Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-27
THE LAST OF THE TITUS CASE.
Important Remarks OF Judge Hunter
60 the Defendant.
From the Memphis Avalanche.


Thursday, December Dist, court opened
pursuant TO adjournment. The Jury in the
case Of the State against Ebenezer Titus
was called and found 10 be present, when
his Honor addressed 10 them the usual
inquiry: Gentlemen Of the Jury, have
you agreed upon your verdict ?" VIM. r.
Hunt foreman, replied, ave have, your
Honor. We, the jury, find the defendant
not guilty.
Mr.. Bullock here moved the court that
the defendant be discharged, when his
Honor addressed him as follows: Before
entering the order requested by counsel
for the defendant for his discharge, deem
il my duty TO offer to him such sugges-
tons, by way Of admonition, as have been
presented to my mind by the extraordinary
chararter Of the case as exhibited by the
evidence. IL is shown in proof that the
defendant is young man, just arrived at
that age when he Is 10 meet the response
bilities Of life, and, when free from the
influence Of his intoxicating liquors, Of
amiable, kind and honorable disposition
That he has from birth or early infancy
been afflicted with defective mentality, OF,
at the very best an idiosynocracy which
has never entirely released It's hold, Of such
peculiar character thatindulgence in intoxi-
eating liquors invariably results in mani
testations Of the most marked insanity;
that few weeks prior 70 the homicide he
was afflicted with an attack Of brain fever.
and from which, according 90 the testimony
Of the physicians, he had not, on the even
ing Of the fatal afray, been fully restored;
that he had been for many DAYS indulging
IN reckless dissipation, and during which
he exhibited many freaks Of an evidently
disordered brain, which could not &C ac-
counted for by the ordinary objects of in
tOXication. The case is one of extreme
complication and difficulty; but reviewing
the whole case from the evidence, the YER
dict Of not guilty" as rendered by the
Jury, meets with my entire approyal
Although legally and Justly aoouitteI NJ
the charge Of murder, Il Is also clear that
the terrible homicide would in All pro-
liability never have transpired but for
the muddling Influences Of Intoxicating
liquors upon the mind Of the defendant
One important point in the testimony at
traoted my attention there was no evidence
carrying home 10 him the knowledge OF his
own defective mentality in relation 10 the
peculiar effects produced upon him by in
toxicating iQnors. IN this case, that defect
an hht AteAAAAoAf NAY nave ANAliel inucn IN
the deliberations Of The jury, and in OBJ
tanning his scquittal; but now that his dis.
ease, and the terrible effect Of intoxication
upon il, is made known to him, in going
forth into the world again, he must carry
with him the contingencies Of that knoWi-
edge, and be held 10 stricter account, as his
responsibilities must increase as a legal
Whatever other men NAV
do, he must be declared from indulgence !
in the poisoned cup Of dissipation, II he |
would save himself from utter ruin. He
should not only imagine, but realize II as a /
living truth, that the irEt cup, which upon
again receiving his Liberty, Is presented, Is
He'd with poison, which 20 him, is more
errible than the scorpions sting. This
moment is the turning point Of HE life. II
le has the power 70 resist the temptations
ghich again await him, be has before him
Life Of happiness Of usefulness and per