The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-26
4 Terrible cta-ge.


A solemn hush fell over the crowded
courtroom, and every person waited il
almost breathles. expectation for an an
swcr to the Judges question.
VIII the prisoner answer?
VIII he maintain the cold, indiffer
cnt attitude that he has shown through
the long trial, even to the place Of exc
cution?
Suddenly he a~ose to his feet, and
in d slow, =, but distinct voice said
II have Your honor, YOU have
asked me a question, and | now ask the
last favor on earth. that YOU will not
interrupt my answer until | aln
through | stand here before this bar
convicted Of the willful murder Of my
wife. Truthful witnesses have testified
| that | was a loafer, drlmkard, and a
wretch that | returned from one OF
my long debauches and fired the fatal
shot that killed the wife l had sworn to
love, cherish, and protect. While
have no remembrance Of committing
the fearful, cowardlv. and inhuman
| deed. ] have no right to complain OF
| to condemn the verdict, it is in accord
ance with the evidence.
But, may it please the court, wish
to show that | am not the only one
guilty of the murder Of my wife. The
Judge on the bench, the jury III the
box. and the LAWYERS within this bar
and most of the witnesses are guilty be-
| fore Almighty God, and will have to
appear with me before His judgment
throne. where we shall be righteously
Judged If twenty men conspire to-
gether for the murder of one person.
the law power of this land will arrest
| the twenty. and each man will be tried
and convicted for whole murder, and
not for one twentieth of the murder.
[ have been a drunkard by law. If it
had not been for the legalized saloons
of my town, | never would have become
a drrnkard, my wife would not have
been murdered. / would not be now
ready to be hurled into internity.
Had it not been for the human
traps set out with the consent OF the
government | would have been a sober.
industrious work. man, Il tender father
and a loving husband. But today my
home IS DESTROYED. my wife murdered.
nv LITTLE ciildrnn-GOd bless and care
for thcn-cast out on the mercy of a
cold and cruel world. while | am to be
murdered by the strong and cruel arm
Of the State God knows | tried to re-
form, 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. For one year our town was
without saloon For one year | w;r~
a sober man For one year my wife and
| we're s,lpremelv happy. and our lit
tie home . peaceful paradise.
:. v;- ono, IF those who i.med re-
,IlonS:ranc,.~ against rnn,enin@ the "a
looms in our town. The names Of one
half of this Jury can be found today on
the petition certifying to the good NOR
n character(? y OF the rumsellerS. and
falsely SAYING that the sale Of liquor III
orr town was necessary The prOsecu-
,inu attorney cn this case was one that
% eloqupntly pleaded with this court
for the license. and the ud@e who sits
on this bench and who asked me if |
had ANYTHING t. say before the sentence
of death was passed on me, granted the
license"
The impasSioned words of the priso
ner fell like Goals of fire upon the
hearts of those present and many of
the spectators and some of the lawyers
we're moved to tears.
The Judge made a motion rs if to
stop any further speech on the part Of
the prisoner. when the speaker hastily
said
40 No Your honor. do not close
my lips. | am nearly through. and
they are the last words shall utter on
earth. | began my downward career
at saloon bar-legalized and protec
ted bv the voters of this commonwealth
which has annually 4 part of the blood