The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-04-13
A Terrible Charge.

prisoner at the bar, have you anything
to say why sentence of death shall not be
passed upon you p
A solemn hush fell over the crowded
courtroom, and every person waited in
almost GREATNESS expectation for an ans
wer to the judges question.
viii the prisoner answer?
Is there nothing that will make him
show some sign of emotion?
Will he maintain the cold, Indifferent
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 fol-
lowed the case from day to day
The judge still waited in dignifed
silence.
Not whisper was heard anywhere and
the situation had become painfully OPP
pressive, 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
a flash of light.
Suddenly he arose to his feet, and in
low, firm but distinct voice said:
81 have ! Your honor, you have asked
me question, and now ask, as the last
favor on earth, that you will not inter-
rupt my answer until l am through.
81 stand here before this bar, convicted
of the wilful murder of my wife. Truth
full witnesses have testified to the fact
that was a loafer, Ia drunkard and a
wretch that l returned from one of my
long debauches and fired the fatal shot
that killed the wife had sworn to love
cherish and protect. While 1 have no
remembrance of committing the fearful.
cowardly and inhuman deed, l have no
right to complain or condemn the verdict
of the twelve good men who have acted
as jurors in this case, for their verdict is
in accordance with the evidence.
"But, may it please the court, l wish
to show that am not alone responsible
for the murder of my wife !"
This startling statement created a tre-
mendous sensation. The judge leaned
over the desk, the lawyers wheeled around
and faced the prisoner; the jurors looked
at each other in amaZement, while the
spectators could hardly suppress their in
tense excitement The prisoner paused a
few seconds, and then continued in the
same firm, distinct voice:
81 repeat, your honor, that I am not
the only one guilty of the murder 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 shall be righteously
judged.
"If twenty men conspire together for
the murder of one person, the law power
Of this land will arrest the twenty, and
each will be tried, convicted and executed
for whole murder, and not one-twenti-
eth of the crime.
~ have been made drunkard by law
If it had not been for the legalized sa-
looms of my town, l never would have
become drunkard; my wife would not
have been murdered, / would not be here
now, ready to be hurled into eternity.
Had it not been for the human traps set
out with the consent of the Government,
would have been sober man, an in
dustrious workman, a tender father and
loving husband. But today my home is
destroyed, my wife murdered, my little
children-God bless and care for them
cast on the mercy of cold and cruel
world, while 1 am to be murdered by
the strong arm of the State.
"God knows, l tried to reform, but as
long as the open saloon was in my path
way, my weak, diseased willpower was
no match against the fearful, consuming
agonizing appetite for liquor. At last, l
sought the protection, care and sympathy
of the church of Jesus Christ, but at the
communion table 1 received from the
hand of the pastor who sits there and
who has testified against me in this case,
the cup that contained the very same al
coholic serpent that is found in every
bar-room in the land. 1t proved too much
for my weak humanity, and out of that
holy place l rushed to the last debauch
that ended with the murder of my wife.
"FOr one year our town was without a
saloon. For one year was sober man
For one year my wife and children were
supremely happy, and our little home a
perfect paradise.
81 was one of those who signed re-
monstrance against re-opening the saloons
in our town. The names of one-half OF
this jury can be found today on the peti.
ton certifying to the good moral charac.
teri Oof the rumsellers, and falsely say.
ing that the sale of liquor was necessary
in our town. The prosecuting attorney
on this case was the one that so eloquent.
ly pleaded with the court for the licenses
and the judge who sits on this bench, ant
who asked me if | had anything to say
before sentence of death was passed OF
me, granted the license"
The impassioned words of the prisoner
fell like Goals of fire upon the hearts Of
those present, and many of the specta
tors and some Of the lawyers were moved
to tears. The judge made motion as il
to stop any further speech on the part OF