The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-01
ton to Judge, and still wait, willing to prove

ton to Judge, and still wait, willing to prove
my assertions in regard to Heyberger Just
as soon as this point is settled.
Now for the mistakes: 1t is great
mistake to say that | admitted having had
the horses but was hired to take them to
LaSalle; and also mistake to say that the
horses were found in my possession. The
facts are that the horses were found in
livery stable in LaSalle after I was arrest
ed in Rock Island, aud there was not
particle of proof by the prosecution to
show how that livery stable keeper came
in possession of those horses or who
brought them there.
1t is also mistake to say two witnesses
saw Murray lying in the grass near Will
sons house. There was not witness for
the prosecution from Rural township ex-
cept the Wilson's. The testimony of a
constable by the name of Hill, from Hills
dale, was that he saw two men lying on
the grass about two miles below Hillsdale,
upon Sunday Aug. 9th 1871, and that he
recognized the prisoner (meaning mel as
one of the men, and as the one that he
spoke to. Upon cross examination he
admitted that the man that he spoke to
was Dutchman; he also was forced to
admit that he saw no bodily deformity in
either of the men. When | put one or
two questions to him he saw was no
Dutchman; and when he saw my feet he
! got very uneasy.
Hill also stated, in his direct testimony,
that he saw two men passing by, or
through Hillsdale on horseback about s
o'clock in the evening, and he believed
they were the same men he saw during
the day in the grass. He brought forward
a boy, about Is years old, to corroborate
that part of his testimony, and the poor
little fellow done the best he could in his
direct testimony, but upon cross-examina-
ton he muddled everything by placing the
hour at about three quarters Of an hour
before shutdown.
1t is also great mistake to say Mr..
Parmenter advised Murray, after the first
trial, to plead guilty and throw himself
upon the tender mercles of the court.
Now let US look at that for one moment:
If 1t is true that he so advised me, after
men, women, and as | may almost say
children, had so positively sworn to my
whereabouts from Aug. the Goth, 1871
until Aug. the 2Sth, it is a most telling
stroke against his acumen and legal abili-
ties, and if had listened to such advice,
or taken it, [ should be stamped sacri-
legious villain, more fit to be twenty feet
under the earth's surface than five feet
eight and half on top of it. How could
| plead guilty to one of the charges,
after pleading not guilty to the other,
without deliberately proclaiming those
men, women and children liars and per-
Ijurers? How could any man of sense ask
me to do so? remember all about Chas
Robinson, Esq, also all the conversation
between Mr. Parmenter, Mr.. Robinson and
myself, and | never heard such advice
from either Of those gentlemen.
Again, the writer entirely misrepresents
article where he speaks of dodge. sym
pathy' and pardon" l wish to say
despise pity or sympathy. am not ex
peeting pardon, by any means My form
err letter was written for no other motive
or purpose than is therein stated. That
love my liberty is an undoubted fact
That | wish to be restored to liberty i:
, another undoubted fact That my plea
mot guilty, is fact that is we'll known t.
parties, both in Rock Island, and LaSalle
, But am pennyless and almost friendless
with no man to speak one word for me
and such being the case, my looes. ID.
,oishes and my rights are damned. Sucl
is the tax the friendless and unfortunat,
ever have and ever will paw to poverty.
, Gentlemen humbly craving pardon fo
t taking up SO much valuable space in you
paper, also the pardon Of Z. T. Parmente
for not at this time answering his letter ii
' full. and thanking you kindly for pas
favors, allow me to remain.
S Most Respectful, Yours to Command,
: j. c. MURRAY,
Z Register No. 669l.