The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-10-27
Argument Of ID. H. Magill, Esq.

May Il Please Your Honor and You Gentle
men Of the jury: 1t has At length become my
observations In defense Of the prisoners Mt the
bar, In doing 1t, though l feel perfectly salts
fed that you are nen Of pure minds, yet l ree
fleet with anxiety. that no exertion or zeal on
the port OF defendants counsel can possibly
Insure Justice unless you likewise perform
duty. Do not now suppose, gentlemen,
thatI mean 10 suggest the least suspicion with
respect to your principles ana motives:
most likely 10 obtain impartial justice, aud
doubtless you have honestly resolved and en-
dsavored TO lay aside all opinions which you
have entertained previous 70 TINS trial.
fully estimated o man deceives himself Of
tener than he lnisleads others, and he do 1s In
justice from his errors when his principles arc
iall on the side Of rectitude. To exhort o man
10 overcome bis prejudices, is like telling q
blind nun 10 see. He may be disposed To
them and yet be unable because they
once known 1t is no longer prejudice, It be.
comes corruption. The possessor cherishes II
without guilt, he feels indignation for vice
and pays homage TO virtue, and yet does In
Justice. 1t Is the apprehension that you may
thus mistake. that you muy call your preju-
dIces, principles and believe them such, that
leads me so a~nxieusly TO repeat the request
that you examine your hearts and ascertain
The present trial, gentlemen OF the jury, IL
throughout this county. and
throughout the State as OF some expectation.
You very we'll know, gentlemen, that when
ever q judicial inquiry becomes the topic Of
public and general conversation, that every
conversation Is in itself o little OF the fact.
The voice OF public form the falsest witness
ever was sworn or nsworn, Is always
ready to bear testimony 10 the prejudice OF I'm
individual; the mind becomes heated and 1t
can scarcely be expected even on a jury to
find a cool and rejecting and impartial mind.
There ure two tribunals TO which every man
must be nmenuble, the one a municipal tribu.
the other the great and general aud des-
tribunal OF public reputation.
Ifyou have any reason TO suppose that any
tried by pRblic fame and condemned, l would
beg 10 remind you ofthe solemn duty that Jus
imposes upOn you to turn your eyes away
from the recollection that any sentence ofthat
sort OF condemnation has been passed by tho
voice ofpublic reputation; and II you think
hat his character has sunk under such q sem
.ence. ! would remind you that the infsmy
If such a charge Is enough without taking Il
INTO your consideration ; 1t is the duty OF the
uYy " leave the DEGREES OF that court Of public
equation to be executed by its own authority
or you have no right TO pass sentence OF con-
lennation on any man because that prejudR.
ng court may have passed sentence on Ills
character you must reflect that the evidence
,iven before that court was that
here was no deposition OF any witness on
,ath, and, therefore, you are bound to cOnsid.
the evidence before you * ed and simple,
IS X you had never heard the names Of the
at the bar, and the sentence OF con-.
that public fame may have pro-.
lounccd On. their characters