Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-10-06
TWO GREAT SPEECHES.


son Jury.
Cincinnati Enqairer
The recent great speech delivered Nv
senator Voorhees, Of Indiana In M.
johnson murder case az Grenvllle
Tenn, was very similar to his effort n
defense Of Congressman Phil Tbomnsnn
tried at Harrodsburg, Nv. some years
ago, for the killing Of Walter Davis for
the alleged seduction OF deiendante
wife. The two cases were almost
Identical, although the provoca.
ton for johnson TO commit boni.
eide was much greater than IN
the Thompson-Davis tragedy. senator
voorhees, was followed at the conclusion
Of his vindication Of Thomson nv Jerrr
r. Morton. now circuit nudge az the I,ex.
ngton fky.) district, IN a speech. which
Tor elegance Of diction, force Of illnstra'
ton and argument. has probably meyer
been eNcclled In this country. MIR. Nor
ton represented the prosecution--thc
vile and children and friends of the slain
while the Tall Sycamores Plea WAS
IN behalf Of the slayer. senator Voor.
hees dwelt at some length on the
sanctiiy of home and the inyiutate
nature of the domestic relations Ue
quoted holy writ to show that the ndul.
terer must die, and concluded Nth a
touchingly beautiful pcroration m which
he declared that Phil Thomson. bv
shooting Walter Davis, not only main.
tanned his honor and that Of his family.
but pursued the proper course and repre.
sented the highest type OF Christian civil.
cation. The address Of the eloquent
Hoosier statesman made profound inn
preston upon the Judge, Jury, and
crowded courtroom, and when he sat
down the hum OF admiration was heard
on all sides. Then Jerry II. Morton
1 stood before the court. He was
an insignificant looking limb
OIL the law when contrasted with
voorhees,. He began very calmly with a
little anecdote, and as he proceeded with
the story so impressive aud appropriate
TO the case the reporters, OF whom the
writer was one, laid down their pencils In
utter wonderment; the crowd listened
/ teariullv, and the silence was so painful
that everyone might almost hear his own
( heart throb. That illustration was a
whole speech in itself, pronounced greater
and more convincing to Intelligent,
Christian men than all the sklllful word
1 paintings OF Senator Voorhees,. Ii has
often been matter of regret that Judge
I Morton's PREDATORY anecdote was not
! published at the time. IL has never been
Fin type, but II Is indelibly stamped upon
1 the minds OF those who heard il. The
! story was about as follows;
4 "Gcntlemen of the jury The learned
1 lawyer and statesman from Indiana who
has Just addressed you has said with
much Nehemenco that Phil Thompson In
/ shooting Walter Davis yindicated his
manhood, maintained the sanctity OF his
domestic Preside, and represents the
lhlghest type of Christian civilization.
/ How can better indicate my disapproyal
4 of such conclusions than by a story taken
1 from real lifcY Tho hero (for he
4 was indeed heroj lived in New
orleans. lie was an eminent lawyer
and statesman, and respected
citizen Of Louisiana. Among his richest
/ blessings were a wife and three lovely
I children. In an evil hour his wife list
ened TO the siren voice of n man other
than her husband He coiled about her
his hellish meshes. She became victim
of his lust, and abandoned husband,
I children, all, TO fec with her betraycr.
! The wrongcd husband did not follow the
/ destroyer Of his happiness and shoot him
down like dog. His home
was blighted by the cruel
scandal, but he bore his wrongs
/ like Christian. Soon the erring wife
was deserted by the villain who had
4 ruined her. and on Bonded knees she
Y sought her husband. He would not allow
/ her TO contaminate his pure little ones,
4 but he kindly agreed to provide for her
I in suitable retreat. His fresido was
I M lnnuor ono al pautoutmput and happi.