The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-01-13

I'M the officers Of company directed the proper Is
,GicisI ibespecial officer of the companyto go
,itb a number OF employees of the company to
-erair their road, that for the purpose OF pro-
.ecting these employees they took with them %
r,,s. that they had a. perfect right under the
Ia 90 IN arm themselves for that purpose; tha' d,
when they had been lulled into security ana ~
their property was destroyed at night time 4
bv mob they had a right to anticipate
DANGER; that in anticipation Of that danger ss
thev had right to do that which would Keep I,
them safe and secure in the exercise OF theif
legal rights and performing their legal dutlesi ,
that thew went up to where their road was
dsstrovcd ON their own premises, along their
own right of way, peaceable and Tor no other
purpose than to repair and protect their own
property. that when they came there were
met bv a mob who were there they without
authority Of the law aud without any legal
rights: band Of rioters who had combined
for an unlawful purpose and aIter having
combined in an unlawful manner prevented
the owners Of that property from repairing
that track and protecting it that if we came
there under legal right and had right to
be armed for that purpose the mob that was
there were the trespassers from the beginning |
aud being troapassers, were the first offenders
and they were the responsible parties and we
being in the exercise Of a lawful right and
. lawful authority, whatever may have been
the result Of our acts, if it was an accident or
, misadventure, there can be no manslaughter.
q. In addition to the proof that this man Briggs
o. came out there upon special invitation we will
4 show the reason for going out. We will show
m you that the mob had gathered around this
n dinkey that the first demand that the mob
- made of Richard Amour and his little band of
u mon was, "You are ON the crossing put your
v diuliey back from the crossing" "WhyT
ar "Wo want this crossing for the people to pass
II, by ON" and tn It the mob were occupying the
N crossing themselves That upon the requests
N of this party, in pursuance of a legal author
at ity, performing legal duty, even at the
w request Of the mob, moved the dinkey back
nm That after parleying for some time with this
,ss mob, Richard Amour found that discretion
10 was the better part of valor and he said "All
Io right; we will 60 back" And there il
ir where this mob made the mistake! That
hi. because Of Richard Amour saying that he
is would go back, they took advantage AM thei
.,t Mr. Briggs, in his Judgment, that-well tb'
f,. better thing to do is to put on bold from
A., and believe it was the best that could b.
.io1 doue) and in response to the clamorings o
A., the mob he presented himself to the mob lik
tho brave man. That when he did it, un
rv. fortunately for that poor hoy, Parht, an
~, that poor boy Holland-God know
.r,t thoy have my sympathy, as the,
lro have the sympathy of Briggs and every ma
oro that was there-unfortunatCly for these tw
ON poor boys, there was rat there; and W
no will show you that that rat, in his anxiety
Az make a hero of himself grabbed the muzz
lor. Of tho gun and in grabbing the muzzle
I,or struggle resulted by which that gun was a.
a.. q, cdcntly discharged and then, like all mob
- like all rioters, like all in1ammable gathei
20 ings God knows where it ends. Aud we wi
ant show you and show by competent testimor
a., in addition to that which you have alread
l.. that this man never knew Parft, that Par
.o,- was stranger to him, that he could have
~. malice for that boy; that there was no mott
10 in shooting that poor boy, that there was
a. reason at ali for it, that Parfit W
,en standing there, perfectly harmless ooyi III
am when the rat grabbed the muzzle of that barr
;r . in the struggle that the gun was discharge
to,.,, and we will show You that the shot that "
no. discharged from Briggs gun never stru
nm. Parft! and we will give you tho benefit
ado. that at this stage Of the proceedings. VIII
,,.,t. we have have shown that to you we kn
5,,o there will be no question as to what "
,,i,,, verdict will be. We only ask that when ;
90 q, retire, if perchance some impression N
n,. have been made upon your minds during /
=, trial against this prisoner, that you will pl
Won any such impression away until you hi
Got heard all the testimony and all the ar
Won ments and know what your verdict '
,o.,,.. be.
lt At the conclusion Of Mr. Brumms rema
.r,,,a Judge Wcidman declared the court adjourn
Lii until o'clock Saturday morning.
that Special to the HERALD.
If the PorrsvILLE, Jan. 13.-The case for the
es tho fenso Of John Briggs was opened $40
tatus, morning by Mr.. Brumm calling
int to JAMES BRITTON.
ar AS Sworn. Witness said he resided in Pc