, turned it over to the sher-
iff, and consented to help trap Peery,
who was living near Albany, Missouri.
Entering into the game, Mrs. Peery
wrote her husband, telling him that
she would send him letters under n
fictitious name of Matthews, and that
the letter would be SEN from Powell.
Leaving a letter directed to Peery in
Mrs. Loomis' possession, Sheriff Loom
is left "a hours before the letter was
mailed, thus assuring him that he
would reach Albany before the letter
arrived.
Christmas day found the sheriff in
Albany, and then began n tiresome
watch at the postoffice. 1t was TWEEN
ty degrees below zero at Albany, and
the continued cold prevented Peery
making the fifteen mile trip to the
p~ostofrice until Monday, when he re-
ceived the letter and walked into
Sheriff Loomis' hands. Upon being
taken before the proper authorities
and searched, a gun was taken from
Peery's clothing. Carrying concealed
is n criminal offense in Mis-
souri,, and, knowing this, Peery made
no attempt to fight extradition, max
ing the trip to this city without pro-
test. His confession followed.