The Man Who Got A Reduced Prison Sentence After Agreeing To Shave For A Month With A Dull Razor
A chef was convicted of assault but was able to spend much less time behind bars after agreeing to an unusual request by the judge
Judges are supposed to follow the letter of the law and ajudicate cases based on precedent and common sense. However, there is always room for freelancing, and the media has reported over the years the many quirks and surprises that magistrates have come up with from the bench. A very unusual case occurred more than a century ago when a man convicted of assault had his prison sentence cut in half by the presiding judge after he asked the defendant if he was willing to shave with a dull razor in exchange for leniency, and the offer was accepted.
In 1912, Hyman Fernandez was employed as a chef at a Kansas City hotel. He was also apparently a man with a temper, as one day he got into an argument with a waiter. Things escalated quickly and the professional cook lashed out and struck his advesary with a frying pan.
After hearing the case, the judge found Fernandez guilty of the assault and sentenced him to two months behind bars. However, for whatever reason, he decided to make things “interesting,” and made the chef an…
