The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-07
THIRD EDITIO N /
TRIAL OF JOHN II. SURRATT.
Judge Fishers Charge to the Jury.

Judge Ftgher'G OharRo 20 She Jury
Continued rom ne Second Edition.
WAsHIReToN, August AFTER some other correc-
tions, Judge Fisher delivered the following charge 10
Gentiemen OF the Jury:-"whoso sheddeth mans
blood by man shall his blood be she'd" so spake the
had receded and the ark had safely rested upon the
holy summit Of Mount Ararat Ihis is 9od,s, own own
$ snd ne ws ae and SboSe
what Is written, and who deem II their duty TO I'M
UP their voices in condemnation OF this fiat of Jeho-
converts TO their perncioHs doctrines they not uu-
frequently succeed IN creating in the minds OF honest
Ism, which leads them too often to shut
10 the gentle, kindly whisperngs OF mercy forgetting
that mercy to The guilty Injustice the innocent
whatever to do. 1t is no matter Of yours TO Inquire
Executive cemency you believe him Fty Of par
ticpating in the crime with which he stands charged
nocence When the dark clouds Of war Which for four
years nad lowered in our national horizon had begun
hgain with its 6enignant rays; when .the main army
Of Rebels which followed the traitor Lee on his retreat
from Richmond had been overpowered, and mad
soIrenaered sur rS req TO me military hero Of the
from impending capture; when our city was radiant
stronghold of most wicked and stroc Gus Re5eiion'
when the hearts Of all loyal men we're eapng and
eyes all lovers OF peace throughout the land we're
eagerly lookingto him whose great heart had never
cherished the feelings of malice tor even enemy
but abounded in love and charity for ALL in the hope
hands which had been lifted up against each other
would again be clasped I'm friendship and brothery
harmonious reatons-on the 14th Of April, 1886 the
Executive head of this great nation the Comm
in-Chiet of your army and navy, by most foul and
wicked conspiracy, the like Of which has never
hands of the assassin John wilkes Booth in the Ne,
troPolis of the Republic, and under the very shadow
Of the helnOusness of the crime Of imagining the
death OF weak or wicked king, of wise aud
murder the duly ele3ted President Of the
most powerful people the face of the earth
than to compass the death Of king or an emperor,
the people, who have made him their entatiye
@ and may r have no 70 rPya d blood through
passingly henous TO take to compass the life of
cause he may be the king of an ensaved people but
that TO take the life of the President of free republic
Is an Ohense OF no greater magnitude than TO murder
the veriest vagabond that walks your streets,
but aq American Jury Will only believe this doctrine
corrupt devoid of the love of liberty and patriotic
feeling as to prefer to have king and ruler oisted
venture rather than have the making their
ton ofhm who is to execute their laws. and for the
their collective sovereignty II is mistake 70 suppose
that free people in any country viii ever consider
desire his death than it oasssssinae President It
President Of a republic with safesuaTds as sacred
and powerful as those which In monarchies are
argument, modern idea entertained only by those
whose have been da2Zlad by visions OF stars and
garters and VINO are desruus OF changing our free In
sttutions for a monarchcal form of government. On
The contrary, they only be applied to guarding
people. who themselves unprepared to submit to
% o 6y % e seHs M % e Pee4 pc
by themselves @ from among % themselves teao they they
them Of his % own rghtP when this question can b.
sensibly answered, II shall be willing to admit tina
than that of king and that to destroy the life of
President is crime of less atroclty than to merely
| IIbelieve will you.