The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1895-08-03
"BE JUST AND FEAR NOT"
A TERRIBLE CHARGE.

"A lL1t1LlDLE CHAltGE.
3 A Murderer's Last Words Before tn
Court Sentences Him to Death.
! Read and Reflect Before You Cas-
Your Vote
In the Local Option Election, Tuesda.
August 9th.
! ''Prisoner at the bar, have you any
thing to say why the sentence of deaf
shall not be passed upon you?"
A solemn hush fell over the crowde
court room, and every person waited il
almost breathless expectation for al
answer to the judges question.
The judge still waited in dignifiet
silence.
Not whisper was heard anywhere
and the situation had become PAINFUL,
oppressive, when the prisoner was seer
to move; his head was raised, his hand.
were clinched, and the blood had rushed
into his pale, careworn face. His teeth
were firmly'.set and into his haggarG
eyes came flash OF light.
Suddenly he arose to his feet, and in
a low, firm, but distinct voice, said:
! II have! Your honor, you have
asked me question, and l now ask as
the last favor on earth that you will no,
interrupt my answer until I am
through.
II stand here before this bar convict.
ed Of the willful murder Of my wife.
Truthful witnesses have testified to the
fact that l was a loafer, a drunkard and
wretch; that returned from cne OF
my prolonged debauches and fired the
fatal shot that killed the wife I had
sworn to love, cherish and protect
| While have no remembrance Of com.
mitting the fearful cowardly and inhu-
man deed, have no right to complain
Or condemn the verdict of the twelve
good men who have acted as a jury in
this case, for their verdict is in accord.
ancc with the evidence.
"But may it please the court, l wish
to show that am not alone responsible
for the murder of my wife,
This startling statement created a
tremendous sensation. The judge
leaned over the desk, the lawyers
wheeled around and faced the prison
er. the jurors looked at each other in
amazement, while the spectators could
hardly suppress their intense excite :
ment. The prisoner paused few Sec
onds, and then continued in the same
firm, distinct voice:
II repeat, your honor, that l am not
the only one guilty OF the murder of my
wife. The judge on this bench, the
jury in this box, the lawyers within
this bar and most of the witnesses, are
also guilty before Almighty God, and
will have to appear before His judg-
ment throne, where we shall all be
righteously judged.
If twenty men conspire together for
the murder Of one person, the law pow
or of this land will arrest the twenty
and each will be tried, convicted and
executed for whole murder and not
for one-twentieth of the crime.
II have been made a drunkard by
law. If it had not been for the legal
lied saloons Of my town would never
have become drunkard; I would not
be here now, ready to be hurled into
eternity. Had it not been for the hu-
nan traps set out with the consent of
he government, would have been an
INDUSTRIOUS workman, a tender father
md a loving husband, But today my
lome is destroyed, my wife murdered,
ny little children-God bless and care
or them-cast out on the mercy of a
old and cruel world, while am to
e murdered by the>strong arm of the
tate in which l live.
God knows, tried to reform but as
ong as the open saloon was in my
athway. my weak, diseased will-pow-
r was no match against the fearful,
onsuming, agonizing, appetite for
quor. At last sought the protection
are and sympathy Of the church Of
esus Christ.
For one year the town was without
aloon. For one year l was sober
ian. For one year my wife, and chill
rem we're supremely happy, and our
tile home a perfect paradise.
II was one of those who signed re-
agains re-opening the sa-
IONS in our town. The name Of half
the jury can be found today on the
etition certifying to the good moral
haracter Of these rumsellers and false
: saying that the sale Of liquor was
ecessary in our town. The prosecu-
rg attorney in this case was the one