The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-06-27
TEMPERANCE.
The Great Destroyer.

shall not be passed upon yOuY'
A solemn hush fell over the crowded
courtroom, and every person waited in
almost bresthless 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,
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
followed the case from day to day.
The judge still waited in dignified ST.
lence. Not whisper was heard any
where, and the situation had become
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, care-worn
face, his teeth were firmly set, and into
his haggard eyes came 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
a question, and l now ask, as the last
favor on earth, that you will not inter-
rupt my answer until 1 am through.
l stand here before this bar, convicted
of the wilful murder of my wife. Truth
full witnesses have testified to the fact
that l was loafer, drunkard and
wretch; that l returned from one of my
long debauches and fred the fatal shot
that killed the wife had sworn to love,
cherish and protect. While l have no
remembrance of committing the fearful,
cowardly and inhuman deed, have no
right to complain or condemn the ver-
dict of the twelve good men who have
acted as jurors in this case, for their
verdict is in accordance with the evil
dence. But, may it please the court, l
wish to show that 1 am not alone re-
sponsible for the murder of my wife!"
This startling statement created tre-
mendous 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 excitement. The
prisoner paused few seconds, and then
continued in the same firm, distinct
voice:
" repeat, your honor, that 1 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, includ-
ing 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 together for
the murder of one person, the law
power of this land will arrest the
twenty, and each will be tried, con-
victed and executed for whole murder,
and not one-twentieth of the crime.
" have been made a drunkard by
law. If it had not been for the legal
lied saloons of my town, never would
have become a 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 q
sober man, an industrious workman, a
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 on the mercy
of cold and cruel world, while l 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, con-
Stunning, 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 alcoholic SER
pent that is found in every bar.room in
the land. 1t proved too much for my
weak humanity, and out of that holy
place 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 chill
dren were supremely happy, and our
little home perfect paradise.
was one of those who signed a re-
monstrance against re-opening the sa-
looms in our town. The names of one
half of this jury can be found to-day on
the petition certifying to the good moral
character ~ of the rumselers, and
falsely saying that the sale of liquor
was necessary in our town. The
prosecuting attorney on this case was
the one that 80 eloquently pleaded with
this court for the licenses, and the
Judge who sits on this bench, and who
asked me if 1 had anything to say be-
fore sentence Of death was passed on
me, granted the license"
The impassioned words of the pris-
oner fell like Goals of fire upon the
hearts of those present, and many of
the spectators and some of the lawyers
were moved to tears. The Judge made
a motion as if to stop any further
speech on the part of the prisoner,
when the speaker hastily said:
"No! no! your honor, do not close my
lips; am nearly through, and they are
the last words shall ever utter on earth.
| began my downward career at sa-
loon bar-legalized and protected by
the voters of this commonwealth, which
has received annually part of the
blood money from the poor, deluded
| victims After the state had ma1a mo