The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-01-17
LETTER FROM DIR. GOSS.
He Says He is the Victim of n
DiabOlicaI Scheme.
That the Half Has not Been Told, But
That Evidence Yet to be introduced
VIII Prove Him Innocent-His
Case Has Been Preiudged.

DR.. J. J. Goss has addressed the
following letter to the public:
know that you have been waiting
to see vindication of my innocence
through the press but | thought best
to make it before bar of justice, and
let them announce my innocence and
show the diabolical scheme that has
been laid to entrap me into its snares.
Now, l know how eager you are to
hear my side of the question; but, be
patient, and you shall hear what your
humble servant has to say. You
are like an audience in a thea
tire, after One-half the play has
been performed-you are anxious
to see how it will terminate.
But | will soon raise the drop curtain
that now hides this tragedy like a
dark mist, and clouds the mind of the
public, and it will fade away. / would
before now have indicated myself to
the public, but by the advice of coun-
sci, have held my peace.
The testimony of numerous witness
es my lawyers would not use before
the Justices court, because it was
merely an examining court. Like
many other men with small minds,
invested with power, the J. P.'s lost
their equilibrium. Holding official opin-
ions, and being advised by the States
attorneys to bind me over, and having
no judgment of their own, and know
ing their own weakness, they conclud-
ed to place the responsibility upon q
higher court, and then public opinion
could not say that that they had erred
in their judgment. My lawyers being
men of foresight, saw through the
weak judgment of these men. My
counsel were told by two responsible
gentlemen, that these Justices had
made up their verdict before the trial
was concluded, and before any of my
witnesses were examined; and for that
reason we declined embarking any fur
Their upon such frail vessels. The
names of these gentlemen were DR..
Dukes and Mr.. Burgess Young, both
reliable gentlemen of veracity and
responsibility. My attorneys saw the
| little game that was about to be play
ed and closed without examining a
single witness for the defense. We
are saving these witnesses that their
evidence may fall upon the ears of a
firm and learned Judge disposed to
give the citizens justice, and one who
knows testimony from hearsay. My
attorneys, therefore, sued out a writ
of habeas corpus before Judge Nc
| Laurin.
Now, fellow citizens, just keep quiet,
and will show you one of the most
damnable, diabOlical schemes that
was ever manipulated outside of the
bottomless pit. If satan himself had
gone into fast and prayer and had
prayed that he might be invested with
wisdom, he could not have concOcted
more diabolical and complicated
piece of villiany than has been prac-
ticed upon me. But as God has over
thrown the devil in former days. He
still holds him in subsection; and it is
to God Almighty to whom | look, tC
stand by me in my hour of sore afflic.
ton, which He has never failed to dc
for those that put their trust in him
In conclusion, fellow citizens, wai
until you hear the testimony from my
side of the question before you con
denim; and do not listen to one-half o.
an untold story, for no two truths
can cOntlict-one or the other is
bound to be counterfeit. shall show
you line of evidence connected, linl
by link, one truth demonstrating an
other, and one fact developing an
other, until prove myself innocent
beyond the possibility of lingering
doubt. With these remarks, close.
Respectfully yours,
j. j. Goss.
Since the above was written, DR.
GOss has had a hearing before Chan
cellOr McLaurin on writ of habeai
corpus and been released on Sc, 00(
bond. The LEADER earnestly hopes
that when his regular trial comes, h,
may be able, as he says, to prove hi
innocence " hey ond the possibility o
a lingering doubt" By his decision
the Chancellor has said, he regards
not the proof as evident nor the pre-
sumption great of guilt.
|
There is less drunkenness in the pro