The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-06-30
A Prisoners Plea.

Death sentence was passed on Satur-
day last upon three men-Martin
Joseph, negro, who killed two men;
Tu-al-is-to, an Indian, and William H.
Finck. They were sentenced to hang
on the Goth of June. Finck is II quad
room, with decided Italian features, and
a man of unusual intelligence. As was
expected by many, Finck, when asked
by the Judge if he had anything to say
why sentence of death should not be
passed upon him, arose, calm and col
iected, and said in distinct and rather
musical voice:
MAY it please the Court: know not
which weighs the heaviest upon me
wonder or grief. Both weigh heavily
upon me. | must first call to mind the
occasion which | am called upon to
make my appearance before the Court
to-day. This to me is most solemn and
serious. 1t is as the sadness of death
itsclf-death which in a brief while will
come to me with sickle and terror.
Alas! alas! for such unlucky stars that
beamed at my birth. But | am not
! possessed of that obstinate stubborncss
| characteristic of one who is about to
! nave more Gencrth,, nassed upon
| nilh; ia criminal. Being truly Scner-
bic of the singular and serious position
in which | am placed, | can not help
but shudder, and must say that these
are the saddrst moments of my life.
death is the destiny of all men; and
beino debt of nature which must be
maid, | do not fear to meet it in its nat
nral form. But | shudder-I fear-the
hest of us dose, to die Il diSgraccful and
! Il I Il of I,lul n his
, talk ms an effort to save my life. 1t Is
an effort to seek justice, and to save
: the reputation of my family, whose
, honor is dearer to me than my life. Fol
| what is life? 1t is but a vapor; it APP
| pears but little while and then ii van
+ ishcth away. 1t is but II spark struck
out of nothingness and expires in dark
h ness. Nav, it is but II flash out of dark
n ness soon again to return. As the ole
J Saxon imagination pictured i, IL Is
e like the swift flight of bird from In
e nirht without, through lighted cham
+ Der filled with guests, heated with tn
II breath of passion, back into the col
q nirht again. The strange uncertant
k of life is but a mock theme of patho,
y No description can touch all the sorrow
lt ful tenderness which death in me e,
he cites, now becomes so tragic and so hi
&c ter. Oh. ignominy. thou art blttcr'
Sc to me than the gall which Socrat'
" drank. 1t is not death fcar-it is Il
re form of death-its ignominy and Il
cS shame of the gallowS. Under my pre-
er ent circumstances can not but I'LL II
Ie mind with the gloomy images of deaf
ed and to torment the present by appr
TO tensions of the future.
ITS 'But religion does not countcnan
ar any such morbid anxiety. She com
ed bearing in her hands the flowers
he hone, and, like the angel which she
es- whispers of the cruriticd Christ, lie
risen The star of hope that III
to bcamed upon men like me ohonc fire
,ep the murderer dying faith, as he hui
al; from the cross, II companion in d"a
led with Christ, and that same star of ho
'ed scatters its rays in my heart. Yet ii
the If hard to Danish the dread events frt
ing me. Yet why so? | have always he
val honest. and stand guiItlcsS to-day of
me crimes for which am about To he i
my fenced. | stand here and boldly, :
es- and with clear conscience that
ms; not kill those two men, II Nl''
ana falsely, miserable or happy souls, "
ION. ever Won are, make your app"ara
ere upon the threshold of this roomand
lgs;; out, Thou licstn And to you addr
ned inc the Judged whose duty il Is Il
'Sed' tender as we'll as Just, laSk all clrmc
ION; YOU can give And now, farewell, ca
anu made wet with tears and blood, Il
inc we'll: and to my enemies. farrW
IS IN Times brief work in the face OF G
pro nitv, a ray of celestial Joy falls u