People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-09-18
The Greet Destroyer.

The Great Destroyer
"Prisoner at the bar, have you
anything to say why sentence OF
death should not be passed upon
your"
A solemn hush fell over the crowd
ed courtroom, and every person
waited in almost breathless expeota-
ton for an answer to the judges
question.
Will the prisoner answer? Ia
there nothing that will make him
show signs of emotionr viii he
maintain the cold, indifferent atti-
tude he has shown through the long
trial, even to the place of execution?
Such were the questions that passed
through the minds of those who had
followed the case from day to day.
The judge still waited in dignifed
silence. Not a whisper was heard
anywhere, and the situation had be-
come painfully oppressive, when the
prisoner was seen to move. His
head raised, his hands were clinohed'
and the blood had rushed into his
pale, careworn face, his teeth were
firmly set, and into his haggard eyes
came flash of light. Suddenly he
arose to his feet, and in low, firm,
but distinct voice said:
Il have. Your honor, you have
asked me question, and l now ask
SIS the last favor on earth, that you
will not interrupt my answer until I
am through.
81 stand here before this bar oon-
victed of the willful murder of my
wife. Truthful witnesses have test.
fed to the fact that I was q losfer, a
drunkard, and q wretch; that | re-
turned from one Of my long de-
bauches and fired the fatal shot that
killed the wife | had sworn to love.
cherish, and protect. While ] have
no remembrance Of committing the
fearful, cowardly, and inhuman deed
1 have no right to complain or con-
denim the verdict of twelve good
men who have acted as jurors in this
cause, for their verdict is in accord
anoe with the evidence.
"But may it please the court,
wish to show the court that I an
not alone responsible for the murder
of my wife,"
This startling statement created 6
tremendous sensation. The judge
lJsuzed over the desk, the lawyer
wheeled around and faced the prison
er, the juro7s% looked at each othel
il ama2ement, wniis the spectators
could hardly suppress their intense
excitement. The prisoner paused
few seconds, and then continued in
the Same firm, distinct voice:
81 repeat, your honor, that l am
not the only one guilty Of the murder
Of my wife. TIE judge on this
bench, the jury in the box, the law
gers within this bar, and most of the
witnesses, including the pastor of the
old church, are also guilty before
Almighty God, and will have to ap-
pear with me before the Judgment
throne, where we sll shall be righte-
ously judged.
off twenty men conspire together
for the murder Of one person, the
law power of this land will arrest
the twenty, and each will be tried,
convicted, and executed for the
whole murder, and not one-twentleth
OF the crime.
81 have been drunk&rd by law.
If it had not been for the legalized
saloons of my town l never would
have become drunkard; my wife
would not have been murdered; |
would not be here now, ready to be
hurled into eternity. Had it not
been for the human traps, set out
with the consent of the government,
| would have been sober man, an
industrious workman, tender father,
and loving husband. But to-day
my home is destroyed, my wife muir
dered, my little ohildren-God bless
and care for them-cast on the mercy
of cold, cruel world, while [ am to
be murdered by the strong arm OF the
State.
"God knows / tried to reform, but
as long IS the open saloon was in