Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-02

themselves, or any who are dear to |
them, were the subjects Of the testi-
mony they are now canvassing.
Colonel Aylett rose to reply, but the
Court said it was not necessary; that
the instructions given, be thought, were
ample.
THE SPEECHES.
Mr.. Evans wished TO make some ar
rangement by which the defence could
get in a speech before the jury retired
for the night, but Colonel Aylett said
that it was impossible for him to say |
how much time he would take in his
opening argument.
1t did not appear that there was 70
be any sort Of limitation put upon the
speeches, either as to time or number.
Here the jury, who had been sent
out. we're called in. and the Court read |
the instructions as above.
Colonel AyIetfs speech.
To address the jury Colonel Aylett
took position in the open space be-
tween the witness-stand and the little |
pen Of the attorney for the Common
wealth.
Said he:
May it please your Honor and gen.
tlemen Of the jury: approach the DIS
cussion of this cause with feeling OF
positiye awe. feel as if had been
placed within the grooves of destiny |
from which cannot escape, and that
whether would or no, had to take
mart in the destruction Of a human being. |
Little did think few short weeks
ago-nay, two months ago-that !
would be here now; that faces which |
were strange to me then, by our long |
association would have become as Ia
miliar to me as those Of my own house
hold, so burned upon my memory by
all these events that have been trans
piring around us and all this testimony
that they will stay there as long as
life lasts. Little did | think,
gentlemen of the jury, that the
cloud of guilt and Of accusation which
hung over the prisoners head no larger
than mans hand would have steadily
increased in volume and in darkness
until to-day it hangs over him ready to
burst with every destructive energy.
Little did think, gentlemen, that
those fates and those destinies which
control. and which seem to sweep
us on in spite Of ourselves, would have
called on me to perform the part which
/ am now performing, and on you the
part which you are performing and are
to perform. Little did ] think, gentle
men, when my gifted and distinguished
friend, the Commonwealth's Attorney.
Mr.. Samuel Witt, felt called upon to
retire from the case for reasons which
will commend themselves to all right
thinking men, and when yielding to the
voice of the people Of my own county,
where this young woman was born and
liyed-people to whom | owe almost
everything am--when that call was join
ed to an invitation from Mr.. Witt that
should come here, and that the public
voice in my own county should blend
with the public voice of Richmond in
the prosecution Of this crime, little did
| think what would be called upon to
undergo. Thank God, gentlemen, the
hideous nightmare which for weeks. and
months now, has rested upon my heart
and brain is about to Oe discharged,
and the duty and responsibility which
has pressed upon me in no small degree
will soon, so far as am concerned, he
ended.
cannot, gentlemen, at this point go
further in the case without making GER
tain acknowledgements which might
forget. My esteemed friend and asso-
ciate, Mr.. Meredith, who was a com
parative stranger to me when | entered
this case. has fought so nobly and so
calamity and so truthfully and so faith
fully that the feeling of indifference
with which we entered, so far as am
concerned, has melted into one OF alice
ton. And, gentlemen Of the jury, |
must say, after a professional life that
long exceeds his, that whatever credit is
due for the conception and for the or
ganization and for the execution OF the
plan in this case, that credit is due to
him vastly more than TO me. He came
into this case, gentlemen OF the jury,
at period when it seemed to be pro-
fessional heroism, and when for con-
siderations known to you the case had
almost cvaporated into air. seized it
with the grasp Of master-mind, and
soon order grew out of chaos, and that
great rope has been twisted which now
binds the prisoner to his fate.
Not alone, gentlemen of the jury, do
| feel indebted to him, but to thatnoble
body Of men, the Richmond police, who
have aided the Commonwealth in every
effort. Not alone to those, gentlemen
of the Jury, but to that splendid detec-
tive organization headed by John
Wren. Not alone TO that, gentlemen
of the jury, but to the good men and
women Of Virginia everywhere who
abhor crime, and who, with ten thou
sand eyes and ears and minds, have held
up the arms Of the Commonwealth.
have felt, gentlemen Of the jury, that
| could not enter upon the discussion Of
this cause until had placed these facts
before you--until | had made recogni-
tion, and proper recognition, of those
among whom ! came a comparative
stranger, and by whom have been re-
ceived with the warm arms of joyful
welcome. have felt that my first duty
was proper acknowledgment of that.
While | felt, gentlemen Of the jury,
that thrill of general horror which every
man felt when this crime was first an
nounced, yet | have felt no more in that
regard than every good man and good
woman felt throughout the land. But,
while feeling that, gentlemen, we have
been desirous that this case should be
conducted in a manner that would re-
veal the true murderer, and | hope in
the discharge OF the duty which is now
resting upon Inc that | will disclose him
to you in becoming manner. | trust
sincerely, gentlemen of the jury, that
no unkind werd or thought may fall
from me that may not be called forth
by the duties of my argument. TRUST,
gentlemen Of the jury, that | may be
permitted, both by my nature and my
| eepsa of iuSfice and of right To throw