The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-03

Frank then calmly walked down
stairs ard said 10 the clerk. "Will you
have the goodness to tell me vi here
the nearest police station lie, / have
killed my father and want to give my
self up"
He then wrote a dispatch to his
uncle, telling him he had shot bis
father and requesting him to break
the news gently to his mother. Next
ne walked 10 the Thirtieth street Police
Station, and 10 Sergeant Heating, who
was at the desk, he said coolly:
~ have come here 10 give myeeli
up, as have shot my father.
He surrender the revolver with
which the deed WAS done and was
locked up. To the coroner Frank
Walworth told the deed as follows:
Il reside with my mother in Sara
togo, my father having parted from
her some years ago. Ny father has
not lived with my mother since we left
here three years ago, but he has re-
peatedly sent us threatening and in
sulting letters. II is only short time
ago since he threatened to shoot my
mother and myself shot him bs.
cause Of this. Not long ago | met
him in the street in Saratoga,
and then l told him II he did not keep
away from us, or insulied my mother
any more, would shoot him. l told
him there were bounds which / would
not allow any man to 20 beyond with
impunity, especially when my mother
was being insulted. went to bis
house yesterday and left note ior
him to call on me, which he did this
morning. When he came into the
room / tod him TO promise me that
he would not threaten or insult us
any more, which he promised. Shortly
aitsrward we began speaking on family
matters, and he used some very In
sulting language and put his hand in
his pocket as though to draw ont a
pistol, when / shot him. He then
came toward me and l fred three shots
at him. When l fred the last shot ct
him he had me by the collar. ! only
regret this on account OF the effect 1t
will have upon my family"
Mr.. O'Conor's defense OF young
Walworth was one Of the most bril-.
liant forensic appeals in the history oil
American jurisprudence. Mr.: O'Oon-
or pictured the prisoner ss boy nst
blossomiug into manhood, who, II he
had not been taught TO hate, had not
been taught to love his father. The
prosecution claimed that the crime
was committed because the prisoner
failed TO obtain a satisfactory settle
ment OF the family difficulties from
his fsther not to annoy his mother.
The arguments of the counsel Ter the
defense were based upon several
grounds. He submitted to the jury
that a prisoner could not be found
guilty unless there was in his mind a
deliberate purpose TO kill in cold
blood. He also tried to persuade the
Jury that the pistol was fred in self
deieuse, and that he ac.ed under ter
ror." The statement OF the prisoner
was to the effect that he was guilty oil
no crime. His father trea ed his
mother very cruelty. He said his
father had his grasp on him when no
fred his last shot.
Judge Davis, before whom the pris-
oner was tried, delivered very i'm
pressive charge to the jury. lie said
IL was for the jury to determine
whether the father did anything to
give the prisoner right to say that
the father was about to draw a pistol
TO shoot. In spite OF the able defense
of Mr.. O'Conor, the pri, oIer was
found guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree. He was sentenced to imprison-
ment for life, and was taken to Sing
Sing in July, 1873, and was transferred
from there TO Auburn In December OF
the following year, In 1877 he was
pardoned by Gov. Robinson. In May,
1881, he was admitted to the New
| York bsr.