The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-09-05
TIE DEATH OF j. R. wALKUp.

ton of the cause of the death of Mr..
Walkup of Emporia, Kansas, has
been reached.
| The coroners jury has determined
that arsenic poison was The direct
cause of Mr.. WAlkup's death, and
that, from the evidence presented
to them by the states attorney, the
poison was, in their opinion, given
to him by Mrs. Walkup while all
ministering the medicine prescribed
by the attending physician.
That the finding of the inquest
was reasonable, under the circum.
stances of the case as presented,
there can be no doubt. That, how
ever, this finding or the testimony
OH which it rests, is conclusive
proof of the guilt OF the accused, in
no manner follows. The examina-
ton before the corOners jury wasinnO
manner that exhaustive, that contra
dictorily one which the criminal law
wisely requires to be made previous
to final determination of the limo
cence or guilt ofan accused. Owing
to the course determined as the
proper one ty Mrs. Walkup'S coun
sci, the examination was eC pGrte,
and no evidence, either contradictory
or explanatory, was offered on her
behalf. Even Mrs. Walkup, though
personally willing to make her sworn
statement before the corOners jury,
was prohibited by her legal adviser,
| who announced that he assumed the
professional responsibility of await
ing the final trial before the court
before allowing his clients testi-
mony to be given. This action on
part of her attorney, while it indi-
Gates 4 firmnesS in discharge of
professional duty, does not, neces-
sarily, imply doubt in his mind as
to the innocence of his client. For
the present this course may tend to
laggravate the impression which,
and to all extent naturally, has
arisen as to the guilt of the child
widow, yet its wisdom in behalf of
simple justice may hereafter be made
apparent.
1t is a long time since case has
arisen presenting more exceptional
/; and distressing features than the
: present one.
: Two families, one Of Kansas, and
r the other OF This state, LIlt recently
connected by marriage, have been
thrown into extreme distress. ming.
I'D, upon the part of one family,
with the horror that a member Of
the other is it's author.
! The HERALD would fain hope that
Q the present black cloud which now
hoyers over the daughters and
r widow of the deceased may prove
n but one of those terrible, those in
!. applicable phases of circumstances
i. at times accompanying human life
which, while carrying in their wake
V misery and suffering, yet, finally
= give way to bright light of truth
g and justice; that Time, the com
: fOrter in SORROWS, the elicitor Of
Truth, will make transparent to all
!. the innocence of the daughter Of
}, Louisiana, now awaiting trial, on q
great crime, a'compaMtiye stranger
: in Il distant state
That the authorities and tie kind
hearted people of Kansas, while
: seeing to the just enforcement Of
! their laws, will appreciate, and sym
J. pathise with the isolated and,as ii
= were, homeless condition of a child
; OF our state, their present action
toward her shows.
:. Also, as journalists, we would
II entreat them not to believe that thu
; unchivalrous, the inhuman articles
: in some of New Orleans press, seek
y ing the blood of n child of their city
represent the sentiments of our PEG
a pie; fer we assure them that such il
II not the case.
Z The rainy season is approaching
10 the CITY is short of finds. WHY moi