The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-23
A strange Plea in court.


A Strange Plea in court
A negro named w. H. Finck, who was
sentenced to be hanged for a double murder
at Fort Smith, Ark, last week, addressed
he Court as follows
May It please the Court: 1 know not which
weighs the heaviest upon ms-wonder OF grief.
Both weigh heavily upon me. / must first call
to mind the occasion which | am calle1 upon 10
This to me is most solemn and serious. 1t is as
the sadness of death itself-death which, in
brief while, will come to me with sickle and ter
beamed my birth. But not possessed of
that obstinate stubbornness Characteristic of one
who is about to have sentence OF death passed
ened criminal. Being truly sensible OF the sin
gulsr and serious position in which am placed,
i cen not help but shudder, ana must say that
there the saddest moments of my life.
Death is the destiny of all men; and. being a
debt OF nature which must De PAID, DO not fear
TO meet II In its natural form. Bat shudder-l
hsst d f qs do go TO die .a and
effort 10 rave my life. 1t is effort to seek just
ice and TO save the reputation OF my family,
whose honor is desTer 70 me thSu my Ii e. For
but a little while and then it vahisbeth
away. 10 is but q spark struck out OF nothing.
ness and expires in darkness. Nay, it is but
the cid Saxon imagination pictured it, il is like
the swift flight OF q bird from toe night without,
through p lighted chamber filed with guests,
heated with the breath OF passion back into the
cold night agein' The strange uncertainty
of life Is but e mock theme OF pAthOs.
No description eau touch all the eOr-
rOwful tenderness which death in me excites.
now become so tragic and so bitter ignOmi lyl
Socrates drank, IL is not death fear; il is the
fern OF dcath-its ignOmtny a. q the shame OF tue
sali9Ms, n9ei my present aoss can
aud so torment the present by app-ehenSions OF
the future.
But religion does not eountenaace any such
morbid anxiety. she comes bearing IN her hands
the flowers of hope and, ike the angel which she
il. whispers Of the Crueided Christ, He is risen.
Tie star Of hope that first beamed upOa men like
me shone from the murderers dying faith, as he
hung upon the cross, a champion In death with
Christ and that star OF hope scattefs its rays
IN my heart. Yet find il hard 10 Danish the
dread events from me. Yet why SO? / have
the crimes Tor which am about 10 be Sentenced.
! stand here ana boldly say, and with q clear
Conscience. that did not Kill those two men. II
speak falsely, miserable or happy souls. who
ever you are, make Jour appearance upon IA .
threshold Of this room and cry out, Thou
Lest" And from you addressing the Jcdge)
whose duty il is to De tender well just, I
ask ell clemency you can give. And
now farewell. earth, made wet with tears ana
Times brief work in the face Of eternity, Fay of
celestial JOY falls upon me and takes away every
fear and now know how easy 1t is to die"
The effect on the Judge and audience was
marked. The prisoner was impassioned in
his utterance, and was more than ever pa
thetio and touching,
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Mr.. Patrick Calhoun, grandson of the
great South Carolina John c. Calhoun
speaking recently of the negro and his
future, said
The census shows for him a natural increase
beyond the average OF the white race. And
better citizen q harder worker, thriftier man
and more successful the closer his contact with
thfown in large masses to themselves that any
just doubt can now be entertained of their future
The negro possesses three traits which
justify great hopes OF his future. He Is initiative
he is eager for knowledge and he is proud of be
ing an American citizen. believe in the future
of the negro. / plant myself upon the broad
platform of human p .ogress. l stand upon the
belief that the W jsdom of our fathers has given
us q Government strong enough and God a coun-
try broad enough 10 enable us to receive among
us 5,LOJ,CO0 of any people OF this globe without
materially checking our career. They might be,
by nature, habits ana character, unable ID am Al
eamaie with our race, but they would in time as
simulate themselves TO our Institutions.
We find the following in the Mon sicello
Democrat:
There is movement on foot to displace W. p
Fishbaek. One of the gang wants Tlis is
acknowledgements Sentinel
1t is coming at last-what we have been yearn
ing for-sn answer 10 the Fishback Letters. 1t
viii be concise aud cutting. two line para
graph will contain it that's concise. One oiicia
head lying beside the headsman's block-thats
cutting. Doubtless this is the only answer these
letters admit of under the circumstances. Alas,
that the party OF grand moral ideas should come
TO such pass that the only way IL can mee' the
scathing words of one of its own best aud Dravest
men is TO cut off his head. u does not seem pos
sible for an honest man in the Republican ranks
either TO get or hold an office.
The Evansville Courier is evidently not
verv much impressed with Senator Harr,-
sons influence with the Administration. 1t
recently said:
If Senator Harrison wishes to hold his place as
leader OF the Indiana Republicans, why does he
not show the world that he has some influence
with the Administration by picking
him apooinied Commissioner of Internal
Revenue? Surely some suitable persop can be
found VINO will be willing to take the Office, even
If the salary is but 81 Geo year Indiana, II is
true, has received number OF frst-clsss appoint
ments from the present Administration. but then
Indiana is a very important State. Let Benny
take his suspenders up another notch two aud
try his hand sgain. If he does not do some thing
of this SORT Gresham will certainly have the
heels of him next year.
a New York City letter says:
]. 3. Bristol is putting his Indiana studies to
good use. since he has produced from them a
number OF charming pictures. One upon his
easel now deltneates portion OF the winding
oak bOrdered 81. Joseph River, which he has
marked with that feeling OF warmth and quiet
that characterizes most of his work. An effect OF
cloud movement is sabtly assisted by wisp of
smoke that rises from among the family seen
roofs Of distant town, and partskes Of and en-
-fFe 81 ~.