The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-21
Tho walworth Tragedy.
NO. 2.

Mr.. Charles o'conor's Plea for Aequit'ai
DR.. Gray was the closing witness fol
the defence, advancing the theory thai
epilepsy is a fruitful source Of homicida
frenzy, and supporting Mr.. o'Conor'f
hypothesis that the prisoner was, I'M
der the circumstances, irresponsible by
an affirmative answer to the hypothetl-
cal question. Several witnesses were
then called by tho District-Attorney in
rebuttal, including the murdered mans
publisher and several physicians, who
drew widely different differences from
young Walworth's conduct from those
Of DR.. Gray. Mr.. 0'Conor then sum
med up for the defence, speaking very
rapidly for several hours, and making
an earnest plea for the parricide's life.
The unpleasant weather prevented the
usual large attendance Of spectators
when tho Court opened; but toward
the middle of the day tho number in
creased until every seat was occupied.
The interest that has centered in the
fate OF the youthful prisoner since the
first day OF the trial has not abated in
the least. ...
Mr.. O'Conor in summing up for the
defence contended that the killing was
neither gross, vulgar murder nor q
parricide that II any offence was COM
mittcd ii was not marked with circum'
stances OF premeditation and malice.
It was not the first time that o child
had slain his parent, but he trusted
they would not find he had wickedly
killed his father. He invited their at
tention to the Thursday previous to the
shooting, when told that his uncle
wished him to go abroad. Considering
himself the sole protector Of his neither
he said he would think about it. The
belief was no doubt present in his minG
that he would in some why arrange the
matter. Was there anything in his
acts tending to show that he meant tt
get his father in his small room, shoot
him and go on trip to Europe3 He
went to New York, called ut his fathers
and, not finding him in, left q note FOL
him.
A sort OF fatality attended tho faith
er's course. Had he reached homt
reasonably early he would have got the
letter and seen his son in the evening
But he gets up before sunrise and goei
to the hotel. His son did not expecI
him for hc was sound asleep. Mr.. o.
Conor reviewed the testimony OF the
killing, and then came to tho prisoner
declaration to Coroner Young. The
zeal Of policemen and others was apt
to lead them, not Intentionally, but
none tho less injuriously, to warp the
truth. The prisoner only meant thai
he came ito settle the family Difficult
ty, (" and the Coroner understood that
TINT was oil that was meant. The faith
er's violence was discussed. Franh
never knew him as a parent, had neyel
received the recognition or care which
builds up in children those feeling
whose violation by such deed makes
us shudder. Gould he possibly honol
such q father? Mansfield Tracy Wal
worth was the exact opposite Of all the
other members OF the Chancellor's fam
| ily. From him Frank inherited pre-
disposition to insanity; and his father
conduct, along with certain physical in
juries he had received, drove him intc
epilepsy. Mr.. 0'Conor quoted yarioul
authorities to show that no man coult
be guilty Of crime without willing ant
intending to do it. II there was doub
in the case, in view of the good charac
ter Of the prisoner, the doubt belonged
to him. The District Attorney was bount
to prove that death occurred py the &c
OF the prisoner, knowingly and inten
tionally done. Under the Roman Law
Mansfield Tracy Walwortl was q parri
eide at heart when he longed for tht
death OF his wife and children.
There was no need OF any reasoning
to children to prevent their slayin(
their fathers. There was not singlt
case on record where child had wick
edly killed its father. He could onl.
recall the stories Of Edipus, orestes
and Beatrice Cenci, besides case II
Scotland some hundreds OF years ago
where son was convicted on the eyi
dence OF his fathers blood flowing whel
he drew near, and where poor womal
was convicted on merely circumstantia
evidence, and died protesting her limo
cence. He appealed to them, in vieN
Of the purity Of this boys life, his low
for his mother, his high and noble chai
acter, not to stain the annals Of til
State by declaration that this boy ha.
wickedfy and designedly committed tlli
fearful crime Of parricide.