The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-04-01

little OF it left when Gen. Gown took his
his seat. Gen. Gown spoke for just four
hours. He went to. his work with his
sleeves rolled up. He addressed himself OF
ten to Judge Thurston and his client. APP
preaching to within a few feet OF each as
the facts which he recited had a personal
bearing upon the conduct of one or the
other OF them. So grand an exhibition OF
forensic Oratory has rarely been heard in
the courts OF this or any other state"
Gen. GOWNS address would be interest
ing and instructive reading throughout, but
its great length precludes the possibility OF
reproducing it here. A few passages, as
serving to show the force and eloquence OF
the speaker, are all that can be given, as
follows:
Permit me then for o few minutes to
discuss the facts. Did he take her for a
burglar? Did he do this deliberately? The
first position that will state to you is
this: That his conduct toward her shows
that he was capable of firing q pistol at
her. 1t is the easiest thing in the world to
say: Can it be possible that, knowing his
vile stood there before him, be fired and
killed her? But look at his conduct before
this and see whether there is anything
there which will help you in determining
whether or not he knew who he was firing
at when Ire fired the shot. We are told that
they lived together kindly and lovingly.
There WAS no dissension there. Let US
start in from the first event that we have
in evidence in regard to the conduct OF that
man towards one of the OLDEST women
into whom God had ever infused the breath
OF life. The gentleman (Thurston) says:
VIII you show a single act OF brutality on
the part of John w. Lauer toward his
wife, Show you an act of brutality?
Aye: will show you an act that if it were
perpetrated upon q child OF yours, you
would split the head OF the hound on the
spot"
These words were uttered with all the
vehemence that Gen. GOWN could COM
mand, and as he spoke he advanced to the
table at which Judge Thurston and Lauer
sat and looked fiercely from one to the
other. Then continuing he said:
when that young girl was within two or
three weeks of her marriage day, at n time
when she had surrendered everybody for
him: when she had yielded up mother and
sister; when she had weighed the world in
the balance against that man [pointing to
Lauerl and found he pulled down the
scales; at this time, as he saw her there in
the pride OF her young w~OmanhOod, stand
ing before him, did he shoot her? At this
moment when he saw her standing before
him, about to be made his wife; the woman
he was'about to swear to cherish and pro-
tect. Oh! just go back to that time. Be-
hold that lovely woman. There is no view
more heavenly than the modest maiden
rabed in chastity! Then [pointing to
LauerI she stood before you in her purity.
She had abandoned mother-abandoned
all for you. The daughter of this old NO.
man whom you have seen. What did he
do? Did he take q pistol and pound at her
head? Did he blow her brains out? No!
He did net. He hurled u dart at her that
wourds more than the pistol. He aimed at
her a blow that was intended to rob her OF
her honor, without which gold has no value
and wealth no station; and all the accom-
plishments OF life do but warn the whole
world that her contacts death. Myiriend,
Judge Savage: If you had not heard this
testimony wouldn't it require q fiend from
hell to suggest it? Would not every one OF
you-looking at her rs YOU own child, ii
you will-have thought it would havetaken
O. tiend from hell to 10 that? Did | live to
see a daughter OF mine so insulted, l would
be on trial. He could not shoot her! He
could give her q worse death.
o, gentlemen OF the jury; you cannot
dwell too much upon the enormity of this
transaction. The gentleman discusses the
question OF client sheddingn no tears on that
occasion. Isuppose / must have heard my
friends Alright, that they spoke OF the
broken heart, of the grief that cannotspeak
and cannot shed tears. The man that inn
pugns Il pure woman's honor has no heart
to break.
Referring to the fact that Lauer stopped
his sister from running for help after the
shot had been fired, said: Will you tell me,
why did he 20 to stop his sister-that sister
[pointing to Minerva Lauer]. 0, poor girl,
the memory of that night will remain on
your mind as long as God will give you life.
| wish it was in my power to wipe it away.
knows how willingly would | do it.
She knew what was the matter. She let it
out in hat one answer, II am going for
help for Sallie." She heard her brother
calling out, "Oh, Lord" and he dead body
of his wife was there. He knew that the
voice of his wife could not be heard. Miss
Lauer, if my blessing can relieve you in the
or give you an hours less suffering
knows it's yours from this out. She
knew that shot was for Salfie Lauer. He
followed her. Why, turning to Lauerl,
why, didn't you let her run? He tells her
what to say, II mistook Sallie for a burg
lar and shot her." Miss Lauer knows that
not to be so and when she reaches the
neishbors she didn't say John had mis-
taken Sallie for a burglar and shot, but
she said. Something terrible has happened
at our house; come quickly" Not know
ing that your wife was dead, John Lauer,
not knowing but that a drop OF water
would let breath into her soul, you
left her like a dog on the floor. Gentlemen
OF the jury, l asked John Lauer, why
didn't you go for a doctor" Il wanted to
be beside my WIFE" Did you know that
she was dead?" II did not; if she returned
to life | wanted to be there" Gentlemen
think OF that. "Mr. Lauer, you wanted to
remain there with your wife if life re-
He said, chats it exactly" Is
there but one answer to the question why
John Lauer wanted to be beside his vile If
consciousness returned? There is but one, |
and it is Il terrible answer, and you can
escape from it. This is the answer: l
to see that my act was not
denounced by those lips ii life had re-
Il CONGRESSIONAL INVESTTG1TION.
General Secretary Turner, OF the knights