The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-06-01
ccsyurios % youso nosn,s,
Sentenced 10 Twenty years imprisonmen'
for Murder IN the second Degree nv me
Milan County Court-An Impressive ana
Instructive Apseoh.

,enteneed ~ Twenty Years iinprisonmem
for Murder IN the second Degree nv ne
Milan County Court-An Impressive ara
Instructive speeoh.
am asked by your honor "if have any
hing TO say why sentence should not he
upon me-" feel that ] have
nothing to say that would alter your bon'
or's determination TO impose the sentence
In accordance with the verdict Of the Jury
that has convicted me. The forms, tile
rules aud the teChnicalities OF the law have
been complied with. But | consider IL dlie
TO myself aud to those whose blood ilows III
my veins not 10 be silent on THIS OCCASION
have read of the young lrishman VINO,
wears ago, when condemned 10 die by an
English court was asked the same question
by an English judge. SO humble am ana
so exalted was THIS young irish paTlot,
whose name will live forever IN history ana
song. and whose crime consisted in loving
Abe land of his birth 100 well, but not
wisely" that ! would not dare mention
him in connection with myself, but that l
fancy there are in this case some points OF
resemblance He was convicted before the
trial begun. The English court, backed by
the English people, bad prejudged MS case,
and Young Emmett fell vlctim 10 popu!ar
/ NAV have been; aud chivarous lrishmen
can scarce speak of him to-day without
tear. He may have been hasty and i'm
petuous, but he meant no wrong, ana the
verdict of posterity is he was no traitor. l
do here solemnly say that have been con-
victed uniustly. l do say that ! never haa
any untriendly feeling for William Broad
max before the commencement OF the un-
fortunate difficulty which cost him his life
.,,,l ma, ,,,y lihartv I lp saw that never
Intentionally provoked the quarrel nor bad
Broadnax the right to think so. And do
saw that after it began | abandoned it in
good faith and would never have
been IN trouble if he had not
called Inc back by words which
would rather die than submit to without
notice or reply. When retorted back 70
threw the glass, which | tried to stop. and
when | believed he meant to kill me If he
could, ! shot him. | never put my hand in
nv hin pocket till after coming back, when
he raised the glass. He started to raise a
bottle at me, before Mangum asked me to
stop the fuss, and it was then that SAID,
"If you hit me with that will shoot you"
! will swear before my Maker that l never
heard Broadnax say, go away, want no
believe he said it,. l Will
swear that 1 never said, 81 don't
like YOU, Bill Broadnax." Steve Stewart
and Jim Hehy aud John Hehy may have
heard rumors or talk just alter, that these
things were said, for that agreed with the
general feeling and belief, and they may
have come to believe that they heard
Broadnax and myself say them, as tnsy
were. friends of Broadnax and did not IKE
me But do say they were never SAID IN
that difficulty. Ny father was sick in bed
at the time. My enemies had it oil their
own way and my own friends were afraid to
speak. Falsehood got fastened ct. tn,
start, and that side has convicted
me. Old Mr.. Durand came nearer
tellin the correct tale than anybody else.
Ano also ,e say that | never struck
Broadnax with my hand, but l jumped
forward and tried to clutch his arm as he
raised the glass. l here say that believe
the iury that convicted me have acted hon
estly, and have no ill will towards them.
But do believe that the common notion
and the general prejudice, entered INTO
their deliberations, like the ar they 6rea'h"
enters their bodies, and inclined them 10
believe the states side III preference W
mlre, The honestest men are unconsc!ouslJ
governed by their prejudices, and the
Ronestest Jurors sometimes decide against
the weight of the evidence. l believe II
would be almost as hard for the people ui
Milan county to rid themselves OF the idea
of my guilt, as would be for the CHRISTIAN
to deny the,Bible. But submit. have
been a wild, bad boy, notwithstanding the
entreaties Of my devoted father, and l am
now paying the penalty, If am punished
too much and too harshly, yet it may serve
as good example to Others. l shall bear
nv punishment without complaint, ana
feel more suffering on account OF the pam
and sorrow give those so near and dear
than on my own account. My noble and
devoted father can never repay, but VIII
try in the future to behave
like man, ali hope yet
| may be a man not altogether unworthy
To Mr.. Breeding, Judge Broaddus, and
above all, to my faithful, Jealous and elo
onent advocate, Mr.. Holman, give my
Il, artfelt thanks. In the dreary and lonely
solitude of my cell, it will be. the creates
pleasure and solace to remember the lev
kind friends who have stood by me IN my
trial, while those who have prosecuted me
amongst whom are some | had yaiDly I'm
agined would be my friends, l shall try tC
forget. To your honor on the bench and t.
the people Of Milan county, bid fina
farewell; and / hope the time may, COM
when both your honor and the people ma!
realize that have been sinned against a
well as shining" l am done.
j