The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-08-09

the government, WOulu HIVE OOOH
q sober man, an industrious work
man. a tender father, and a loving A
husband. But today my home IS
destroyed, my wife murdered, my
little children-God bless and care
for them on the mercy OF a
cold and cruel world, while l am to c
be murdered by the strong arm OF
the state. {
Good knows, I tried to reform,
but as long as the open saloon
was in my pathway, my weak aus
eased will-power was no match
AGAINST the fearful, consuming,
a9onizing appetite for liquor. At
last. [ sought the protection, care
and sympathy of the church OF
.Tesns Christ. but at the commun-
ion table [ received from the hand
Of the pastor who sits there and
testifes against me in this case'
the cup that contained the very
same alcoholic serpent that is tound
in every bar-room in the land. 1t
proved too much for my weak hu-
manity. and out of that holy place
T rushed to the last debauch that
ended with the murder OF my wife.
"For one year our town was With
out a saloon. For one year was
a sober man. For one year my
wife and children were supremacy
: happy, and our little home per-
h feet paradise.
Il was one of thosse who signed
q remonstrance againt re-open1ng
r. the saloons in our town. The
< names of one-half Of this jury can
le be found today on the petition
certifying to the good moral char
acter1?) of the rumsellers anc
Re falsely saying that the sale OF llq
nor was necessary in our town
f. The prosecuting attorney on TIM
N case was the one who so eloquent.
,e pleaded with this court for tn
licenses, and the Judge who sits o.
at this bench, and who asked me II
Sc had anything to say before sentenc
m of death was passed on me, granite
the license"
ed The impassioned words OF tn
prisoner fell like Goals OF fire upo
w. the hearts of those present, an
oe many Of the spectators and some {
en- the lawyers were moved TO tear
MS The Judge made motion as II
ere stop any further speech on the pa
ed IF the prisoner when the speak
his hastily said
his NO! no! your honor, do n
hit. close my lips; I am nearly throug
md and they are the last words L shi
ice ever utter on earth.
II began my downward care
ave at a saloon bar -legalized and pl
low tected by the voters OF this col
hat monwealth, which has received a
wer nually part Of the blood-mon
from the poor deluded victim
ON After the state had made me
nv drunkard and a murderer. I
,stii- taken before another bar-the
fer, Of iustice( p by the same power
at | law that legalized the first bar, a
de- now the law-power will conduct
shot to the place Of execution and has
~ to nv soul into eternity. [ shall
lille pear before another bar-the ]u
CON- ment bar of God, and there y
and who have legalized the traffic,
t to have to appear with me..thlnk
rdict that the Great Judge will hold
have the poor, weak, helpless VIC
for Of your traffic-alone respons
with for the murder Of my wife? \
I, in my drunken, frenzied lrresl
,rt, I sible condition, have murdered
alone but you who have delibera
|. nv murdered your thousands, and
murder-mills are in full opera
Gated today with your consent.
The "All of you know in your ne
the that these words Of mine are
faced the rawlings Of an unsound II
,ed at but God Almighty's truth.
lie the liquor traffic Of this nation Is
opress sponsible for nearly all the
The ders. bloodshed, riots, pow
S, and misery, Indebtedness and woe
, firm, breaks up thousands OIL IL
homes every year; sends the
/ am band and father to the prise
, MUIR gallOws, and drives cOuhCleeo
on the ers and little children into
x. the world to suffer and die: l
most nishes nearly all the criminal
g the ness Of this and every other
e also and blasts every communl
ID, and touches.
before your honor, am done
ere we now ready to receive my sci
ed. and be led forth to the place