Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-14

There is q very slight foundation for
this. He approached mo and politely

"A''p' Nv nYVsvNSuVN usO uuu IvItOOI,
inquired if | had really intended I,
make an issue of veracty with him.
replied. Certainly not l was practic
ing law probably when he was born
and have had many such disputes al
the bar without for an instant affecting
my friendly relations with counsel.
"No," said tho Senator, returning &c
the result of the trial, eve succeeded ia
convincing the jury of the reasonable
doubt, thing most difficult to do, ex.
cept with men of intelligence and high
character. There were several of the
jury who, when sworn aud examined as
to their qualifications to try the case,
admitted that they had already formed
and expressed opinions as to tho guilt
or innocence of tho accused. We took
them, nevertheless. They looked like
men who could be trusted with such an
issue, whatever their previous opinions.
Il remember once defending at
Crawtordville, Ind, man named Owen,
indicted for the murder of bis wife by
poison. 1t was twenty odd years ago.
Owen was u respectable farmer, in good
circumstances, and u consistent church
member. He had been twice married.
Ho had several children by his first
wife; his second was childllss u circum-
stance which peculiarly affected hor
mind and temper. She would not per
init bis Cbldren to reside with her, and
compelled him 10 find . home for them
elsewhere. She had a faucy, too, that he
was crimlnally intimate with the wife
OF one of his tenants. She had fre-
queDtly threatened suicide in conse-
quenco of these troubles.
"One night Owen was awakened
from sleep to find hor dying. He called
in assistance and sent for physician,
but she was dead before anyone arrived.
Her sudden domiso excited suspicion,
and three days after her burial this was
communicated to him by friend, who
further informed him that arrange.
ments had been made to disiuter the
body and submit it to investigation.
"Owen was greatly agtated at this i H.
telligenco, and after u short pause re.
piled: "lt this is done, and poison is
found in kezias stomach (his deceased
wifo's Christian namc) will bo accused
of her murder, convicted and hanged.
But | am as innocent of it as that tree,'
pointing to ons near which tho CONVEX
sati0n occurred.
"rhat night he transferred all his pro-
perty to son, disguised himself and
fed the country. The body of his wife
was exhumed and an autopsy had.
Enough stryChnine was found in hor
stomach to kill a mule. There was a
universal expression of horror at the
discovery, and a large reward was offer
ed for the arrest of tho fugitive. After
some months he was found in Canada,
where he was living under an assumed
name. He was brought to Crawfords-
vile in irons, and i was with difficulty
that his execution by a mob could be
prevented.
"Joe Mcdonald (now my colleague in
the Senate), Jim Wilson, once Repre-
sentative in Congress, and subsequently,
Minister to Venezuela, and myself de-
Tended him. There was formidable
rrosecution-Lew Wallace, Judge Greg
ory and Others appearing against him.
at was proven that short time be-
fore MIS- Ovens death her husband had
purchased strychnIno at a drugstore in
the ne.hbo' hood, telling the drugyist
that he wanted it for poisoning rats
But he asked that it be charged to him,
a fact upon which we laid great stress in
the argument, insisting that had he en-
tertained criminal design in buying
the drug ho would not have put the
damnable evidence of the fact upon re-
cord. A daughter who was visiting her
fathers house when the poison was
brought home, testified that he handed
it to her step-mother in her presence,
cautoning her to be careful with it. A
brother OF his wife, who was greatly
agrinst him, and was wit
uess for tho State, admitted, upon cross
that Ovens treatment of
his sister was invariably considerate
and kind. There was entire failure to
establish the tacto bis having Improper
relations with other women.
This was all we had TO base defenso
The odds were fearful. There was the
remark of the marked agitation of Owen
when first informed of the suspicious ex.