The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-04
Keegan's Innocence or Guilt Will Be
Settled in a Few Hours.
Two Facts Established Chambers Hired the Horse
Nettie, and Died in the Buggy.
The Iuys Duty Say Who the Man Was That Was With Her the
Fatal Ride to Sciuate

gan said that he left his house about
o'clock and visited saloons on Pine, Dyer
and Clifford streets He met De-
tective Parker on Weybosset street
and went to Grimes saloon which resort
he left at $40 o'clock and went home
where he remained the rest of the day.
AT this point the State rested and as the
defense had no witnesses in rebuttal the
court adjourned until Monday.
Today's Proceedings.
The proceedings of the morning were
opened by the argument OF the defend
ants counsel, Mr.. Pierce, W no presented an
elaborate review of the case in the inter-
ests of the defendant. He denied the
prosecutions whole theory not ad-
mitting as it has generally been
supposed the defense would
concede, that the marc Nettie was on the
Hartford turnpike on the day of the
day of the murder. Mr.. McGill intends
to mako a brief argument at the conclu-
sion OF his associates. Mr.. Dubois will
follow, and tomorrow will come the
judges charge, after which the case will
be given to the jury.
The crowds this morning at the court
house far exceeded any that has been in
attendance during the trial. There is
scarcely man In the audience and many
women are obliged tostand.
The defendant is looking better than
for several days. He appeared with
clean shaven face and curled moustache.
His confidence has increased since Satur-
day and the generaiopinion appears to be
that he need expect nothing worse than
disagreement.
Mr.. Pierce began his argument at 9:40
o'clock. He said:
MAY 1t please your honor and gcntlo-
men of the jury--I am sensible that am
engaged in one of the most serious duties
i was ever called upon to discharge. You.
gentlemen, too, have q responsibility
even transcending my own, but do not
suggest to you gentlemen the conse-
quences which follow verdict of guilty
to move you to sympathy. You have
simply to do your duty and then
you may rest content, and yet
1t Is proper that / should
allude TO consequence and ask for simple
justice. / ask this not alone for the poor
man but for the general public. j ask
you,as trustee Of the lives and liberties of
your fellows, TO do simple justice.
"This is a most mysterious murder,
most wicked and atrocious crime under
any circumstance; but il it was committed
according to the theory ofth prosecution
it was most fiendish crime. The prosecu-
tion will have you to believe that the de-
fendant drew O revolver prepared for the
occasion and terminated the woman's
mortal existence. Not satisfied with this
he fires again and yet again until he had
disfgured her features. This crime,
accordino 10 ho fhaor,, ~ o<nvarop,a,t
hurled confiding woman instantly into
eternity. Such a murder would have in it
infinite treachery, cowardice and cruelty;
such crime would call forth the most
bitter public feeling. But do not, gentle
men, let such considerations move you.
1t is better that this great crime be not
followed by greater, the punishment Of
An Innocent Man.
"This man Is supposed to be innocent un-
til proven guilty. Remember this. The
burden of proof in civil cases differs from
that in criminal cases. In the latter i'm
stance guilt must be established beyond
reasonable doubt An element OF doubt
enters into almost all that is human. 1t
is not a speculative doubt on which ask
you to acquit this defendant. / simply
ask you as rational men to weigh the evil
dence.
"This isI case of circumstantiai evil
dence. Circumstantial evidence may be
strong or weak. But il you are to con-
vict defendant on circumstantial evil
dence, should you not see to il that every
necessary circumstance Is established be-
yond a reasonable doubt7 Every circum-
stance, striking out which guilt cannot
be Established, has TO be proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. Very few things are
proven In this case.
at is proved that Emily Chambers left
Mrs. Whalen's house about 40 o'clock.
1t is proved that she was murdered. Lit
tie else the government has proved
which is material. The government
have shown the defendant was
I'm possession OF revolver, but
that is all. III the State had shown that
the defendant knew Mrs. Chambe and
cherished enmity toward her, that would
be evidence damaging indeed. Tho only
evidence to show that Keegan knew of
her existence is that he frankly admitted
to Taylor that be had known her years
ago under the name OF Marshall.
"The State, with all It's resources, have
shown no connection between Emily
Chambers and .his defendant. They had
ample power TO reach his effects and those
OF the murdered woman. After moro than
four months Of waiting the government
have not brought In man, woman or
child TO show that Keegan even spoke to
this woman.
ula,tIa,oan that dia hoiical ori,,,o xya.