Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-02-27
STIRRING APPEAL.
A TRIAL in TEXAS-THE
LAWYERS SKILL.
The commemorative At
teFHey UnnerVed.
1.-THE GREAT WHITE THRONE"

A reporter OF the New Orleans Plea
yune, furnishes the following story of
a Texas murder trial, as related by a
prominent lawy er from that state:
The prisoner was on trial for his
life. The evidence had all been heard
The stat, S attorney had just taken his
seat after a most incisive presentation
OF the evidence, wherein he demon
strated the utter failure Of the prison
er's theory of self-defense.
The counsel for the prisoner was a
stranger, known only by reputation to
the Judge aud bar; and that reputa-
tion was one Of great ability, perfect
integrity, and a marvellous knack of
"snatching verdicts' each time by
some new turn. This gaunt, yet
graceful, grsy-headed man arose.
seemingly without looking at the jury
though each man felt he was under the
power of that wide open eye. After
bowling to the Judge and saying q few
almost inaudible words of courtesy to
his honor, he turned to the prisoner
and said:
"You must die, Iohn-die by hang
ing. 1t will be no fault Of yours, by
no fault of the Judge, or of his jury,
or of the good people of the county
i The law OF Texas is alright, though
you die innocent. The law, though its
machinery may sometimes expose
perjury, can't always prevent the
false swearing of witnesses. Judges
and juries have not the power, though
they sometimes exercise the authori-
| ty Of Almighty God. They couldn't
look down into the souls of these per-
/ jured witnesses anc see the malice
hate and private purpose that color d
and twisted all the facts.
I'VE can't help il now. You must
die as you have lived, like brave
man. / don't need to tell you that
The woman who bore you, three
months before you saw the light pl
heaven, carried in her arms from one
of the bloodiest fields OF the late wal
the bleeding, senseless form of your
father. while shot and shell still
shritked and the groans OF the dying
filled the air.
"And your father, whose MANNED
body we laid to rest last week, wa
not matched in all this land. These
trusted you, and their blood can be
tray no trust. The only message h.
sent you was, Tell him we believ.
him., We will have you beside them
In few days this old white head wil
be laid next TO you I'll not b.
ashamed to be buried soon beside you
John. You are SO like the other John
that / see the visions Of happy boy
hood while gazing into the same trn,
teyes-confused with these is the pridl
have taken in my friends boy.
, after we lay tt ese bodies in tn,
church-yard over the mountain, wei
appeal this case. Wen try it all owe
again up yonder."
Then, in q few of the boldest ant
grandest figures, he sketched his idel
of a trial before the Great Whit
Throne, where, as he said. "in tina
glorious presence the false witness j
4 dumb and the inerrant Judge neel
: not the aid of counsel or Of juries
hen he pictured the eagerness witt
, which the mother, and the calm conf
! dence with which the father, awaite'
heavens verdict,-the quick rush, th
, enhancing, soul-satisfying embrace o
both at the words, Not guilty -
Then, taking up both hands Of tn
prisoner, he looked down in his fac
for moment steadily, then, bowin
| | fQrw ard with mother-like tenderness
) kissed him twice on the forehead, say
I | ing in q whisper audible to all: NV
( can wait for thatl soRood-by, John
my boy"
Bowing respectfully to the Judge b
took his seat, still holding one of tn
prisoners hands.
The district attorney, whp thropg
t all this sat with Lie back half turne
D to the speaker and to the jury, ner
? vOuslY and excitedly chewing hi
: tOOthpick and crossing and recrossin
his legs, began q reply, which quickl
3 ended after good look at the juror
a faces in stammering request to ther
D TO do their duty.
The judges charge was scattering
He seemed to scarcely know what h
said The jury did not hear hin
Not the slightest incident occurred
break the spell. They went out. re
turned. and in . very few moment
= the verdict Of Not guilty" was recorC
led.