Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-10-20
A TERRIBLE CHARGE.
A Murderer's Last Words Be-
fore the Court.
BIT TAIArR MORGAN, SCRANTON. PA.
Copyrighted.)

''Prisoner at the bar, have you
anything to say why sentence of
death shall not be passed upon
your"
A solemn hush fell over the
crowded court room, and every
person waited in almost breathless
expectation for an answer to the
judges question.
Will the prisoner answer?
Is there nothing that will make
him show some sign of emotion?
Will he maintain the cold, in
different attitude that he has
shown through the long trial, even
to the place of execution?
Such were the questions that
passed through the minds of those
who had followed the case from
day to day.
The Judge still waited in digni-
fed silence.
Not a whisper was heard any
where, and the situation had be-
come painfully oppressive, when
the prisoner was seen to move; his
head was raised, his hands were
clinched. and the blood had rushed
into his pale, careworn face. His
teeth were firmly set, and into his
haggard eyes came flash of light.
Suddenly he arose to his feet,
and in a low, firm, but distinct
voice, said:
81 HAVE! Your honor, you
have asked me a question, and |
now ask as the last favor on earth
that you will not interrupt my
answer until | am through.
Il stand here before this bar,
convicted of the wilful murder of
my wife. Truthful witnesses have
testified to the fact that | was a loaf
or, a drunkard, and a wretch; that l
returned from one of my pro-
longed debauches and fired the
fatal shot that killed the wife |
had sworn to love, cherish, and
protect. While | have no re-
membrance of committing the
fearful, cowardly, and inhuman
deed, have no right to complain
or to condemn the verdict of the
twelve good men who have acted
as jury in this case, for their ver-
dict is in accordance with the evil
dence.
"But, may it please the court, |
wish to show that AM NOT
ALONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
MURDER OF MY WIFE"
This startling statement created
tremendous sensation. The
Judge leaned over the desk, the
lawyers wheeled around and
faced the prisoner, the jurors
looked at each other in amaze
ment, while the spectators could
hardly suppress their intense ak
element. The prisoner paused
few seconds, and then continued
in the same firm, distinct voice:
Il repeat, your honor, that | am
not the only one guilty of the MUIR
der of my wife. The Judge on
this bench, the jury in the box,
the lawyers within this bar, and
most of the witnesses, including
the pastor of the old church, are
also guilty before Almighty God,
and will have to appear with me
before His Judgment Throne,
where we all shall be righteously
judged.
''If twenty men conspire to-
gether for the murder of one per-
son. the law power of this land
will arrest the twenty, and each
will be tried, convicted and exc
cuted for whole murder, and not
for one-twentieth of the crime.
Il have been made a drunkard
by law. If it had not been for the
legalized saloons of my town, /
never. would have become drunk
ard; my wife would not have been
murdered; / would not be here
now, ready to be hurled into eter-
nifty. Had it not been for the
human traps set out with the con-
sent of the Government, l would
have been sober man, an indus
trious workman, tender father,
and loving husband. But to-day
my home is destroyed, my wife
murdered, my little children God
bless and care for them-cast out
on the mercy Of cold and cruel
world, while am to be murdered
by the strong arm of the State.
"God knows, / tried to reform,
but as long as the open saloon was
In my pathway, my weak, diseased
will-power was no match against
the fearful, consuming, agonizing
appetite for liquor. At last /
sought the protection, care and
sympathy Of the church of Jesus
Christ, but at the communion
table received from the hand of
the pastor who sits there, and who
has testified against me in this
case, the cup that contained the
me fiery alcoholic serpent that
Is found in every bar-room in the
land. II proved too much for my
weak humanity, and out of that
holy place rushed to the last de-
bauch that ended with the murder
of my wife.
s.For one year our town was
xvsfboa,f a saloon For one ypaI. I