Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-24
P0INDEXTERs PROTEST.
The Richmond KurdereYs Address Wheu
Brought Up to Reosive Sentence.

Inc 1lo0W00Q 0urQofeyS ADDRESS When
Brought Up to Reosive Sentence.
Richmond Spec;a! to the N. Y. Herald. ]
There was quite a dramatic scene in
the Hastings Court room to-day when
John f. Poindexter was brought up
to receive his sentence of two years
imprisonment in the penitentiary for
killing G. c. Curtis on the third Of
March last. The prisoner was neatly
dressed in a dark Prince Albert suit.
He did not appear much depressed,
and his tall, slender figure and rather
handsome features showed to advan-
tage. The court had been in session
nearly an hour when the clerk ordered
Poindexter to stand up, and he asked
him if he had anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced.
Much to the surprise Of everybody, he
made an address, which had evidently
been prepared, for he read from a few
sheets Of paper which were covered
covered with interlineations and
scratches. Its delivery affected many
in the court room, and none more
visibly than his Honor, Judge Chris
tan.
Poindexter said: 'May it please
your Honor, if l bowed my head to
this sentence and did not protest
against the injustice of this verdict
which, if ratified by this community,
makes me the first victim Of q revolu-
ton in a traditional sentiment of my
native State, that has educated me
to believe that the defense of woman
is one of the first duties man owes
to himself and society, l should be
false to every feeling that goes to
form the strongest conviction of inno-
cence in my own breast. No one
more deeply deplores this sad and
most unhappy tragedy and the unfor-
tunate circumstances that led thereto
than myself. My feelings will not
permit me now, nor have l the
strength, bowed down with sorrow as
my heart now is, to 60 into any ex-
tended defense of my course. l do
not claim to be faultless. l am but
human, and moved by those passions
with which God in His judgment hath
seen fit to fill the souls of men. As
to the charge that l was moved by
malice in taking the life of the de-
ceased, l do, in the name of heaven,
again plead not guilty. Let me say
it in the face of God, and as l value
my souls salvation, l had no desire
or wish to take his life, and every
feeling which l may have had was
crowded from my mind by the all
absorbing thought that my life was
at stake, and the God-given law of
self-defense alone controlled my &C.
ton. Willingly and gladly would l
give half my days to return to his
sorrowing sister and friends the life
which lies on my hands and raise
from their hearts the grief which no
less oppresses> mine. l will simply
ask that charity may be extended to
me and others which l so willingly
accord to all. 1t is not enough, your
Honor, that the very foundation Of my
life will ever be slowly frettcd away
by the deep sorrow that must accom-
pany me to my grave. The chas-
tisement is surely sufficient, the Bit
terness of which no heart can know
but my own. I do not complain of
the number of years contained in this
verdict. Sir, two are as good as
twenty. Suffice it to say, if this ver-
dict is ever carried into effect, the
sentence you are about to pronounce
is death sentence, that brushes out
Of my life all hope, all happiness, and
only leaves me what mans law can
not take from me-. feel no sense of
guilt Or disgrace; but carry this YER
dict into execution, and, with my
nature and the thought of those loved
ones who are so dear to me, should
be utterly crushed. In closing / thank
your Honor, from my heart for your
sincere and feeling expression of sym.
pathy." o
In the beginning Poindexter read
in a firm and distinct voice, which
could be easily heard in all parts of
the court room. When he said, III
do, in the name Of heaven, again plead
not gnilty," his voice rang out in
clear, strong and emphatic tones.
There was pathos in his utteling,
GLADLY would l give half my days."
and ~ ask that charity may be ex-
tended to me and Others" but when
he came to speak of the bitterness of
the chastisement his words began to
choke in his throat, and he was greatly
agitated, and it was only by extraor-
binary effort that he was able to pro-
coed. As it was, few words were
stifled in utterance. Hats and hands
were placed before many faces as the