Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-01-04


alt, this unfortunate man was brought
before Judge Finn, of the Hamilton
Criminal Court, who, after hearing the
argument. oyerruled the motion for a
new trial.
The prisoner was then called up and
asked if he had anything to say why
the sentence of the Court should not
be passed upon him.
He stood in front of the bench, at
tempted to adjust his coat, and exhibited
a slight degree of nervous excitement.
The fond and firm friend of the prisoner,
his brother, stood beside him.
In reply to the question of the Court,
above alluded to. the prisoner said:
There are some things, feel, that
need to be said; whether they will avail
anything is another question. 1t may
be that they would not have any bear
ing on the case, and / do not feel like
imposing on your good nature. 1 had
fondly hoped to get a new trial-not fol-
the sake of time, or to lengthen out my
miserable existence IN Hamilton county
Jail A few days or months in such a
place would not be of much service, in
my estimation; but, as l had presumed,
it was not the purpose of this communi-
ty to put to death person who feels in
nocent of the charge brought against
him, l had fondly hoped to have little
time-and, / believe, it is a general con-
clusion that time only goes to confirm
the guilt of the guilty. I am confident
that things can be brought to light that
will go to show my innocence-in the
first place, in relation to screwing down
those lids. l did not think it necessary
to give an account of myself on particu.
lar occasions, or 1 think l could
know l could have brought witnesse:
into this Court to show what 1 was do
ing at these times. have no affidavit:
TO this effect, but l can produce them
There is another circumstance. 1t ha;
been stated that persons came into
prison to identify me. Be it understood
1 never wished to keep out of sight o
any individual from fear of being
identified. l always said if they viii
come and select me out of crowd
will freely submit to that ordeal-but
did demur to the idea of any person
coming up and inquiring, "Where is
Arrison?" and my being brought W
in person, with an .intimation ''that tha
was the individual" The reply j:
then, "Well, l have been acquainted
with him these many years." There
are many people of this kind in the com,
munity. 1 do not wish to throw out
insinuations, but will say this, that Mr.
Nc Cullough testified he saw me stand
ing by stove when he first come to the
Jail. If 1 thought it of any advantage
to me, l could prove l was not standing
there at that time, and it must be some
other person he saw. think Ny
Pruden knows the same.
There are other things l know ot
that ought to be brought before the
Court, that would operate as testimony
in my favor. fiatter myself / car
substantiate the fact that l never de-
livered the box to these boys. Wheth-
er that will be important is more than ]
can tell. l am not Judge enough oI
law. But suppose there the prisoner
hesitated for some moments, and kept
knocking his fingers on the table as il
to collect his thoughts, if it were made
out, one link of this beautiful chain OF
testimony would be broken-perhaps
not-perhaps if it were that would
have no weight. Other things, also,
feel confident could bring up. This
is all l have got to say.