The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-02-01
NO. 80.

=. "Otmng TO do IN this case. | say Tin
now TO avoid any spread eagle arEr
ments. Previous characters may affsC
light, and eOmmOu crimes. but they d
!. not affect the crime of murder l.
common and every day affair fC
) men to commit murder? What hav
We lacking TO prove this killing: Tn
murder is established beyond peraC
venture.
The msin facts in the case an. yer
short. Mrs. Friess, Asa Kirkland AN
John SpeTow, are the three importan
witnesses and most all the facts ar
} fnnnd IL their statements. Here Mi
Dunn reviewed the testimony of th, :
witnesses according TO the views hei
by the States side II We had sroi
ped when this evidence only was given
sc could have demanded verdict q
murder i'll the second degree: I
prove the delineration and malicion
purpose OF TIE defendant, we have IL
! reduced numerous witnesses. VIII
nave testified - to Ihe threats mad
previously.
The degree of murder | shall not in
sist upon. will leave that &c tn
Jury. But let it he murder. If DR.
NOtt WAS Il had man that il no reasJi
/ DR.. hu"pp did nOs commit murder
he murdered man was the creates
! 5enetaccUr of mankind. or the vi:lPs
| william, u makes 10 difference; if thl
I prisoner killed him deliberately he j
guilty of murder. Only that ju>iic
may tie done to che mat at the bar i
all l eau ask. If the attorneys cal
cl-ar him by their eloquent argument
or any technicality. it is their dury Z,
10 so. Perhaps it may b. their dut,
10 clear hin by vi'up-rarion of ,h.
;ead, bat they are trying 10 abus
your minds By testimony that il rci
reir-vant 20 Jilis case. We only ask yon
| 70 DO your dnIy as | know Il will b.
Ocne. If it becomes necessary TO tai :.
life we may do If, but in this cas- did
It oecoIue necessary 80 t.ke lifs3 No.
certainly not.
The defense in this ease relies uyo.
elf defense alone. Ia this town every
body knows every b0dy's business.
every body kew that old man Sander
kept 2 double barreIec : o; = -; Nor
Vas carrying a pistol the ball OF which
wouldn't euter pine board. TIE
position of wound and the direction.
lS took proved that the gun Was ele-
waited. DIR. Barahiii himself made an
iDcision ia the post moStem examiua-
ton and discovered positively. bat tine
wOund was baczward and downward
Shall we disregard the testimony OF
the three witness who saw it all, and
take the word Of a man swearing for
his life, and a man a long ways of
who had 10 lock over three Fences, one
OF which was five feet high. Que
of the three witnesses sw. ars he
heard the thud and click of the gun.
Justice is said to be blind, 1t is sword
that comes down and all must stand
FROM under it. The bravest are tie
kindest; the most knightly soldiers arr
the most magnaniInous. The revolver
couldn't be buried in that lirrle vest
po :ket; no matter whether eating or
no his hands were in position that
is not disputed; and did the d-fendant
have a reason to commit this crirup
A. for making lunge Mt the deceased,
hat is proved TO be false by all the
Witnesses The character of NJ \ ,tr
or Dr.. Mott have nothing ia the world
20 do io this Gaze. Why should tin.
defendant rhroE slaDder against hsi
lrsrrad of throwing viruperatIOp
against her, after ding her such t-r
ribl- wrong by killing her husband. h.
-:i"uId do all h- cnnIf u retrieve tn-
great wrrng h. la do, her.
II rh.- {. vim ny >honld be strong
-n"ugh for murder kuow you viii
De- srr"EE "uuugh TO give Il verdict to
s,Iat effect
NJ D. SHAFFR.
Getlenmcn of The Jury. said he. Won are
called II ."n by he laws of our country To
di-charIe thai high yet very solemn duty
a. jurors in this case. and To hold the bal
ance of Justice between the State of Ohio
and the defendant, Franklin ~. Knapp,
and Ey honest weight To determine the in-
nOcence or guilt uf our client. on a charge
which, in the sight of man. is the most re-
VO!ting and in the sight of God is the most
deplorable. The defendant, to you gen
Jlemen, is an entire stranger. and you TO
him occupy the same Dusition The de-
fendant was thrown into Jail and refused
bail. If we could have gone into trial at
the time we would have been Just as viii
ling as we are now The defendant stands
before you as prisoner waiving all rights
as a countryman and willing TO simply
abide the results of this trial. The sooner
he went before the country, the sooner he
would get his vindicatinn. was the thought
that filled his breast, being assured that
you would deal justly by him. AstO get
ting the gun, the defendant knew nothing
of the gun, and plainly said so. Why is
it tins seven shooter has been brOugh; in
and not the one Shafer swOrc he sold To
him, and which Was a six shooter, Why
does brother Dunn attempt to bring this
revolver in and palm it off as the original
o re? Mrs. FricZc was the only one who
SwOre that defendant tool: aim The 9TH
ers did not swear so Mrs Sarah No. has
had nothing 10 do with this case. but the
State of Ohio Is the prosecutor. Then
why is she brought in aud placed near the
counsel of the State: Dres she seek the
blood of this man? She is no more enti-
lied to this seat than any other woman in
the house She is nothing more than the
paramOur of this man. / consider il an
insult to the laws Of decency and TO the
State for her 10 be here.
Here Mr. Shafcr related the details of
the murder, the manner of defendant on
the day in question; reviewing in a very
searching and sarcastic manner the testl-
mOny of the States witnesses, which he
claimed TO be insufficient to convict the
prisoner. He dealt very severely with
some of the witnesses and claimed to have
driven the nail in the coffin of the States
case. several times. Mr.. Shafer OCCASION
ally became very enthusiastic and pro-
vOked grim smile on Mr. Browns cOun-
ienance at a number of times. Mr. Shafer
then gave a eulOgistic account of the de.
fendant's war record, and enquired can
such a gallent man commit mIrder-nO,
Mr.. f. L. ID. Mumma then received the
speakers compliments for his great inter-
est in the case
Think said Mr.. Shafer, Of the frail old
man with one leg or no legs. and with hat
drawn down and pistols in his boots; and
talk about your peanut story; the witness
stuck TO that like tick would 10 sheep
Where i your peanut, Brown where j.
your pen knife This is the kind Of stuff
being di he'd up by the State. Is there a
man IN the jury box that would have done
les than the defendant: Defendant
should have called on Mott, the States
attorneys say. Yes he would have received
4 warm reception, wouldn't hes The very
first Sunday DR. Knapp was in Bent n
his life was threatened by the deceased
4 sick sister and infirm father are pour
ing In telegrams asking if the jury has
brought in Il verdict, and praying God tina,
justice may prevail. / feel brave in say
ing That II is either this mans neck or
nothing that is in question for you to de-
eide. Aswe 20 TO our homes this evening
we expect verdict OF inrocent, | believe
anything else would be- injustice, would
be an invasion Of the law IL is for YOU 10
say whether he Is guilty or not guilty. I
leave the defendant with you. / beseech
you, as pure minded men. 10 do justice 10
Inc defendant and declare him not guilty. !
SIXTH nlyjS pPOrPFOEyE~