New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-24
rooNr1SuED FROM FIRST pAax.l


noments be would stand before his God
where his heart was judged, he refused to
gay one word against Mr.. Cammack.
Gentlemen, where will you take refuge!
Is it in doubt? Doubt would be all that
we could wish. Doubt goes to the benefit
of the accused. But we have nothing to
do with doubt, We have witness, Mr..
Cammack, who testifes that he was In the
right before God and man.
You, gentlemen, are still by the Consti-
tuition of the United States and Louisiana
the judges ofyour fellow-man. Judge IN
mercy; suppose you discarded the great
principles of law, and violated all rules and
convicted my client, something should
turn out later, in addition to what we have
shown, what agonies would you suffer for
what YOU have done? On the contrary,
YOU would rejoice if such circumstance
should turn up, that you had not been too
harsh on fellow-man.
Is it possible that you can believe that
man, respected by all during forty years
for his kindness of heart, should turn out
all at once, in one hour, black-hearted
monster or villain? No, gentleman; that
is impossible; witness after witness have
sworn to his character.
Can you be SC cruel and put the rope
around his neck? Can you hang him up
as a blot to human kindred?
Iswear to God rather would be dead
myself than see you do it.
I believe him innocent. Through my
feeble voice the children and grand-chlld
rem cry from their hearts to you to do
justice-to do Justice. To do justice in
mercy, and to honor the son of Louisiana,
who has always been true to every trust.
/ ask you to do no wrong. l ask you to
weigh the evidence, and give us an Impair
tial verdict. I want verdict not to be
wrung from you in an hour or two. l
want you to deliberate on the laws OF self
defense.
Gentlemen, consciously expect YER
dict of '.Not guilty" at your hands
The Attorney General closed the argu-
ment on behalf of the prosecution.
Gentlemen Of the jury--Setting as you
now do, the mastery defense of the able
counsel before you, you are hardly pre-
pared to sift the evidence which has been
laid before you. Hardly ably, after listen
ing to the ilIustrous gentleman who has
Just finished most able argument for his
client, to do that justice which you have
sworn to do, regardless to appeals of
families, regardless to the character of the
accused. have listened with great IN
terest to the argument of the illustrious
counsel; but, gentlemen, like the wind OF
the desert, SO appears the fiimsy defense
set up by them.
However powerful their efforts have
been, still they shake not the fearful eVi-
dence against the accused.
Permi. me to reply to some questions
propounded by the learned counsel.
/ am as far from motives of revenge,
which have been attributed to me, as any
man. I have allowed the defense to in
troduce all the evidence which they had
to offer. 1t becomes my duty in the
prosecution of Mr.. Cammack to tell you
that you are here to administer the laws
which I have read according to the evil
dence before you. If legislation has made
this crime punishable with death, that has
nothing to do with your duty. could
rest the case on the declaration of the &C
cused himself, and ask verdict of guilty
from you. You have no right to 60 out
side of the law and give verdict of not
guilty. The doctrine commended for by
the learned counsel would relieve all men
of Mr.. Cammacks position from punish
ment. If, according to this doctrine, any
man of Mr.. Cammack's reputation could
commit murder, there would be no more
law at all. Are you prepared, upon your
,oaths, to indorse this doctrine in the face
OF the law; to set precedence that per-
sons of good character are exempt from
punishment by law?
The second counsel, Mr.. Semmes, so
~. he Iofo fn I
that Mr. Cammack killed Mr.. Nixon in
selfdefense, as ruled in the Selverridge
case, and that he was entitled to similar
verdict. There has been said good deal
Of the commencement of the trouble be-
tween Mr. Cammack and MIR. Nixon.
Counsel have treated very lightly the con.
duct of Mr.. Cammack, but very strongly
rivetted in your mind the conduct OF Mr..
Nixon.
Now, gentlemen, where is there any
thing extraordinary in the conduct OF Mr..
Nixon. Should he sit quietly and see the
indignities and the malice of Mr.. Cam
mack heaped upon him, and not rather
leave.the room. The word is but the re-
lection OF the thoughts; the word is the
reflex of the character Of the mind. You
must recollect that Mr.. Cammack was in
company and conversation with gentle
men, occupying a high position in the
community, conversing about agricultural
affairs, when suddenly he changes the
subject and utters insulting remarks re-
fecting on Mr.. Nixon.
There was q difficulty in law suit be-
tween the two parties. l had expected
the defense would show why MIR. Cam
mack had made these insulting remarks
as far as the lawsuit is concerned. There
was no explanation given.
Mr.. Atoche: You have several times re-
ferred to a law suit between Mr.. Nixon and
Mr.. Cammack. There is not one pending
nor has there been.
Mr.. Belden: 1t has been said so in evil
dence.
Mr.. Belden (continuing): AT the open
ing of the argument your attention was
called to the manner of Mr.. Cammack, as
Mr.. Nixon told him that the club-room
was not the place to settle difficulty. He
at once arose, and in an excited manner led
MIR. Nixon from the room.
1t is well for you, gentlemen of the jury,
to keep in mind the evidence as
to the leaving of the room. There
was nothing said about mortal
combat. You are not authorized to
think that these parties went away
to fight out their difficulties. They leave.
Mr.. W. Hunt sought for Mr.. Addison
Cammack, not for MIR. Adams, as counsel
for the defense stated. but did not find
him. Then be met Mr. Adams. But Mr.
Hunt entertained the belief that diff
Guilty was to take place. Vix thought the
same. Reaching the front gallery. he
found that they had already reached the
sidewalk under the gallery; Mr.. Nixon
nliat and cool. Mr. CammacE saving.