The Opelousas courier., 1895-11-09
THE WIS CASE.
EDITORS COURIER:

EDITORS COURIER:
The firm, fearless and nnfIinching manner in
which, as journalists and citizens, you have
always openly advocated that which is right
and condemned that which is wrong, prompts
me ifAaddreSSing this article to you and in
hoping that it will find place in the columns OF
your valuable paper.
MessIs. Editors, unless by the interpOsitiOn
OF Divine Providence, or relief granted by the
appellate court or by executive clemency, q
CRIME Is about to be committed i'll our midst
which chiils with horror the human heart, and
which will tarnisl and stain the fair name OF
the parish of st. Landry. which ages and gene
rafions to come can never effacc, and Which
will bring the blush OF shame to the cheeks OF
thousands OF SONS and daughters of Old st. Ian
dry yet unborn.
OF all crimes, the one which is most repug-
nart and abominable is Il judicial crime. For
every crime committed by the individual citi-
zen, some reason, however weak, can be adj
vanccd for its commission. Either the individ,
ual was carried away by his british instincts
Fatrcd or dreadful fear of his victim. These
reasons of course do not excuse the crime. In
judicial crimes even these poor excuses are
wanting.
Mcssrs. Editors, if the Judgment Of court sell
fencing Jean Baptiste aud William Chevis to be
hanged is carried into execution, a judicial
murder will be committed. The escape from
this conclusion and cOnN ictiOn is impossible.
Argue the matter from any standpoint, accord
ing to the evidence given on trial of the case,
and Judicial murder starcs you i'll tho face.
lJIN' til'o . hoSi Az w Il Iot
Let lis, Messrs. Editors, review the evidence
and see if it must not inevitably lead to but
one end, judicial murder.
Alexandra Gullbeau. Who accompanied DR..
Courtney to the negro cabin, testified that as
soon as they got there he SAID that they would
become involved IN " quarrel with the accused,
and that he so informed the Dr., and that they
Immediately started back to the residence Of
Mr.. Jean Bite. ChiOuN; that he go was some
five or six steps II advance of the Dr.: that he
heard a blow given and, looking back, saw the
n fnlI and 81 ~ Shy1a ana y ri "a him ~ -n.p,l
blow that he tG.) picked up a paling near him
and struck at the person who had felled the
Dr.; that this person was Jean Baptiste, the
eldest brother, and that he was then struck
down himself; tlat they had only been at the
negro cabin about ten seconds mote the time,
Messrs. Editors) that thus occurred between s
and 8 o'clock AT night.
Now. Messrs. Editors, il the Judgment of the
court is executed, is it not judicial murder to
hang william Chcvis, the younger brother,
who, accordin" to The testimony of Gujlbeau'
did not strike the Dr.. and was not in sight
when he was struck ! Unquestionably. No
conspiracy was charged, none proved, Tor the
simple reason that none existed.
1t carnot be denied by any reasonable person
that il the testimony OF Guilbeau is relied on to
support the execution OF the judgment, it is jul
dlcial murder to lanS William, who according
to this evidence did not strike the DIR.
Again, II GuilDeau's testimony is discarded,
and Tue testimony OF the only other State wit
ness, Louis jackson. Is relied on to support the
execution, then again judicial murder Stares rs
III the lace. what Is tue testimony OF this state
witness! That ne was present, and saw when
the two blows were administered to the Dr..
that Jean Baptlstc was facing the DE-, talking
to him. When William approached from the
rear and struck the Dr.; that the DR.. fell, and
that William doubled his lick" meaning rr-
peatea his blow, by striking him after he had
fallen; that Jean BaptISte never once touched
the Dr.; that he saw him all the time. Now.
Messrs. Editors, would it not be judicial mur,
der to hang Jean kapliste under this evidence.
according 10 which he clearly had nothing to
do with the killing OF Dr.. Courtney? The con
clusion is rresists1le-the escape impossible.
Again, Messrs Editors, considering the case
III Its entirety, and conceding for the burmese
OF argument That both the accused had uartici.
pated in bringing about the death of the Dr..
according to the evidence given on the trial of
the ease and the circumstances surronndin~
the killing it would be judicial murder to hang
these accused They did not commit murder,
The most ultra view that can be taken OF 1t is
that they committed manslaughter.
Murder is the cool, malicious, felonious con-
temptation OF the taking of a human life. To
cOmmir murder the intention to kill mnst come
to anu be considered by us in our cool, quiet.
sober moments, when we are not moved and
animated by any feelings of resentment. ax-
element or anger. What, Messrs. Editors. are
the facts and circumstances attending the kill
ing of DR.. C.? That tile accused We're Mt thar
home, their fathers cabin, between the hours
of 8 and 9 at night; that they had been drink.
ing, ana were quarrelInS and fighting among
themselves; that at this hour, and while they
were in a state Of excitement and anger caused
by the quarrel among themselves, the DIR an.
pears on the scene and i'll less than a minnie
receives the two blows FROM which death re-
suited. When death occurs under such circum-
stances. Will any one with an ounce of Justice |
in his heart contend that murder, not man
slaughter, has been comTnitted ? All of the |
facts surrounding the killing of DR.. G. show |
most ConcIus:veiy that it was unpremedltated
The blow was inflicted with an
stick to which no evil intent could be attach
ed. and which was on the ground in the ward,
where it had I'm for months before; all OF
which shows That no preparation Whatever
had been made for the killing.
The evidence shows most cOnclusively that
only granddaughter has been committed. Is it
legal, Is 1t Just. is 1t right to hang these accused |
for a crime which they never committed? Can !
ought this community condone or sanction |
such a horror
Our legal lights are the bulwarks of our per- |
sonat safety. When that is made to depend up
on any other contingency. it is shaky and inse-
cure. No man should deny to another his legal
rlghtS-be he rich, be he poor. be he as white
as snow or as black as ebony. The smallest
midget in our parish, when before the courts. |
should feel that he stands on q level with the
tallest giant the poorest man should feel as
strong aud powerful as his richest neighbor,
Courts of justice, like death, should make no
between individuals.
NO one Inpugns the motives of the jury who
tried this case. Whilst it is generally thought
that they committed a very grave error, it has
never been thought that other than honOrahle
assisted them in reaching their YER
dict.
In conclusion, Messrs. Editors, let us do jus
ice where justice Is due. No man should re-
fuse it, none will suffer by doing it, and all are
deeply interested in seeing it done. Who knows
what day he may have to assert and demand
his legal rights, and what would be his feelings
u, for demanding them, he were scornfulIy
laughed at
Respectfully, ,JUsTycE.