The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-21

der of Pete Alif closed yesterday, the
jury, after being out over an hour,
bringing in verdict of murder in the
second degree and fixing his punish
ment at six years in the penitentiary.
Considerable time was occupied by
the lawyers in arguing the instructions
to be given to the jury in the morning.
Laureson Sales made the opening speech
for the prosecution. He spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
Gentlemen of the jury, 1 appear be-
fore you under physical disa abilities. For
the last seventy-two hours I have
worked assiduously and have only had
about four hours sleep, but il you will
bear with me short while 1 will ap
preciate your good attention. l am
sure you, the Intelligent jurors, after
hearing the evidence in this case, will
render just decision.
THE prisoner at the bar is charged
with very grave offense. On the 23rd
OF last July homicide WAS COM
mitted which, in nv mind.
was one OF the most atrocious crimes
ever committed in the annals of civil
lied history. A young man was shot
down in the very bloom of manhood and
his death lies at the hand of the pris.
oner at the bar.
This is the the third trial the pris-
oner has had. He was tried by a Jury
In the city, one from the country and
you, gentlemen, were brought from
your homes In Lynchburg to render JUS
tice in this important case. 1t is your
duty to inquire into the guilt of the
prisoner; then render your decision,
which l know will be just one.
shall argue according to the evidence of
the witnesses and if you are satisfied in
your own minds that he is guilty of
murder in the first degree, then let that
be your verdict; but II there Is any rea-
sonable doubt in your minds as to
his guilt give the prisoner at the bar
the benefit OF 1t.
John Smith is arraigned here on the
charge of murder. He did not give the
deceased chance to fight him fair. He
had time to reflect; it was wilful muir
der. Why did he not heed his wife,
who has shown him such devotion in
his long and tedious trials. Peter AIif,
the deceased, was in the house of his
father. Though it was humble it was
as sweet to him as your home, or mine
is to me.
Instead OF the prisoner going to his
wife and little infant babe he calls to
Pete Alif to come down that he wants
to see him. Smith then draws pistol
without giving him any chance for his
life, and shoots him down. He had full
filled his threats the ere the sun went
down he would have the life blood of
the deceased.
"The prisoners conduct when he was
met by Officer Merriman, clearly proves
his guilt when he said, Yes, ] shot
man and I'm d glad of it. Now, gen.
tlemen of the jury, you have heard the
evidence and you have taken an oath to
mete out justice to the prisoner at the
bar, and know that you will keep your
oath that Is registered above. No one
on Gods green earth would want to be
placed in the prisoners position, but,
gentlemen, you owe a duty to your
country and your God that must be re-
ligiously fulfilled.
81 would to God you could render
decision that would not tear the heart
strings OF the someone. but you had
better do this than disregard your oath.
Peter Alif, If he was prepared to die, is
better off than the prisoner at the bar.
He is in a region of eternal bliss, look
ing down npon this scene, and will be
the first to forgive this man who has
taken his life. He has gone across the
river and has stood at the judgment bar
OF God, where perjury cannot prevail.
know you will render your decision &C
cording to the dictates of your con-
science, and will BIO conscious of having
served your country and your God"
Mr.. Sale occupied an hour and twenty
minutes in delivering his speech.
During the time of the speech made
by Mr. Sale, the wife of the prisoner
was sitting by his side with her infant
babe clasped in her arms, weeping bit
terly.
w. w. Berkeley, for the defense, fol-
lowed in q speech lasting an hour and
five minutes, of which the following is
an extract: "Gentlemen of the jury: am
not physically able to do justice to my
client. l came from a sick room will
ingly to do my duty to my client and l
shall not intimate, as my friend be-
fore me has, what your verdict shall be
and If overlook any evidence in the
case, l want you to remember that it
will be an error of the head and not of
the heart. 1t is your duty to render
this decision so that you will have a
clear conscience when you are arraigned
at the Judgment bar of God
''There are insults that can be given
man that will not cause him to get
angry at the time, but the insult chafes
and chafes until his mind is carried
away by angry passions. What would you
gentlemen of the jury have done had
you been placed in o similar position,
smarting under insult and your angry
passions boiling to a fever heat? You
would have acted as the prisoner at the
bar did"
Mr. Berkeley read the instructions of
the court to the jury and in conclusion
said: "Now, gentlemen OF the jury, take
the case and mete out such justice to
the prisoner, as you would wish done to
yourselves IL you were placed on trial