The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-10-12
ECKENRIDGE NEWS.
bNEsDAY, OCTOBER IL, 1892.
TING SAVES LIVES.
lsEL FOR MURDERERs EMPLOY
4 THEATRICAL METHODS.


pethies OF Jurymen-some Notable
Nhcrc Lawyers Succeeded.
Bars It has been generally known
MYERS that all sorts of desper-
theatrical devices are constantly
to In order to save the lives Of
persons. But Mr.. Wellman
3 first prosecutor to make the
In open court and quote an in
to fortify his allegation.
Be practice right or wrong2
haps the most moving part Of
81 William F. Howe's elegant sum-
1sp on behalf of Annie Walden
bere he besought the jurymen to
~ her youth, her beauty and her
mess.
kFrancis L. Wellman, assistant
ttorney, began his summing up
rosecution, he urged the jurors
be moved by his adversary's
nl appeals. He called Mr.. Howe
He said:
u had seen him, as | have, go
woman defendant and pinch
hsAa her scream and so arouse
by, you would not be 80 much in.
by his theatrical display"
pm did Mr.. Howe pinchT" | asked
ellman.
Nelson" was his prompt reply.
re<all that she had shot her lover
etause he was packing his trunk
pairing to leave her. She was on
her life. Mr.. Howe got her &C
3ep he had got to that part of his
bfup where he called upon the
fook at her. Ella was sitting be-
liable, her face toward the jury,
ling in her hands. She had been
for some minutes, but now she
1posed.
ok at that facet pleaded Mr..
b impassioned tones. He strobe
y behind her. Again he cried,
at that facet and as he did 30 he
d Elias soft wrists in his strong
} and wrenched her arms apart.
woman screamed with pain and
Ir.
That scream was enough to freeze
blood of anybody who heard it.
lot help thinking that 1t had much
D with the verdict.
Fdo not say that it is wrong for
sci 20 employ theatrical methods in
bding their clients. | think it is
of the duty of the prosecuting officer
,apse this sort of thing to the jury.
lerick B. House was defending a
4 aned Becker in the general SEES
Becker had a clothing store in
er street. He arranged candle so
when it burned down TO a certain
4 at midnight it would set fire to a
bagging soaked with kerosene,
= burn the store and earn Becker a
mount of insurance. Firemen
fhed the flames and so saved the
yof seventy-six men, women and
rem who were sleeping in the tene-
Il above the store.
I hen Mr.. House summed up he
lin a Quandary. Becker couldn't
|stand one word In English, there
how could the poor devil weep at
proper moment That little diff
Twas solved all right. Becker rested
bee in his hands and peeped through
aterlaced fingers at his eloquent de-
sr.
Think, gentleman said Mr.. House,
,u send this wretched man to prison
will punish those innocent little
; At that instant Mr.. House drop
his handkerchief.
Vow came q shrek from Becker.
gan like the scream Of catamount.
ed away in long drawn wall and
Iing sobs. Becker's tears were like
bwer. Mrs. Becker's and the little
|Prs' tears were cloudburst. Human
"a couldn't stand it. Juror No. 3
a nice old fellow, retired from bust
Ind living at home surrounded by
&nd daughters and chubby grand
Hen. He broke down at the second
" Fred Houses handkerchief. At
bird drop of the cambria the jurors
, gushed out beyond the railing.
herring sniffies and gasps came from
pther jurors.
. seems hard to believe, but it is a
,er of record that in the face of the
! evidence against Becker the jury
4 three for acquittal and nine for
fiction. The tears and bowls and
title Beckers saved the guilty man.
In proof Of his guilt let me add that
Zer was released under So 800 bail,
BIO ran away, although the case was
brought up for retrial.
)ften the question Of makeup tests
counsel stage managers ability and
nuity. There was Alphonse Steph-
the young man who deliberately
dered Lawyer Clinton G.. Reynolds
lot surrendering Stephani's fathers
o fast enough to be squandered. The
use was insanity.
|erhaps you recall the Stephan who
~ trial. Instead Of the handsome,
ly dressed rich mans son, the jury
a Wild, unkempt creature, a Caliban
gliness. Stephani's hair had been
uched By shears or brush for months.
lad not bathed or shaved. He still
the clothes he had on when ar
h His linen was In tatters and
n black. His outer garments were
~ and crusted with accumulations
|kIled food. Stephan was a good
4 Not word did he speak TO any
With large black eyes, as deep
mournful as Edwin Booths, he
a gloomily at nothing. Lear was q
u OF sanity beside him. There was
Nor less testimony TO show that
lani had fallen off q pony very
I years ago and hurt his head, and
he had always been high tempered,
any spoiled child. No one had
srea about his alleged insanity,
Oh, until after he had killed his
IRIS old friend.
Insane, was the jury's judgment
. liataninor IN the Testimony and