Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-10-17


TWO CHEAT sPEECHEs.
Kensuaky. Before the Phii Thompsea
jury.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The recent great speech delivered by
Senator Voorhees,. of Indiana, In the
Johnson murder case at Greenville,
Tenn. was very similar to his effort In
defense of Congressman Phil Thompson,
tried at Harrodsburg, KY, some three
years AGO. for the killing of Walter Davis
for the alleged seduction of the defend
ants wife. The two cases were almost
identical, although the provocation for
Johnson to commit homicide was much
greater than in the Thompson-Davis
TRAGEDY, Senator Voorhees, was followed
at the conclusion of his vindication OF
Thompson by Jerry r. Morton, now cir
cult Judge ofthe Lexington (Ky.) district,
in q speech which for elegance of diction
force of illustration, and argument has
probably never been excelied in this
country. Mr.. Morton represented the
prosecution-the wife, and children and
friends CT the slain-whilethe Tall Syca-
more's plea was in behalf of the slayer.
Senator Voorhees, dwelt at some length
on the sanctity of home and the invio
late nature of the domestic relations. He
quoted holy writ to show that the
adulterer must die, and concluded with
touchinely beautiful peroration in
which he declared that Phil Thompson,
by shooting Walter Davis, not only
maintained his own honor and that of
his family, but pursued the only proper
course, and represented the highest
type of Christian civilization. The adj
dress of the eloquent Roosier statesman
made profound impression upon the
judge, jury, and crowded courtroom, and
when he sat down the hum of admira.
ton was heard on all sides. Then Jerry
R. Morton stood beside the court. He
was an insignificant looking limb of the
law when contrasted with Voorhees,. He
began very calmly with little anecdote,
and as he proceeded with the story so
impressive and appropriate to the case
the reporters, of whom the writer was
one, laid down their pencils in utter
wonderment; the crowd listened fearful
ly, and the silence was so painful that
everyone might almost hear his own
heart throb. That illustration was a
whole speech in itself, pronounced great
er and more convincing to intelligent,
Christian men than all the skillful word.
paintings of Senator Voorhees,. 1t has
often been matter of regret that
Judge Morton's predatory anecdote was
not pub ished at the time. It has never
been in type, but it is indelibly stamped
upon the minds of those who heard it.
The story was as follows:
"GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY: The learned
law er and statesman from Indiana who
has just addressed you has said with
much vehemencs that Phillip Thomp-
son in shooting Walter Davis indicated
his manhood, maintained the sanctity of
his domestic fireside, and represents the
highest type of Christian civilization.
How can better Indicate my disapprov.
al of such conclusions than by story
taken from real life? The Zero (for he
was indeed hero) lived in New Orleans.
He was an eminent lawyer and states
man, and respected citizen of Louisi-
ana. Among his richest blessings were
a wife and three lovely children. In an
evil hour his wife listened to the siren
voice of man other than her husband.
He coiled about her his hellish meshes. |
She became victim of his lust, and |
abandoned husband, children, all, to fee
with her betrayer. The wronged hus-
band did not follow the destroyer of his |
happiness and shoot him down like q !
log. His home was blighted by the cruel |
scandal, but he bore his wrongs like a |
Christian. Soon the erring wife was de-
serted by the villain who had ruined |
her, and on Bonded kneesshe sought her |
husband. He would not allow her to
contaminate his pure little ones, but he
kindly agreed to provide for her in a |
suitable retreat. His fireside was no
longer one of contentraent and happi-
ness. To blot out as far as possible the
memory Of the awful wrong, he sold all
his property, with his children sailed for
England, and is to day the greatest law
yer in the English nation-that man was
Judah P. Benjamin. Every year liber-
Il sum of money goes to the support of
his wife, for no matter how badly she has
acted, no matter how much reproach she
mas brought upon herself and those she
owed, yet the husband never forsot that
once she was his pure, loving, devoted
wife, and was the mother of his children.
Now, gentlemen of the jury, appeal to
you which of these two men, Philip
Thompson or Judah P. Benjamin, typi-
les the highest Christian civilization ?"
It was with difficulty that the applause
which greeted Mr.. Morton's vivid simile
,ould be suppressed. The rest of his
speech, and, indeed, all the speeches,
seemed tame and without flavor.
French Election Expenses.
london News.
1t has been calculated that the ap-
elections will cost the munich
oaiity of Paris about e16,O00. This sum
will include the salaries of special
officials, rs we'll as all disbursements for
stationary and materials; and seeing that
here will be 652 polling places thirty
sight deputies to be selected the total
amount does not appear to be excessive.
Each polling place will be attended by
,ix scrutineers each of whom will have
his own table, with two lamps upon it.
There will, therefore, be in all 1912
1912 tables, and 1924 lamps,
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