The Lucan Shooting - Trial of Robert Donnelly, The Accused.

[...] The prisoner having, in reply to the usual question, said that he had nothing to say, Mr. Justice Wilson then proceeded to pass sentence. In doing so, he said it was very true that no charge had heretofore been brought against the prisoner; but still it seemed from the evidence that he was infected with the spirit that seemed to be the bane of the neighborhood of Lucan. Now, he (the learned Judge) believed there were some good points in the Donnelly family. He had no doubt they were generous, warmhearted and would make warm friends. But there was no doubt they were bad enemies. He did not wish to refer to any distressing family matters, but he could not help referring to the fact that the prisoner's father was once under sentence of death. And he could tell the prisoner that had the shot taken effect and killed Everett, Donnelly would most assuredly have been hanged. He then went on to speak in the kindest manner possible to the prisoner, assuring him that he was about giving him the lowest sentence the law allowed, in the hope that it would prove of benefit to him and lead him to seriously reflect on the enormity of the crime and the serious results it might have entailed. He then sentenced him to two years in the Penitentiary. This sentence must be regarded as very light, and it was due in a great measure to the efforts of Mr. Glass, who, as Mr. Justice Wilson remarked, made the very most of every point that could be urged in the prisoner's defence.