Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-27

Jno. w. Courtney, CIV, Clark,
Alex Walker, j. s. FOrrey,
Il. ID. Boyd, EFF. Morris.
The cases of Jordan Taylor and
John Lee, charged with the murder
of Sally Saunders, at Casky, Oct 8,
1881, were called yesterday. Separate
trials were asked for and Taylor
was tried first. The jury named
above was selected, all but Messrs.
Forrey and Morris being from the
regular panel. The court appointed
Messrs. Jas. Breathitt and Jno. w.
Mcpherson TO defend the prisoner.
He entered, through his attorneys, a
plea of guilty as charged in the in
dictment and 10 witnesses were in
troduced. The case was then argued
by the counsel as to whether the
penalty should be death or life sem
tcnce.
THE SPEECHES.
Mr.. Breathitt spoke first. He
dwelt upon the ignorance and super
stilion of Taylor, the bad effects of
public hangings upon the morals of
a community and appealed TO the
jury for mercy for his client. lie
spoke of the sweetness of life, pic
tured the horrors of existence in the
penitentiary, and urged the jury to
give him the lesser punishment pre-
scribed by law. His effort was ex-
Ceedingly creditable considering the
circumstances. lie spoke thirty
minutes. Col. Mcpherson followed
in short and touching appeal for
mercy. lie spoke of the lack of intel
ligence of his client and held that this
should be mitigating circumstance.
Ills appeal to the sympathies of the
jury was very affecting and lie closed
his speech by making Taylor kneel TO
the jury and beg them to spare his
life.
Commonwealth attorney Jas. b.
Garrett spoke but twenty minutes,
but his speech was very powerful
effort. lie appealed 10 the jury
to remember their oaihs
aud pi tired The bloody nu
der of old Sally Saunders
by Taylor aud his accomplice. lie
showed how they split her lead open
with an axe aud dragged her corpse,
face downward, TO place of conc al
ment. In replying to the appeals
for mercy he asked what right Jor-
dan Taylor had to ask for mercy.
lie had shown no mercy and by his
crime had forfeited his right to live,
lie referred TO. the insecurity Of the
penitentiary and the possibility OF
escape or pardon and closed by urg-
ing the jury to stop the reign of
bloodshod by enforcing the law and
performing their sworn duty.
The jury took the case at IL 20 and
at 1910 brought in their
verdict fixing Jordan Tay-
lOr's punishment at death.
The court. room was packed until
there was not even standing room on
the floor in the gallery. An at
tempt 10 applaud was quickly sup
pressed by Judge Grace with a threat
to arrest all who made any demon
STATIONS.
Taylor unconcernetlly cleaned his
finger nails while the verdict was
being read and save a slight start
when the word "death" reached his
car, he showed no lack of composure.
THE CASE AGAINST JOHN LEE.
The trial of John Lee, Taylor's &C.
complete, was called yesterday after
noon and nearly all the afternoon
taken up IN trying to get jury. The
following are the jurors:
j. +. Claiborne, Geo. ii. Major
Van Dulin, Jno. W. Courtney, Alex
Walker, w. II. Sizemore, Il. d. Reed,
or, p. W. Baker, r. W. Fields, Jas
Stuart, II. ID. Freeman and w. III
Reeder.
Messrs. c. II. Bush and j
w. Downer were appointed
to defend Lee. The trial will prob
ably be concluded to-day.