The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-06-27
CHAPTER VI.

The judge turned TO the prisoner and
asked If he had not any witnesses whom he
wished to have heard in his behalf. Mr..
Brownlow quietly responded that there
were none; he had told his story, that was
sufficient for him.
"If you have any thing to say TO the jury,
them" said the judge, addressing the pris-
oner once more, "you have the opportunity
to do SO now"
Mr., Brownlow's address was brief: s.Gen-
tlemen Of the Jury" said he "the hazard Of
drawing by lot has gathered upon your
bench twelve citizens, strangers to each
other, belonging to the most diverse classes
and professions, each one occupied with any
thing rather than criminal psychology, and
badly prepared, undoubtedly, to discern the
trne from the false or to draw the reality
from the mist of the clever sophistrics OF
the public prosecution, well drilled as it is,
and wearing as it does the Judicial apparel
which the prosecution renders solemn in
order to strike with better effect upon your
imagination. You would, therefore, bevery
cxcusable If it should sometimes occur that
you acquit criminals and condemn the limo
cent But the affair which is to-day sub
mitted to you is too simple for your con-
science to be led astray, and you will need
TO make no great effort of good common
sense to set aside an accusation in which
the first element of likelihood is lacking.
You are asked to declare that have killed
mywife, yet my prosecutors have found 1t an
impossibility to present any clear evidence
that my wife was the victim of my violence.
They have, It is true, declared that a Ger
tain corpse found IN the river in an advanced
state of decomposition was that of Mrs.
Brownlow, but when you consider the mo-
tives that would lead the family OF Mrs.
Brownlow, prejudced as they are, to idcn-
tlfy these remains as her body, you need
not think long before you decide that such
evidence is wholly Enthusiastically But
even If it should prove true that the body
thus found was that of Mrs. Brownlow,
there is still not a particle of evidence
worthy moments consideration which
shows that In any way was responsible for
her death. As matter of fact, her death is
uncertain, SO that if should be inclined to
marry again to-day no minister or wise JUS
tice or anybody having any authority to per-
form the ceremony would dare to do SO, for
no one could prove me TO be widower.
Here is q contradiction which will not
escape your wisdom. / beg of you, there
fore, to send me promptly about my bust
ness and go back TO your own"
This discourse was exceedingly awkward;
it was full Of q contcmptuous condescension
for the institution of the jury, contempt
which the accused would have done better
TO dissimulate. The public prosecutor prof
tied by this mistake; he took good care to
emphasize it in his reply to the jury, which
was forcible resume OF all the testimony
and an earnest appeal TO the jurymen not to
be led astray by any idea that the defendant
was not in his right mind.
why" he said sis it that wealthy man
should deliberately refuse TO employ coun-
sci in his defense, whose whole course has
been contrary to what would be taken by
most sensible menl Why has he done sol
Because the weight of evidence is so ire
mendous that he knows there Is no escape
from it, but his only chance for life, which
he, as all men, holds dear, is to convey the
impression that he is insane; but up to this
time there has been nothing in the career OF
the defendant which has led any one to sup
pose that his mind was not as well balanced
us that OF any other member OF this COM
munity.n
Tho jury finally retired about four o'clock
in the afternoon. What were the circum-
rldutco ludt uAu iilOob WtlBub ulOn tutlt
minds, and what was the course of their de
alterations it would be iDanifestly improper
and, as fact, impossible TO say. The
secrets Of the jury-room are kept profound
" sacred ia almost oil cases. 1t was GER
Iainly SO III this. Tho audience in the court
loom remained for nearly two hours with
ut stirring except TO indulge in conversa-
ion. When IL was nearly six o'clock word
vas sent in from the jury-room TO request
instruction from the court upon point rela-
i've to the vplue OF clrcumstantial evidence |
md the evidence Of the relatives OF the de
oased. When the instruction that had
'ccn asked for had been given there was
mother wait, and after the room had grown
ark and the janitor had lighted the gas,
inny Of the spectators went out one after
mother. believing that the verdict would
OF 30 reached that night. The more they
aifod tho moro certain Il seemed that q
|raerccmont would DO the result And