The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-02-20
EX-GOVERNOR JOHNSON

At the Grave of Arthur Duestrow.
To say anything at the grave of
Arthur DuestrOw was something l had
not thought of until this morning.
But the circumstances surrounding
his life since the morning | met him
after the fatal tragedy in which he be-
came involved are of such character
as. | think. warranted me- in making
a few remarks which / deem due to
his memory. Further. I am r~ornnted
20 co so by the lact tnat 49, Iur
years an intimate friend of his father:
end, further. bar"uSc 7 = ...1,'nsaj
with his mother when sne lntrusted
his defense to me AT the time of the
unfortunate tragedy. No one has
been his continuous associate since 1
took charge of the case but myself;
and wish TO say here, in the presence
of his remains, and to go out to the
world. that he is victim of judicial
murder.
His Cffense in all its characters
tics was appearantly brutal, but God
had afflicted him in manner which
should have made him irresponsible
in law His OfTense, if any. should
have been leftr to have been passed
upon by his maker. l never asked
for anything during the prosecution
of tie case except his incarceration in
an insane asylum. | realized the fact
that there was the place thathumanity
dictated that he should be incarcera--
ted. ard time would have clearly
brought out what have known from
the frSt-;hat the direst disease that
man is subject 10 had become his lot.
This is no triumph of the law. It is.
a triumph of prejudice and of ignor-
ance as against every effort of science
and legal skill to protect poor
afflicted son of humanity. Every effort
that have made to get a humane
view OF this mans case has been
thwar;ed by misrepresentation and by
abuse heaped upon him. which he
had nn power to repei. and which l
was puwerless to counteract. The ef-
forts OF the most skilled. careful and
conscientious physicians were of no
avail. All those expedients that
years Of wisdom and experience have
incorporated in the law to pro-
tcct the rights of the individual
against the aggressions OF high power
or the cry of the mob have been treat
ed. not only with Indifference, but ]
may say with contempt by the press
and by even subordinate and superior
courts. Even the paltry request that
Christianity guarantees to the con-
demned has been denied by n weak
and vacillating executive. 1t is said
that it is triumph of the law and
the punishment - e. .-rt-.... s.4y
here. in the presence Of my God. of
whom | have full recognition both of
his power and his mercy. that it is n
disgrace 10 the humanity of the age,
and an illustration of retrogra-
ton to the cruel ascendeucy of
the prejudice and the savagery of
past ages. This man was not allowed
the privileges of Christian burial. In
his insane state. he imma agined that
he was another being than Arthur
DuestOw. Whether the ministratiOn
Of a Protestant preacher or n Catholic
priest could have helped him any in
his clOuded intellect. | know not: but
the opinion of the world has been that
under such circumstances it is but
right of the authorities of civilized
state to guarantee it to the few who
we're interested in his fate TO consider
Of this matter. There are no such
signs of the usual ministrations at
he burial here.
It can hardly be deemed sacrili-
yious. then. with such surroundings.
or me to commend his soul to the
ncrciful consideration of the great
sod. After life's fiitful fever, he
.leeps we'll. g." In the calm ana dis
passionate forum of scientific and his
orical investigation. the character of
lis act will be determined and his ire
;ponsibility conceded. From out the
larkened intellect, as he stood on the
;catTold. there came words of forgiv-
less TO those by whom. in his imagi-
lary character, hewas being wrOnged.
n the same spirit tits not unbecoming
o say. God forgive all those who
lave done wrong to the poor insane
.tom of humanity whese remains we
.onsign TO this lowly grave.