The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
. Speech OF Solicitor Jas. l.. Orr.

Your Honor and Gentlemen Of The Jury:
am not surprised that the last counsel
much. In giving the reasons why this case is
peculiar. he might have given a few more rea-
sons. he forgot himself in comparing the
trial of John c. Ferguson to the crucifixion
such comparison is past ny comprehension.
I always attempt to prosecute cases fairly, and
I think that is my record. ! don't propose to
my friends may %eulogize me when 1 am dead.
He has advanced theories that in the light of
common sense are ridiculous. How q man.
who is unconscious, can 60 through the de-
are unconscious. He has argued that you
Can inherit disease not only from your I'M
cfes, but from a step father. Suppose a man;
walked into the Court House, and who had
not heard the testimony, but would have
thought that they were prosecuting the news
Ing a man for murder: why did they abuse
the newspapers? I have no interest In the
papers, and I never inspired o single article
in any Of them. They tell you that the news
papers have bounded down John G; Ferguson;
Those yapsrs are owned by good citizens, and
why do they abuse them? Simply because
they have published the facts OF this honl.
public opinion 2 Not because public opinion
ts wrong, but because public opinion Is
against the prisoner.
we propose to prosecute the case on the law
coincide with the green back books? just
because the theories of those books don't
square with their common sense and expert
ence. Just as these agricultural books are no
use to the farmer, but are written by parties
who are theorists. Inconsistencies always
follow epilepsy: The books and the doctor
agree on this point. In every case the defend
ants cites or epilepsy one Of those fits follow
ed or Immediately preceding the case.
These cases do not fit this case because there
is no testimony to show that John G. Fergu-
CON cd n Cin Nf a fl r fNr tNaN xyo r. NrnaoTI-
Ing the homicide.
I have shown you that even taking their
W case. 1t does not come up to the require
ments. because the fits do not come up to
within three years of the Observation-Disclosures
ing with a coyy of partridges-they have
dropped the wing as q decoy, II If they can
facts Of the case will never he Investigated.
They have not proven epilepsy. They have
proven fits brought on by exposure and lift
Ing Ing: SWSg np3s v you n %an i sdt to t learn 1s1 = to p6 Grow w
Whose advice would you follow in directions.
the book or the man who has had experience ?
Doctors tell you about these slight attacks OF
fainting spells? They tell you this was not
epilepsy: They tell you that when one is af-
traeied and he foamsa at the mouth and bites
his tongue. They say that because people did
not know that he had epilepsy makes no diff
ference. 1t is ridiculous to talk about the
went to school not knowing 1t II he had cpl
lepsy. Having epilepsy in the family for fif-
teen years, and yet their family physician for
fifteen years did not know it. It can not be
true. They could not have kept 1t from the
family doctor II they could have kept 1T from
the public. The facts Of this case does not
prove that he had epilepsy. What If he did
have epllepsp? They don't pretend to show
that he had epilepsy at the time Of the homi-
tide. It Is a defense to get this man out of a
tight place. I O blame my friends for do
Ing their best, but you might just as we'll try
and acquit him ou the ground of On olibt, or
that 1t was not John Ferguson, as TO try to get
him acquitted ON the ground of epilepsy. The
test is whether the defendant knew right from
wrong. II the defendant has had epilepsy for
forty years and yet knows right from wrong,
he is responsible for his actions.
Judge John ferguson from what be did. He
managed his business as other people, and he
went with his playmates everywhere and con-
Quoted himself just as every other boy does
1t seems that they have almost abandoned
the defense Of epilepsy on his trial and seem
to rely on his being drunk, If he was not an
epileptic. But drunkenness does not affect
the mind until they have had delirium ire
mems, or j~im-james. They want you to be.
lieve that he Is not responsible when they
have not proven that he ever had had a case
Of delirium tremens, and who proves that
John Ferguson was drinking heavily? His
father says he saw him drink once or twice.
His mother never saw him drunk. His broth
err says that he saw him drunk FIVE or six
times. Men here in town who had opportu-
mites for seeing John Ferguson and did see
bim, some. knew he drank occasionally, and