The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-29
ROSENFIELD MURDER CASE |
Speeches by the Prisoners
Counsel
Major J. nj. Beardsley for the
People
The Court Room Crowded
The Court Room Crowded !

most capacity last evening, it being known
that the speeches of the counsel for defense
would be delivered. Mr.. O'Mars. who
began speaking at 4:45 yesterday afternoon,
concluded at o'clock and then court ad-
lourued until 7:30 last evening. When
court opened, Mr.. French. counsel for
Patrick Heeney, addressed the jury. He
spoke for 80 minutes, dwelling on the law
10 the case, and cautioning the jury not to
consider the evidence of the two girls, Mrs.
Heeney and Maggie Heeney as of any
weight, because each of the Witnesses had
perjured themselves before the coroners
jury. He would that he had the gift of
eloquence to speak for these prisoners, who
he firmly believed were innocent and stood
to-day the victims of the malicious hatred
of a self-convicted acknowledgement
Heeney, who had acknowledged himself
the murderer of the officer Rosenfeld.
The next to speak for the defense was
NJ. V. Cannon, Esq, and, as he was known
to be brilliant talker and fine rhetorl-
clan, everybodyswas on the qui viVe to catch
every sentence uttered. He began in a
very easy style and, referring briefly to the
prejudice to be overcome, the terrible odds
against which the defense labored, be
cautioned them not to be governed in
their verdict by the prejudices of the PEG
pie, but by the law and the evidence in
the case. He then referred to the testi.
mony of the two Heeney girls aud merci-
lessy scored the prosecution and the wit
uesse5. At times he was brilliantly elo
Quent- frequently almost dramatic in his
appeal. lie paid glowing tribute to the
murdered officer. said that none regretted
his death more than did he and his asso-
ciates. Turning to the jury he said, Gen
tlemeu, if you find the prisoners guilty
beyond reasonable doubt, Of course you
must convict, but gentlemen you will never
sit in jury box during all of your lives
nay, never have sat in case, where there
was a clearer case of doubt" Mr.. Cannon
made a very effective plea, in brilliant
manner, using choice language and was at
times eloquent. Ills speech was fine
one-an able effort in behalf of bis client,
for whom he has labored necessarily since
the trial began.
This was the last speech for the defense
last evening and at GAS p. u. court ad-
journed until $50 a. u. to-day.
THURSDAYS SESSION.
Long before the time for opening, the
court room was crowded to its utmost sap
acity, every seat was taken and the inside
bar filed with attorneys and and others
anxious to hear the plea of Mr.. Foster
for the defendants. His ability as law
yer, his we'll known eloquent style Of
speaking had drawn this immense throns
to listen to him as he laborod to save
his clients from the penalty of the law
And, right here, it is proper to state tina
in no case within the recollection of tht
writer have prisoners in capital case beef
more earnestly defended than in the tria
now in progress. Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. O' Ma
ra, Mr.. French and Mr.. Foster, havr
been infatigable 10 their endeavors 10 aver
the penalty that would follow a conviction
The defense has been ably conducted
there is no exception; all the attorney
have done well, have acted more earnestly
pleaded more eloquently and worked with
feeling in themselves Of the innocence O
their clients. The plea of Mr.. OMara We
the finest effort he ever made in this cour
room. Mr.. Cannon was so eloquent 10 hi
plea as to compel 4 conclusion that b
was in earnest, his every movement, ges
ture and his every word indicated, that b
was talking not only professionally to saw
clients, but from an honest belief il
their innocence, So with Mr. French
who, though not eloquent and not having
the voice to magnetic his auditors, spok
with that feeling which left no room t
doubt that he felt the importance of tn
occasion and was laboring to avert con
viction of his clients, which he, at leas
believed would be unjust.
W. A. Foster, Esq, for defense, began
his speech by making an appeal to th
jury to deal fairly and impartially with tn
case. He dwelt upon the condition of tn
boys at the time of the fracas; that the.
were under the influence of liquor; he ais
dwelt upon the evidence of the policemen
that the boys were not drunk a grea
stress has been placed upon their counte
nances and then he referred to the speed
Of the states attorney, his effort to i'm
press the jury by proclaiming Jack as
villain from his countenance. Why, gen
tlemen, his countenance is as good as tina
of any here. Then he paid attention I
the newspapers aud said that reporter
were a hard working, conscientious set a
a rule. who had to go everywhere and any
where, and gather up things at all time
and write more than forty articles iusid
of "a hours and it was DO wonder that The
made mistakes. These reporters wer
men who worked like Troans and genera
ly were compelled to accept as facts rumor
and heresay talk aud publish it as such
He then dwelt eloquenty on the utter lac
of evidence against the accused; the grea
wall of prejudice piled up against the pris
oners. lie said II disclalm here, for tn
tenth time, that | don't want to try thi
case on prejudice, | want only such vel
] dict as the facts warrant and IL the fact