New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-05
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
FOSTERS PLEA.

9HK PUTNAM MURDERER REARGUES HIS OWN
CASE.
To the Public: Sufficient time has elapsed
rsnce my conviction for the murder of Mt Putnam to
allow TO make that appeal TO the cool Judgment OF
ihe public which my counsel could not make in court
room oppressed by the usual legal formaites have
NOT much to say but in my awful position what little
appeal make is invested with terrible importance 10
least After short and impartial trial, before
the case submitted to the jury, Judge CardoEo
charged almost directly in my favor-at least III "ou
hcation Of the verdict He directed the jury Ina;
MT OF passion did not imply the requisite degree VI ~
justfying verdict of murder in the hrst 1egTe ua
almost much told them that In my Gtss U.,,
that death was result | never contempated-and
that however furious the resentment OF sc oatt I'm
convict me OF malicous purpose TO kill MI Putnam
The jury evidently inclined 10 Iegu1 hi fde NV
ton OF Judge CardozO hut they were afru 10 auu ~!
II thoroughly Public opinion was 700 suonE, anu LII
cause believe 1t did not stopto consider my esse
N compelled that Jury bring IN guilty OF dOWSnt
murder in the first degree But even then they WeS a.
tar they dare in recommending me 10 ' nat there
recommended me 20 mercy because they let tat 'iol
was something with the rest OF taer 'erS' anu
they wanted to make the best SaanST s Now make
this appeal from my condemned cell because Tue Pu S
are beginning TO believe with Judge CdIuolo, II
Jardozo said the truth He said never meant 10 MI
Mr. Putnam He knew from the very cNluehCc nc
there was nothing further from my intenuon-dhu %
the intention which makes the crime. ,.o. ,rt,inc
What the facts of the caset mad been tinid
drink mad drunk. and | got into drunken dlheniS
with strange That was Mr. Putnam. hS S
something which aggravated my druhk YHon an the
without any thought, without any caeuihlS8r, on thing
impulse Of blind fury struck INN WIN nf intended TO
that came 10 hand. That blow was 1eN iI any inen-
RiI Nj Putnam. 10 struck with haru9 az If n de-
nSn ~ All; ~ was 'e e struck with no recognized
wcapon-ust the first thing that came 70 Ir never
hsT Killed him Bnt il did kin him. aud for the 9low
which struck without having any uoI t ,oatb IN re-
] M one viii pretend to say that deliberately
set about To effect MIR. Putnans deatn au 20 have
te,,,t ~ escone identified myself. CLAIMED 10 nave
tt Nm 6aving no idea no earthly notion that my
drunken blow would result IN bringing ABOUT MY 'o"'iO
PnIe recruitment and evaporation brought a6o1t the
verdict Their are cod hond and there has been
and cry after them. A man who had quuiel W'n an
b he came hack and stabbed him TO death deiber
ately and in cold blood, was sent 10 slhg ols 10 con
$500 of murder With weapons known to be deadly
that their intentions in using them coud NOT pe ~. ~
IN the Court OF over and Terminer' that
might have appeal There rs no h aIpe't IL tried
tbat Conrt Everybody else on the same chse i Iou
before General Sessions. There are three OF ioa u, @
convicted and sentenced VINO naSe h Ser tried
ceedings and who Will have ne" I' f of my tnTn
before General Sessions was tTled oul vi my oHi
others indicted Tor mSIueT tbere was no
me- who have not been tired yet DecauSe ss orod ~
tine and cry after them, while the puDlc was
have my blood soon rs possible: Ont OF tuese a
am selected to undergo capital punishment because mine
was a sensational case. -. g.. .,oo,,so
this is the truth God and sworn TO by me IN h
shadow of death, that make my appeal 70 tne Pu'
an dooned IN die because a wicked drunken
shifted i'm the death man, whom no Iaore INTENDED
10 harm seriously than would my G" h en bd Ine NV
liz mrrbaps because IL fOrGets me III the horror vi NY
cell convicted of an intention which never
1rstor into whose presence am shortly 10 pe huIicu'
hnnys better even than dO-lnsstS on my eAeeuon.
Is fe Recommendation TO mercy TO mean nothing DOES
a1vhodv refuse 10 see in the protest of the jury against
The pressure which forced them to bring me 10 the gar
iowsf The public, which was furious, compelled tne
inry 10 act as did and make my appeal therefore, 10
the public $50 ,, -. - .,o,- .,,o, T am
sentenced evasion OF law in my favor is npos
sobe cOOly and dspassOnately Iappea 10 the puDIlc
10 M inst and fear not And what have TO say III my
behalf say with the solemnity of my situation make
nv appeai as a condemned murderer, sentenced TO a
needy and ignOminOus death, helpless and powefleSs
hut confident that feeling which on an impulse
secured my conviction, WILL when cool and deliberate
do even me proper justice WILLIAM FOSTER