The Wilmingtonian., 1885-12-05

fatal shooting at Scheutzen Park, Becker
visited Ketner who is serving term of i'm
prisonment for manslaughter and there said
to the prisoner chow sad and unfortunate
that you (Ketner) allowed yourself to fire a
shot upon that occasion''-in two short days
after that interview circumstances arose
which have resulted in consignirg Becker to
a cell in common with his friend Ketner.
Thursday morning the Court House was
densely packed by those desiring to witness
the trial of Lewis E. Davis who was
arraigned for the murder of officer Andrew
T. Peterson.
The state by disinterested and unimpeach-
able testimony amply proved not only the
killing, but the entire absence Of provoca-
tion not also the unparalleled fendishness
of the crime
The state closed its direct examination at
o'clock P. NJ, when Levi G. Bird Esq, the
counsel of the acknowledged murdererer,
outlined the course of the defense. Through,
Mr.. Bird, the murder and all its appalling
concomitants, was admitted and the state
ment was made to the jury that but one plea
would be made for the prisoner at the bar
and that was his drunkenness.
While scores glibly testified to Davis's
drunkenness at the picnic at the brewery
garden, Saturday, June 81, and even ad-
mitted in some cases that they drank cor
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luuuii a ussssastIlu ~ il,sG tR6 ~ EiIa
responding ahfour. oe7.
they failed to explain why or in chat /.
ner he became SO blindly drunk while they
(the testifers) were only exhilorated.
The defense failed to show any excuse for
DAVIS when he put the revolver in his pock-
ct on that fatal day as he started to the Pic
mic. Had he not, have, had murder in his
heart he would not have armed himself with
a weapon of death. He evidently intended to
kill some one and some one he did kill.
However, the weakness and worthiessness OF
the defense was abundantly shown by the
State at the rebuttal on Friday morning.
At the rebuttal it was clearly indicated
that Specht's and Spahn's beer on that
specific occasion produced strabismus that
was we'll nigh epidemic; for notwithstand-
ing the fact that score of the boon COM
papions of Davis were willing to swear that
he was staggering drunk, yet within ten
minutes after the time he was sworn to be
in this condition he not only walked erect
beat his wife, killed an officer of the law
threatened to shoot any one who attempted
TO arrest him, but did actually run at mos
rapid rate four squares and then concealed
himself in an alley. Davis did try the in
sane dodge after he had been brought to tn
City Hall, but he played it only indiffer
entity we'll, and there was such method j
his madness that this people will not be de
ceived thereby.
1t was plainly and even painfully eviden
at the opening of the defense that the EN-
nent counsel who had covered himself wit
glory in the recent Becker case, was heavil
handicapped in his present contest. 1t wa
apparent to all that the Davis case was ui
supported by law, unsustained by facts, an
was away beyond the pale of mercy.
What intensified the appalling and atr
oious nature of the murder was the pecu
iarly inoffensive character of Andrew
Peterson, and also the fact that tho ofiic
went forth from his peaceful home to pr
tect from harm, the wife of his slayer.
The cry of ga woman is being murdered
fell upop the ears of Officer Peterson as
was enjoying the quiet of his family, rus
ing for his coat and hat he remarked to
family as he passed through his doorway,
must protect the woman from danger" a
for this kindly office he was shot down Ii
dog. Shot by the fiend who had thirst
for the blood of his own wife for hours; a
the only reason that Davis was not
raigned for uxorcide is because his revol'
failed to do his bidding.
This is the man for whom public sy
pathy has been invoked-this is the man
whom the misguided sentimentalist plea
utterly oblivious of the tears, the sighs,
groans, the heartaches, the sorrow,
blight, the dependency, the distracti
and the desolation of the murdered Pet
sons family.
There was an effort made to manufact
a sentiment in favor of tho murderer,