The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-08-31
THE KNICKERBOCKER-A TIMELY
RIT OF SATIRE.

Its Editors table IS taStetuily aru Oouhtluiil
spread, and contains many rich dishes. W.
snatch the following little "knieknaek" which
hits off admirably one of the prevailing weak
nesses Of the times.
A man in the town of - committed
murder-a black, diabolical murder. There
was not a single feature in the ease that
mercy could render available. 1t VAS 'red
murder" in the truest acceptation Of the term
A lawyer Of considerable eminence was called
on by the prisoner, but after hearing his own
statement he would give him no other advice
than the following:
slIy friend, if You are not hanged, il will
be because you have broken Jail, cut your
throat, or-or slammed mad.
The murderer took the hint. lie was not
able to accomplish the first; he was unwilling
to do the second, so he attempted the third.
He came into the cOnrt on the day of his
trial with one glove and one boot on listened
with apparent delight to his arraignmen;, and
when asked ut the conclusion, If he was guilty
or not guilty, answered, with a horse-laugh,
such ms | never heard before or since:
ayes, thank you, sir, and no mistaken
In this philanthropic age, this was quite
sufficient to arrest the torrent of Indignation
which had been rightiully setting against the
offender, and to substitute in place thereof a
feeling of intense sympathy.
ale is mad" says one.
"Poor fellow" muttered another.
"What mercy we have discovered it be
fore he was triedm calculated a third.
"Why don't they take him out of the box"
demanded fourth.
By this time, the prisoner, in great elce,
had put his glove upon his foot, and thurst
his hand into his boot.
or course this was too much for the feel
ings OF the crowd. 1t was the last hair that
broke the camel's back.
"Shame! shamel" was muttered by dozen
philanthropic souls.
"Take him out Of the box" uttered the
mob in general.
"CertanIy," said the Judge, stake him out
by all means. Mr.. District Attorney, you can
have no objection"
"Not the slightest, NAV il please your honor,
provided you let two or three Of the bailfis
stand behind him and me-"
The bystanders made n rush to execute
the mandate of the court, but the prisoner
checked their zeal, though not their sympathy,
by knocking down n halt-dozen of them with
his boot
The Court briefly addressed the jury;
at was unnecessary to enter into the evil
dence. The unhappy prisoner had certainly
destroyed the life of mana husband and
father, leaving his widow and helpless chill
dreL to misery and want. At the same time,
it seemed evident that this was the result
rnthpr OT mi N IN thon Of arina No Ia NJ
the evidence of our own sense that the
prisoner is mad-mad, gentlemen of the jury,
as March hare.
"Would any man, gentlemen, conduct
himself so strangely in the court.room-wear
his boots and his gloves in so eccentric
manner-if he were not mad!
'Gentlemen: have studied the anatomy
of the human mind with much industry and
think may say with considerable success;
and flattcr myself aln particularly CONVEX.
SAINT with the subject OF insanity.
"The brain is delicate organ. Its mem.
branes are of still more delicate organization
These are the dura mater and the pia mater
These entertaining with, and intersectng MS
1t were the porous substance of the brain,
contribute largely to the exercise of its tran
scendent powers"
ou' hHONS uOH L ne
said one of the sympathzers.
"Khow" said the interlocutor; "know! |
should think he did All have got to say
is, that never know'd man us knows as
much as what he knows"
But" continued the Judge, "these men,
branes become impaired, and even Reason,
gentlemen, Reason reels and totters on her
throne!
"The most prevalent species Of intellectual
wandering, however, is denominated 'Homi-
cida Insanity the prominent symptom of
which is desire to take away human life
Such. doubt not is the case with the
prisoner"
SHAY it please your Honor" interposed the
District Attorney, "don't you think that the
jury might pronounce this case of malicious
prOsecutonP
"Perhnps not, Mr.. District Attorney" re-
sponded the Judge.
al honor your humanity, sir; am rejoiced
to see that you can rise superior to the feel
ing which, am compelled to say, too often
prompt public prosecutors. But, sir, think,
MS man has really been killed, it might be
considered II bad precedent to declare this
prosecution malicious one.