New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-09
they do not dare to commit themselves on the
eve of an election.
AN AsSzSSTNS PLEA FOR TIME

An ASSASSINS PLEd run II"H'
Nearly a year ago Burton c. Webster, a
person engaged in the pursuit of the VOCATION
known as bookmnking. the influence OF which
mon human character has not been fo'lnd 10
he particularly elevating or ennoblIng, ana
living nj the time with a shameless woman VINO
was not his wife, went to the apartments OF MS
neighbor, Charles E. Goodwin, and shot MN
down. Killed him deliberately an unarmed
man. without notice warning. There's only
one name for that sort of crime it is cowardly'
brutal assassination, without the falntest gliih-
mer of an extenuating circumstance. The pre-
tcxt upon which this murderOus brute slew
his neighbor was that the latter had gwen
offence to the woman who shared the MUIR
dcrer's apartments Upon her representa-
tion that Goodwin had used language to her
that offended her chaste sense OF proprety ne
resented the insult to this refined and sensitive
nature by killing the person who had offended
her. So then she, a shameless woman, who had
lived the life of an adventures for years, had
the high satisfaction of having a man killed
for using bad language in her presence. with
Goodwin dead in his doorway and her
paramour fugitive from justice, she was
doubtless somewhat cxutant over the sensation
she was creating. 1t is question whether on
the whole it is worth while to kill fellow
creature for such woman as that.
The question is still open. One jury has
heard the testimony has sat and listened while
witnesses were permitted to attack the char
actcr of the dead man, as defenceless in his
grave as he was at his own door when the
armed bully and coward shot him down. has
1oG1 tLa M
memory with such mean insinuation and I'M
founded charge as would shock the sense OF
Justice of n lynch-law tribunals and at the
end of it failed to agree. process so singu-
larry ordered and so strangely conducted that
the dead man seemed to be on trial and with
out counsel, while the person arraigned was
the injured party. deserving only the sympathy
and pity of the public resulted perhaps natu-
rally in disagreement of the jury. 1t il not
yet known whether, under our laws rs now
administered. any gambler, thief or thug may
go to the door OF the man against whom his
mistress has taken some offence, and delib-
eratcly shoot him down with impunity.
Webster was in court on Monday, but not
ready for trial His counsel pleaded for an
adjournment He himself by permission of the
court made a personal appeal for time. lie
said he was poor, and could not pay for coun-
sci, but was too proud to have counsel as
signed him by the court. lie resented being
considered an object of charity And so he
wanted more time. Time? How much time
did he give the man he shot down? Why
should he or his counsel be permitted to post
pone upon empty and frivolous pretexts the
settlement of question upon which depends
not merely his poor, worthless life or his lib
erty, but the lives and safety in some degree
Of all citizens. II such fellows as he can shoot
down any one TO crafty n wicked woman S
resentment or caprice let a jury say so. If
not, let the jury say that, and let punishment
follow crime