Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-02
Heard in His Own DGt6nC0.

''Have 1 your honor's permission to
make statementT
"Your honor!" cried Lawyer Lang,
springing to his feet; ''your honor, be-
for you pass ON this request should like
to make statement myself"
''What is it, Mr.. Lang2' asked the
judge.
'It's just this" said Mr.. Lang, with
something more than his usual acerbity;
you remember, of course, that when
this man, Cephas Love, was first brought
to trial he was without counsel; that he
refused to secure any, and that you there
tore peremptorily appointed me as such.
The appointment was useless, for the de-
fendant has absolutely and uncondition-
ally refused to say word to me concern
ing his case. | wish it to be distinctly
understood, however that this silence of
the defendants has been maintained in
the face of my most diligent efforts to
break down his reserve, for while l first
accepted your honor's injunction per-
functorily, ended by becoming deeply
interested in what is certainly unique
case-so far as my practice goes. What
. 'AS'A w obetS hith pdiblShlul olltSo 10,
that am absolutely and entirely igno-
rant OF the nature of the statement which
MIR. Love has asked permission to make.
In fact sir, all l can officially claim to
Know of this man is. that on the 18th of
this month of August, 1890, he was
found in the very act of throttling an
other man to death at No. s83 Pine
street, in this city and county
Of San Francisco; that he was arrested
II ttagrante delictu by Officer Thomp-
son; and that he has been confined in the
city prison ever since. He is no more
client of mine than is your honor. and it
would be gross misuse of terms to style
him defendant.
As Dir. Lang sat down, the man re-
ferred to as Cephas Love shook hands
with him cordially, and repeated his re-
quest for a hearing.
''It is a rather unusual proceeding-at
this stage Of the trial." said the Judge,
f'for person in your position to make a
statement, but the whole proceedings in
this case have been unusual. Moreover,
have not the right to deny you. Do
you wish your statement to appear as ev-
idenceY"
"Yes, sir"
''Take your place on the witness
stand, then, and be sworn"
He repeated the clerks humble ium-
BILE of words with slow emphasis, and
laid an intonation upon the concluding
words, $50 help me God," that gave
them reverential effect not often heard
in that courtroom.
The sketch which the artist of a morn
ing paper was at this moment making,
showed tiny, neat man, sitting primly
with crossed legs and smoothing out the
folds Of red silk handkerchief spread
over his knees. His hands, face and
scalp were of false ruddiness that was
caused by network of small veins in
the skin, and that was made all the more
vivid by the contrast of fringe of flax
white hair and two patches of close
trimmed whislsers that lay on each check
like small powder-p puffs. His eyes were
light-bluc and moist; his lips were thin
and straight; and the rest OF his features
ordinary and inexpensive. He was
dressed in a suit of dark gray clothes, and
looked something between an II ppcr
servant and small lawyer. There had
been even more than the usual interest
felt in the case, the courtroom was
crowded, and when the prisoner began
there was strained attention to hear
what he had to say, made all the more
necessary because of the low and rather
thick voice in which he spoke.
MY name is correctly given on the |
documents in the case, l believe" he
began; "besides which, it has been on
the city directory for the past thiyty-two
years. 1t is Cephas Clavering Love, al
though the middle name is very seldom
used. am sixty-three years of age, and
was born at Memphis, Tenn, ON the
thirteenth Of April, 1927. l came to
San Francisco thirty-threc years come
next Christmas eve, and for twenty one
years thereafter was a clerk for the law
firm of Kittridge e Shaw, as 1 believe
your honor well knows. For the past
twelve years have been engaged in the
law stationary department of NIessrs
Rocker & Coe. These gentlemen, to-
gether with many Others, l understand /
have the right to summon as witnesses to
testify as to my general good character,
but l shall put none of them to this in
convenience"
proceed, Mr.. Love-" said the Judge,
for the witness had stopped and was
Aci 'C"Sly IADblu5 lllC lIuIllS VI HIS Slnlll, |
withered hands with his handkerchief.
"Thank you your HONOR said the
old man, "lm not used to making long
speeches. All need further say in any
preliminary way about myself is, that / |
am widowcr, with one married dauph- |
ter living in Norfolk, Virginia; that |
am member of DIR. Wallis church. that |
live temperately, drinking but little
and smoking less; and that | am quiet,
law respecting, God-fcaring old man. Yet
sit here to-day in this court mur-
dcrcr."
''iouc honor" exclaimed Mr.. Lang,
once more springiug TO his feet, ~ must
insist that the witness be instructed.
your honor knows that plea of not
guilty was entered in the court of ex-
Animation, and similar plea has been
formally entered in this court of arroit,n-
ment This man is on trial; he has NOT
been convicted, and ! call upon YOUR
honor to instruct the witness that he
must not use such terms of self-accdsa-
ton, as well as to inform the jury that
they pay no attention to the wild words
of the witness"
"Thc witness is thoroughly conversant
with legal practices, believe, Mr..
Lang" said the Judge, "and fully ap-
prcciates the gravity Of his position md
the necessity for carefully weighing
what he has to say. Nevertheless if"