Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-05

that key was not on the reservoir
grounds on Saturday. Well," said
Mr.. Meredith, "that assertion can be
accounted for perhaps by the strength
Of his belief in the existence Of 4 God.
The speaker ridiculed the idea that
the key had been put there by any one
intentionally. 1t was strange that the
key happened to wind up the watch Of
the prisoner. At the time the key was
given Wren the name Of Cluverius had
never been mentioned. II would have
been a risky business il Wren had
undertaken to put key there that
would have fitted the watch Of man
he had not heard of; it would have
been almost equal to making things
come to pass. Mrs. Dickinson had
never seen Lillian wear a Key like the
one found at the reservoir.
Mr.. Joel's testimony showed that the
KEY found in the reservoir enclosure
was the property of the prisoner, Joel
having repaired it for him. Joel was a
cautious witness, as was shown by the
record of his testimony. lie shrank
from appearing as witness, and his
testimony was almost conclusive and
positive.
THE PRISONERS CONDUCT.
The law was plain that the conduct
Of the prisoner must be taken as cir
cumstance Of guilt. The prisoner,
when the officers Of the law came with
a warrant charging him with murder,
replied that it was ridiculous, and in
yited the officers into supper. A man
who had murdered woman and
child was Just the sort of man
that would exhibit the sort Of pluck
that the prisoner at the bar had shown
here day after day. lie did not even
ask who had been murdered, and 1t
was evident that he was prepared for
the arrest. lie knew it was Lillian
Madison, and he did not want to hear
lips charge him with the murder.
He was cool. There was no fear or
trembling, and no indignation or
exclamation of surprise, but only the
remark, Why, Lillian committed sui
eide" Then the removal of the piece
of watch-chain was an attempt to con-
ceal proof Of his guilt. The removal of
the chain confirmed Joel's statement
that the key was the key of the prisoner.
MIR. MEREDITH's PERoRATIoN.
Now, say, gentlemen, if all the op-
portunity has been given to the priS-
oner, if he has had able counsel, if he
has had ample opportunity to make his
defence, if he Is given every oppor-
tunity by the Commonwealth to make
such defence as he saw fit, and yet the
evidence in the case points to the pris-
oner as to the time, the place, the oppOr-
tunity, the means, the coHduct, and The
mOtire. you must not shrink. Ioa
must not hesitate, whatever may he
the SympathieS of your heart or
the kind feelings that You may have
for the young man or for his aged
relatives; but you must remember that
mercy shown to such q man, il he be
guilty, is not mercy. 1t is not Justice /;
it is not mercy. Mercy shown to the
criminal in that way but encourages
crime. Justice--cyen-handed Justice
dealt out upon the facts and upon the
evidence in this case is the highest de-
gree of mercy that you can show. And
if you doubt tins prisoner is guilty-if
you have a Reasonable Doubt ask
you, in the name Of the Commonwealth,
to give it to him. But | do say
that if YOU will look over this evidence
you can have no such doubt, and do
insist that you will not be led by any
fears as to the effect Of circumstantial
evidence by any thought that reason
able doubt is nothing more. or that a
fear or an anxiety is reasonable doubt
but that it must be such doubt as you
would not hesitate to stand up before
sensible men and say, Why, this is
the reason"
Now, say. when you take the
whole case as it stands, and view il
from beginning to end, there is nobody
else that it points to. There is nobody
suspected. There is nobody in the
case as to whom any degree of suspl
cion can be aroused except the pris'
Oner, and every circumstance laid dowr
for your guidance in the books point:
clearly and distinctly and without any
doubt directly to the prisoner; and
that being the case, however solemn
may be the taking Of human life,
however much you may shrink from Sc
solemn a duty, yet, as you have as.
sumed the burden, shall ask that a,
men you will bear it nobly to the end
and ask that you do justice to both
parties.
Gentlemen, | have forgotten to say
that we have contended for murder in
the first degree, and if you should find
such, we ask that you find the prisoner
guilty of murder in the first degree a
laid in the indictment. | believe that
is the proper form.
THE GREAT SPEECH ENDS.
When Mr.. Meredith closed there
were loud evidences Of applause. Mer
stamped their feet and clapped theil
hands in the courtroom. Judge At
kins leaned forward with flushed face
and the officers Of the court shouted
for silence. Colonel W. X. Aylett
who had been such a strong support tC
Mr.. Meredith, arose from his seat, and
in quiet but expressive way shook
hands with the acting Commonwealth
Attorney.
After awhile the friends of Mr.
Meredith sat down and order was pro
cured, and Sergeant Lee took the jury
out. Then deputy-sergeants came ii
and took out seats for the jury to the
Office of Sergeant Lee. An inquisitivt
man asked Judge Atkins if he thought
the court would remain long, session
and the Judge said that he would allow
the jury a reasonable time to make uE
their minds. and if they could moi
that he would then adjourn the court
During this time the prisoner kept uE
his courage. lie called for a glass o.
water, drank the water, and looked
around as quietly as ever. A locker
on, not knowing he was the criminal
would have just as likely picked oui
| anv other man i'm the room for IN,