The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-01-20
NOT GUILTY.
toonenved from Nra paoeJ

Continued from Ftra pdge)
ued his address Witnesses have sworn here
that after Briggs fred they saw Parft turn
around and then fall. With such a wound he
h no time to turn after he WAS sho.. He
fell like a log. He got that shot from cast Of
the dinkey. He turned a. Briggs gun was
discharged and the bullet that killed James
parft came from one Of these men Of the
borough Of GilbertOn, Facing the spectators,
us If addressing the people Of Gilberton, in
the throng Mr.. Brumm shouted in the high
est pitch of his voice You murdered him. and
not John Briggs. The bullet from Briggs
gun wa, found in Connor's shoe ConnOrs
saws so, and 10 is shown gcOnetrically.
Mr. Brnmm concluded his addr ss by say
ing, when the old year was rung out aud the
new wear ruug in there were two sad families
in Glherton i'm the house Of Parfit and the
house of Holland. But while those families
were there there were others IN tadness In
the house and home of john Briggs in Cir
ardville there were the loving wife and three
daring children. There was no Christmas
tree there. They had no Santa Claus there
Papa was not there and how sad it must have
been to contemplate the question, Where is
papaY Locked in a cell, behind the bars OF
the jail There was another sad place and
that WIS the home Of the father and mother
Of John Brigg-; the homes of his sisters and
the brothers Of John Briggs. There was no
Christmas there. There they sat the old
man and his grey haired wife, the old mother
that had raised this hoy with character
which was shown TO this jury. Their hope
and staff IN their declining years shattered
and broken by the reports that had Zone out
manufactured by these men These people Of
Gilberton had given their testimony before
the Coroner's inquest and they had
condemned Briggs as a murderer and
it had been published; and the old father
and mother, and the loving wife were afraid
the worst might happen. Gentlemen Of the
Jury, you have suffered in your confinement
during this trial Of over two weeks. Great
God what torture it must have been to
John Briggs in his confinement of five
months, away from his wife aud little ones
and old folks. in that cell, and an innocent
man, not knowing what these mon seeking
| revenge might say or swear to in this case
Gentlemen Of the jury, there is sadness ;
| there is torture there is pam; compare it, If
you will, with VIII t you have endured. Who
| is John Briggs2 Is he a ruifian? A brute? A
| bad man. Who is John BrigEsY We have
challenged the Commonwealth since the
| opening Of this case, more than two weeks
ago, to attack his char. cter They have had
the opportunity to scour the county al hunt
up testimony against him as to his character
and they were not limited to general charsc
| t.
| John Briggs from his infancy and through
! his boyhood, his youth and his manhood We
! bring him up to the jury box and
we have brought men here of
of all the nationaltes; we have brought the
| Welsh, the German, the Irish, the American.
the Scotch aud every nationality With which
| we could come in contact Every one, TO a
man, says the character Of John Briggs is
| good and one says "none better" Every one,
/ tn, tvfyr obs
ter We do not select kinds of men. We
bring them all. The coal operator, the en-
| gincer the boss, the professional man, the
! business man, the agent, in all vOcations ol
| life We bring them here and they all say
John Briggs bas good character and his
Honor will tell you that even if you may not
have doubt sufficient for you to scQuit him
that good character may serve to raise a
doubt and you must give that good character
consideration in making up your convictions;
that weight must be given in behalf Of tho
defendant And now ask you, gentlemen
of the jury, what will that verdict be Not
murderl No. | am satisfied of that. Not
manslaughtcr! No / am satisfied Of lhnt
know that you are not going 10 tell
his father and mother that they have
reared 2 deTer, or man who has
killed his fellow wan, even invoiuntaIily,
or in an unlawful act or put the finger Of .
leOn upon husband and a loving father, OF
the mark of a felon on the father of three in.
uocent babes that have yet to face the world
with all It's turmoils and troubles. You are
going to say mot guilty and say it in way
that nobody will misunderstood you, without
hesitation, without expending five minutes
on your verdict believe you will come in
almost Instantly after you go cut if you ar,
not already convinced, And when you bring
that verdict you will bring it so clear that the
people of GilbertOn may understand that
they were in error and that it will teach the
people Of this Commonwealth that innocent
men, when brought to the courts Of justice
4 will receive as fair rand as impartial trial NJ
twelve honest ana intelligent men can give
aud their verdict will he Not Guilty"