South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-05-11

ooH DoueaasS, Aor the seco9u slulo on
trial foe the murder OF the uai! carrier
hizer. in Graut county. Vas on Sat-
usdsy last. In the Circuit Court of Mia
eral county convicted OF mur,ier i n the
frst degree and sentenced to the peni.
Tertiary for life. being the same as the
previous sen. erce. Tho verdict seems
to have given general satisfaction to
tie public. The opinion is that it was
plain and clear ccse OF murder. Az
ter sentence vas passcd tie prisoner
mads the following speech:
Your HONOR When YOU have
spoken, twill have occn the second
time youhave pronounced thesentence
of the law upon me for the same of
fence, and also like sentence OF i'm.
prisonmcut for life On the former
occasion | had nothing 20 say. because
was under the influence of louor.
and consequently to great degree
insenslblc 10 tie grave surroundings.
But feel thankful that l stand be-
fore YOU all and before God this morn
lug, in full possession OF all my facul.
ties, and can declare TO You aud TO all
tue world that am innocent-wholly
innocent. of the fearful heinous crime
with which | stand twice convicted.
In all the mass OF evidence produced
by the State IN the former trial,
through so or loo witnesses, but one
material circumstance was testified TO
that know 10 be false. But not so
on tits occasion No less than six
witnesses have come upon that stand
and have sworn blaclly false, false,
false. and that, too, IL the most dam :
aging circumstances of this case. -
With but two exceptions these wit,
nesecs stand high as good aud true
citizens, aud l am disposed to believe
they were honestly mistaken, notwi,h-
standing tic fearful consequences 10
me. | know that you regard me rs
Il guilty man beyond 4 doubt, but l
thank God that DOGS not make
me so. The prosecutions ia this case
have often referred to the hand oi
Providence pursuing me ut every step
and pointing me oGt rs the guilty
man. How far this is true the cir
cumstanccS OF the case fully show. |
cannot explain them. Would 10 God
| could! Ny innocence would be cs.
tablisiIcd. And lhorgh | ann now
sent away 10 Il living tonib. there is
Il great, ii good, and al I'll! wise God
w.o NH not iorSaXe me bat will, iii
His OWE good time, provide IL way Of
deiiver@ncc. Have the clGquent gen
tlcmcn ON the prosecution noticed tie
hand Of the LOVING Father on m sd,
q tho cage? Have they, in all the
annals Of criminal procedure through
out the ages, or III thclr own expert
cnco, known ot Il man charged with
50 foil and ,lastardiy II crime ia that
with which | stand twice convicted.
whose neck has been twice saved?
Did they their spleen and pursue
and urge nay b!ood to be taken? Tncse
very walls almost yet rc5ound with
their cries for blood, blood, blood
Have they ever reflected rs to what
hand rUlcI the minds Of men at this
moment? \ c8. sir there Is an all
wise and good God who will never let
me die for this crime hope to bear
the burden now 10 be placed upon me
with such patience and fortiiudc OF
soul, that his smiles may go with me
and strengthen me all the lonely hour.
o. my PRISON life r
| am covered with shame and con us
ION when | look back al the abused
and blasted opportunities OF my lie :
Emit Out of it all how glad feel that
| can stand before God, who knows all
things, and declare that my hands are
not stained with tie blool oil this
good man. y
And now, sir, | will only say that You
can proceed with your duty AMI send
ne away,
Douglass started for MJupjsvi'e IN Mond y
nj2ht We understand lhat the jury on The
G'st ballot stood for hanging, two for peui.
tcuti1ry .o' life, aud two Tor scqu.tlAl
West Virginia has entered upon a
career of substantial prosperity that
promises a Glorious fut,irc The ur1,,,