Minnesota weekly times., 1854-06-13
"rHAr pARDoN-FoR THE LAST TIME.

"THAT PARDON-FOR THE LAST TIME.r
We had supposed that this matter was at rest
but the Jury who tried Monroe, desire hearing
through our columns, and we therefore give il
them, rsmarking, that with this publication W.
leave the matter in the hands of the people:
To the citizens of Ramsey County;
FELLOW CITIZENS; We are unwillingly dragged
as it were, before you to give some explanation
as to the reasons whereby our verdict was rem
dered in the case of Louis Monroe, charged at the
last sitting of the Court for tho I'd judicial Dis.
trict, with shooting at Moses Dickson with intent
to kill him. 1t is due you, and every member Of
this community, that we should step forward and
vindicate the sacred institution of trial by jury
from such unwarrantable innovation as lately
has been committed by the pardon granted by the
Executive to said Monroe. We, in the first place,
believe we understand the English language
Secondly, we are well acquainted with the seri-
GUS responsibilities and duties of iurymen-
Thirdly, we heard all the evidence in the case.
pro and con, and gave it our utmost considera-
tion. We also heard the charge of the learned
Judge, and gave that every respectful attention
consonant with our duties as jurymen. But when
the case was closed and the jury retired to their
room, we alone were the judges of the guilt or
innocence Of the defendant; and here we reiter-
ate our verdict, from the facts proven before the
court and jury, and not contradicted one iota by
the defence; that the defendant was guilty of
shooting with intent to kill. The facts are as
fresh in our memory as if it were but yesterday.
The witnesses proved that the defendant was
causing disturbance in the house; the man,
Dixon, the proprietor, desired him to leave, and
Monroe, procrastinating his stay, using profane
language and exclaiming, sflet any man lay his
hands on me and he will be sorry for it," Dix
on, after waiting on customer, again went to-
wards defendant and desired him to leave; the
defendant stood in the doorway, and Dixon
pushed him out, using no more force than was ne
cessary, although an attempt was made on the
part Of the defence to show that he had fallen
from the force of pushing, against tree opposite
the door; but the jury disbelieved the witness who
testified to that effect, for he most certainly on his
crosse examination by the Hon. G.. L. Becker,
perjured himself, so much so, that the learned
counsel abruptly stopped his cross-examination,
prefering to lose the benefit of whatever impress
sion he could make on the jury by such examina-
ton rather than allow the witness to subject him.
self to the pains and penalties of perjury. The
whole evidence then given proved that the defend
ant, after being pushed from the door, immedi-
ately turned round and fred pistol, the ball stri-
king the hand of Dixon, his hand being at tina!
time held just above the region of the heart; it
then glanced off and passed through the feshy
part Of the arm and lodged in the ceiling or wall
The jury believed he did. Had not Dixon's hand
been on his breast, would not the ball have
entered his breast? What did the defendant do
afterwards? Did he run away from the town 2
Did he express sorrow for committing the offence,
or make amends in any way that man would
naturally make after the commission of crime
committed under the excitement of passion p
No! The female witness stated, and also one
male witness, (and be it remembered the whole
of the witnesses were of his own race, and would
no doubt be naturally biased in his favor,} that
in a conversation with him the same night as fol-
lows: s'You have badly hurt Dixon, but he is not
dead" Monroe's answer was, elf / did not,
meant to kill him; 1 aimed right at his breast,
and if he is not dead will kill him in the morn
Does it not show cold blooded, deliberate de-
termination to have murdered Dixon? We be-
lieve he intended to murder him, and with all due
respect to Judge Sherburne we say it was our duty
alone to bring in verdict according to the evil
dence as proved on the trial, and his honor will
probably remember his charge. Said his honor,
if you believe the evidence shows that Dixon used
more force than necessary to eject Monroe, you
must find verdict of guilty of assault only, but
if you believe Dixon used no more force than ne
cessary to turn defendant out of his house, which
he had perfect right to do, you will find de-
fendant guilty according to the Indictment. This
is the charge of the judge, and yet his honor signs
paper some weeks after the verdict was rendered,
stating that he did not think the evidence adduc-
ed at the trial. sufficient to warrant the jury in
bringing in such verdict as they did. Now the
question is, fellow citizens, who were the judges
Of the evidence-given in plain, unmistakable Ian
guage-the judge or the jury? We believe the
Jury were, and unhesitatingly say that the pardon
of Louis Monroe is direct libel on the in
telligence of the jury,-an insult and mock
cry of justice-an assumption of power not be-
up his opinion, as regard the weight of
testimony in contradistinction to the unbiased .
unanimous judgment of twelve citizens. That
great palladium Of our lives and property trial by
jury, is here assaulted and we sho'd be wanting in
selfrespect, as well deserve the censure of
ry peace and order-loving citizen, to allow
the present to pass over without attempting to
render some explanation to those of our fellow.
citizens, who have not had the opportunity to be.
come acquainted with all the circumstances. II
our verdict was not in accordance with the testi-
mony, why turn the man loose upon society,"
why not grant him new trial. We confidently
leave the matter in your hands. All we ask
is to be placed right en- the record-and leave the
balance to the good sober intelligence of this
community. We are content in the honest con-
viction that VIC honestly and fearlcssy discharged
our duties.
Jas. Starkey, Foreman, Thomas Calder,
Denis Cherriev, w. G. Carter,
N. Lebreck, A. Clouticr,
F. A. Buckingham, John Orth,
Jno. O. German, s. Dcsnoyer.*
st. Paul, june 7, 1854.
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