The evening times., 1896-11-19
OLD MANS LIFE IN ISSUE
Second Day in the Trial of Pearson
for Killing Ford.
PRISONER VERY NERVOUS
Directed Frequent Chances of Appeal
to Jury-Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney Laskey Admits That the
Government Is Somewhat Embar-
rassed by the Mans Age.

Christopher Pearson, alias Lum Pearson,
| sat In the prisoners dock this morning the
| second day OF his trial for the murder OF
| John L. Ford.
| Fe;,rsonIs an old man; his victim youth.
| The prisoner was sixty-fiye years old yes
| terday. He looked older than that last
| evening, but this morning he appeared fully
eighty years OF age.
1oLtering, withered and gray, the pic
| ture or despair and misery. Pearson sat
behind his counsel. His life hung i'll
| balance.
His fingers were clinched tightly to-
| gether. The lines OF age ON fore head and
cheek were deeper chiseled today than
| yesterday.
The veins stood out on his face like welts
from lash. The ughtly-dra lips
twitched neryously, and his head sank upon
his chest.
Now and then he directed his gaze to the
men sworn 10 decide his fate The mans
entire appearance was Il silent appe al to
the Jury for leniency, for mercy, for ac-
quttal.
one forgot the dead youth in looking
at the very old man in the court room.
The jury recalled his euivering toned state
ments of yesterday that he was afraid of
Ford. and it seemed possible for them to
believe Pearson innocent or murder.
FACTS ARE MERCILEss.
Facts are cold and merciless," came
the words from Mr.. John +. Laskey. as
sistant prosecuting alto rney. 1T is
emba barrassing for NE to eEdeayor 10 Con
wet this old man Of the charge, but facts
and sympathy must govern US in this
NATTER
THE prisoners tatemcnt has been
contradicted by other witnesses. You
all remember how that boy went up the
hill into the yard, and up to the door and
was met with shots.
There are bus three points involved;
what was the cause of FOrd's death, who
produced The cause and what Were the
circums' ances which led to the shooting
Ford's death was caused by a pistol shot
wound inflicted by Christopher Pearson.
lie had frequently threatened the deceas-
ell, who went to the house and raped
on the door and was instantly sho.'
MAGGIE WHITES EVIDENCE.
Mr. Laskey reviewed the evidence of
Maggie White, who denied that any con-
trOversy took place before the shooting
The first shot. be said, did not take effect.
1t was the second shot. which entered the
back, and caused death.
He explained to the jury how Pearson
came to the window, leaned out and fired
TWO shots in quick succession. How the
two colored men saw the flashes and heard
the boy cry out. oh. Godu' / am sorry
that the facts are against the prisoner
Mir. Andrew Y. Bradley, son of Judge
Bradley, opened for the defense OF the old
man, and described in detail the dscrep-
ancles in the evidence of the prosecuting
witnesses.
If you believe" said he, that this old
man feared Ford, and believed his life was
in danger, and fired those shots 10 frighten
him away, and shot hin accidentally, then
he is not guilty OF murder. Pearson told
you that the Ford boy threw stones at him.
Now insist If the prisoner shot downward
the Ford boy must have been STOPPING over
at the time. STOPPING for more stones; an
act calculated to inspire Pearson with
fear.'
Ldwyer Thomas C. Taylor assisted in the
dsfense As he proceeded. the prisoner
broke down completely and began to cry
He whinUered like child, and Mr.. Taylor
continued:
NO. you will not say that n old man. a
very old man, without any excuse or provo
cation, took the life of an innocent boy
An old man. white haired and decrepit is
here accused OF the crime Of killing a youth
without justificatiun.''
The prisoner tTembled violently shud-
dered, and began to cry.
There was no malice" continued the
lawyer; lit is absent 1t was the boys
fault that he was killed. He appeared at
TINS mans house In the night time in a
threatening manner: the old man was alone
Had the boy any right there
JUDGE COLES CHARGE
District Attorney Eirney closed the case
for the prosecution, in an argument detail
ing every move Of the defendant, and his
prior threats To young Ford.
Judge CCN charged the jury that ii could
bring In any one OF three yerdicts, accord
ing TO the evidence. Although the charge
was of murder if they had a doubt As to
its being muder, the could convict Of man
slaughter, or if they had doubts as to
strength of evidence of manslaughter, they |
night render Il verdict for acQUital
Judge Cole held that If Pearson fired the
shots with intent 10 kill or with an utter dis
regard OF life, 1t would be murder,