The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-12-25

AND now the cheerful banner down
about BRENNAN is in ecstacies, and
affably announces the following crush
ing tom: ''Austin is said to be
gloomy over the proposed extension of
the International railroad to San An
tonic, which will make Austin fimply
q way station" The STATESMAN re-
porter, on reading the above, hastily
seized his hat, borrowed an opera
glass and rushed out to see over what
particular quarter of the city the gloom
brooded. He couldn't find a solitary
gloom. On the contrary, everything
was as cheerful as a May morning. Our
Wholesale merchants, ignorant of the
Banners fearful gloom that it fondly
imaglnes broods over the city like the
ghost of an extiDguished world, and is
to reduce it to ''simply a way station"
were making active preparations to do
q largely increased business during the
coming year. Indeed, one firm, an
ticipating a large increase In their
business, is just about completing q
wareroom that for size and architecture
al beauty will compare faVorably with
any in the state. When Austin be-
comes .simply way station" the de-
lectable village OF Brenham and the
cheerful Banner will be comfortably
tucked away IN oblivion, and the way
faring man will look for them in vain.
In the district court this morning the
melton for new trial in the case of the
State v. ID. w. Heard, for utteriug a
forged deed, was overruled by Judge
Turner, and when asked what he had
to say why sentence should not be pro-
neanced against him, he spoke as fol-
lows: ''May it please your honor-In
reply to the question asked me l have
this response to make: While I can
Say nothing which, under the law,
would be sufficient to induce your
honor to withhold the sentence which
you are to pronounce, still, in justice to
myself, / Will here state that am in
.Apegnt> or the charge of which l have
been convicted; that the testimony
produced by the State was not suffi-
cient to prove my guilt, and l believe /
have been unlawfully convicted and
feel that should have q new trial. In
making this statement, which believe
to be true, mean no reflection upon
the motions Of the court, the jury, the
witnesses or the counsel for the State
for this action In this cause, but know
ing my innocence ofthe offence charged
and fully believing that the evidence
did not warrsnt my conviction and
establish my guilt, and feel that my
unjust convection was the result of the
very great and widespread prejudice
that exists in Travis county, particular
ly against this class of offences of
which | am charged, and believe the
prejudice Is so great that neither the
court nor the jury have been able to
free Themselves from its subtle and
malign Influence. l have always en-
deavored to live the life of an honest
man In the right OF God and my fell
low-men, and have never before been
arraigned before a court of Justice for
9 violation OF the laws of the land. I
have given notice of appeal to that
tribunal which has jurisdiction and
power to inquire into the lawfulness
and justice OF the acts of the jury and
also of your honor in this case, and,
feeling that the Judgment here render
cd will be held to be erroneous and set
aside, and upon another trial, under
better auspices. shall have full Justice
done me and haYe my innocence Of this
charge fully vindlcated - verdict of
acquittal. ~