The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-20

New BEDEoRD, Mass, June 19.-The
day OF the arguments in the Borden
case brought out terrific jam at the
court house, and over an hour before
the time OF the opening the doors were
beseigod by people, mostly ladies in hol'
iday attire, all hoping for seats. But
there were too few seats for the accom-.
mediation OF tenth part OF the claim
ants, and there was much Grumbling in
consequence.
When Sheriff Wright came in the
aisles we're cleared in asecoud, and
everybody was obliged to sit down,
The jury took their seats at S:55, look
ing quite fresh after two days rest and
u few minutes later Miss Borden came
in, bunch OF pinks in her hand and n
contented smile on her face. The Jury
was polled promptly on the opening OF
court. Almost Immediately Governor
Robinson began his argument. He
said:
COUNSEL ROBINSON BEGINS.
MAY it please your honors, Mr.,
Foreman and gentlemen' One Of the
most dastardly and diaboliCal crimes
ever committed in Massachusetts was
perpetrated in August, 1892, in Fall
River. The enormity of it startled
everybody; every man feels that the
wrong should bo righted and the
wicked brought to Justice. Here was q
crime with all Its horrors, and "Who
could have done such an act7" says
everybody. In the quiet OF a home, in
the broad daylight on the streets Of q
populous city, who could have done it ?
Inspection showed Mrs. Borden had
been slain by the use Of some sharp in
strumont,' and below stairs was Mr.
Borden's mutilated body. The terrors
OF those scenes no language can por-
tray, aud we are challenged at the out
set to find who was equal to that enor-
nifty, whose whole heart is blackened
with crineP A maniac, not q man OF
sense and heart-a lunatiC, devil"
Tracing the course OF all suspected
persons from the preliminary hearing
10 this trial, the speaker said that in all
those proceedings the prisoner had no
voice; the government said: I'll we
can't prove it against her she shall 60
free, but it was one sided and you arc
to draw no inference whatever from
those proceedings OF the preliminary
hearings.
1--WE come here to seek freedom and
through you gentlemen. AS you begin
TO contemplate this crime you must say
such acts are physically and morally
impossible for this young woman. 1t IS
q wreck OF human morals to say this Of
her. The defense complains OF no per-
secution on the part Of the district at-
torney. He has only one duty to do,
and with his well earned fame at the
bar he has no need to search for fame,
and he will be the last man to attempt
such. He stands above such things,
and says, all have Is tho case us 1t is,
and as it was brought mo by the police
OF Fall River. He Is not here for blood
mother Is he helped for that purpose
by our friend from Essex county. So
you see no small play, no mean tactics
on the part OF the commonwealth, only
n presentation OF what has been proved
hero and only that.
THE POLICE SCORED.
Hero the speaker referred to the
kindly manner in which the sheriff
had used Miss Borden and said: "she
came in this court, presided over by
our ablest Justices, who want the COM
monwealth case tried fairly, and now
you arc only to deal with the facts /
said the case was brought here by the
Fall River police. ! haven't time for
sarcasm and denuncation the blue
coat and brass buttons cover up what is
inside. Tho officer is always magnify.
ing this and minimizing that and look.
ing for the one who Committed-the
deed upon which they arc at work. The
witness stand brings out their weak
noss when they knock their own hends
together, but after oil they show thom-
selves 10 be onty men with human
weaknesses.
"You, gentlemen Of the jury, are
men, Bristol county mon, with hearts,
heads, aouls and right minds, and you
come here in obedience TO tho laws be.
cause in answer to their demands you
must render this great services you are
loyal to tho state and to common
humanity. Then bring your hearts,
your heads and your intellect hero and
lot us talk to you as mon.
"Lizzio A. Borden has been in your
charge from the day we opened this
case, and now comes to the time when
not alone aro hor lawyers to speak for
her aud tho justices to speak, but you
twelve mon arc to take her in charge.
She is not tho property OF anybody, but
FREQ, intelligent, innocent woman In
your charge. This woman has mover
boon alono In this court room, but has
boon watched over carefully You aro
trying this woman for her life, aud you
bound TO say. Il will critically consider
this question aud l will make no mis-.
take, for II you do, no powor on oarth
can right II. The man l want to soc in
the Jury box 10 he who says, as you have
said that ho has read and had opin.
ions, but you were capable Of using
common sense. Tho man ] don't like
to SEQ Is tho ono who Is like piece OF
putty that takes the impression Of tho
last ono who comes in contact with
him. Every man Of you Is man enough
to say whom aomo one presents M idea
In your Jury room TINT Ia not In the
CasO to say 40. II is not your business
to unravol tho mystery, but simply to
say, Ia this woman guIlty2 That's ALL,
and though tho real criminal shall
never be found, better that than that
YOU should find II wrong verdict.
"Hhefe always goos with any person
the presumption Of innocence OF crime.
That Is our bulwark, aud II started
| with her from tho div clio MnI Inknn In