The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-07
RUTLAND SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL Z 1877

admit with much shame that II was not in
some respects rs 1t should have been. But
after having paid the full penalty which
the law inHcts upon such dishonesty, 1
thought 1t very uncharitable in my accusers
to bring up the settled past for capital on
which to brand me as a bad character. A
misstep In the past is beyond mortal power
to wholly recover and IL often looms up
as monster before its victim at times in
his life when he would give his all if it had
never been taken. 1t was in this unhappy
condition, the truth of my having taken
such damaging past mistep, found me
when accused of taking human life. 1t
was also in this dreadful fact all my fears
of partial judgment were centered, and |
feel that 80 fully realized. Never in all
my life did so fully understand the mean
ing and necessity OF pure and spotless
character, as did when on trial for my
life. | then saw its true value and my
reckless mistake in not having cultivated
that which is certainly the most priceless
jewel that can be possessed by any young
man whose personal character may be as
sailed. My conduct in associatng with
Mrs. Freeze previous to her death did not
add anything favorable to my character, in
a moral sense, and saw it only when it
was too late to prevent the unsuspecting
public exposure of our acquaintance which
followed her mysterious death. Had |
even dreamed that so serious and sudden
change was to take place in the woman's
life, am sure nothing on earth could ever
have induced me to enter her house. But,
as 1t was, suspected nothing unusual, and
went out in public with her freely to my
| shame aud great sorrow. Sorrow, did
say, All that were but faint expression
OF the real torture which feel for having
run the risk did In associating with the
woman whom l ought to have felt far
| above. But, Notwithstanding all this,
have never. been without the full conscious
ness of knowing that the unfortunate
| woman was never the recipient of ANYTHING
but kindness from my hands during our
| acquaintance. And 1t is this comforting
conscience which has been my strength
and support from the first, and cannot fail
to sustain and comfort me to the last. Had
| been in anyway guilty of the woman's
death, my duty. TO my God and fellow men
would have been perfectly plain, and my
| plea entered in accordance with the truth.
| There would have been no mystery en-
shrouding the crime, for l should then
have known the end from the beginning,
and that my only hope of Gods forgive
ness and pity by the people lay in full
confession, which no earthly temptation
could have induced me to withhold. When
in my innocence and standing up for my
rights as citizen and man, which no aci
of mine had forfeited, | was said by The
uncharitable 10 have been of a stern anC
stubborn disposition, and would probably
walk to the gallows carrying with me the
secrets of the dead. Now the author OF
this little sensational speech is well known
to me, and l am sure that his personal
knowledge of me and my disposition never
with truth justified him in making such
remark. He had something to say, and, il
probably being easier for him to speak evi
than good, he did 30, and sent his little
speech away TO Boston to be printed in thu
journal. l wish TO ask this, and all suci
persons, what other course there is left fo
the falsely accused to pursue than that O
manfully standing up for the rights which
he knows are being wropgfully wrencheC
from him
AS TO THE EXECUTION.
As to the matter of my execution, it i
impossible for me TO say that it will NO
take place at the appointed time. Were
guilty l would pray that it might, for i
would be greatly preferable to life of i'm
prisonment. But innocent as am l viii
never encourage such disposition of m.
life, but rather will leave the responsible
ity in either event with those who hav
taken it upon themselves. If my life i
prolonged hope the Almighty will speed
lily establish my innocence and thereby en-
able me to achieve, through my great mis-
fortune, one of the grandest triumphs owe
human injustice that could possibly com,
to wronged being in this world. In tn,
event of my execution there will be moth
ing said by me that is not herein stated
and any report to the contrary will be ut
terly false. Many will probably ask why
had neglected petitioning the recent legts
lative assembly for reprieve. My answe
is simply because | am too poor to emplo.
, proper person to present my condition
before the honorable body | am now il
my twenty ninth year of age, have a mos
excellent, but aged and widowed mothe
and three affectionate sisters, who are love
and respected by all who know them
Their feelings concerning my unfortunat
, condition can perhaps be better imagine
: than / can describe them. What | hav
, said about my enemies l have said with a
/ the charity a wronged man can besto,
= upon those whom he has every reason
: think have sought his life through malig
, nifty, and for the gain of few paltry dol
lars. trust that have been gentlemanl,
/ and kind to everybody during my afiliction
and that my misfortune has thus far bee
borne with Christian foItitude and resigna
ton to the divine will of Him in whom
trust. And to Almighty God the maker c
heaven and earth, to Him who knowet
the secret of all hearts, do | now mos
, solemnly appeal, in this the hour of m
: extremity to hear me, and bear witness
the truth, that l am innocent of the Grim
: for which | stand convicted. And as | al
3 innocent or guilty so may He deal with m
t soul in the day of judgment and in eternit,
, JONI p. PHAIR.