The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-20
ArroAHs7 MARTIN DEFENDS HIMSELF.
Tells Why Eo Does Not Believe the Roddy
Verdict Vas Justified.

AT10i6EI EAdIiH DEFENDS HIMSELF.
| Tells Why Eo Does Not Believe the Roddy
Verdict Vas Justified.
To ne Efifor Of la- yossa,,on 4rf5aac.
SIR: In a recent issue of your paDer ynn
! gave space Jo ti. Somerset HfTdicl. wiiic.
coai piains of my interest in the isotidy
! boys, - no have tiern cshNi.ied of -.ntur-
der ~ the Ilr-t degree f,r the death OF
David BeTkey, wnirh Journal thinks il
can see asi incidental critsctsm OF the con-
duct of the Court in the article written by
me in the DcHa0crat few days ago
i thought then- as | co now, that the
| evidence ia the isoddy case did not war
rl,ut a conviction Having in mind all
the testimony IN the case. can is bs poss,:-
bic that all al the reputable witnesses OF
the City of JohIistown who testified for
the defense could have been mistaken, or
that they perlured themselves and that
all the witnesses oi the part Of the Com
monWealth were not inistaken aud truth
fui. 4 jury j. not inialiible, knowing
this from experience.
The testimony should have raised a
reasonable dDhb., s'ich as the law con-
templates, and should have worked an ac-
quittal. Is it did III tns Jackson ease.
How the Hcsrttf could infer from the
article in the DeHgOer6tt that the Court
was incidentally criticized / AN At "A loss
to know
The Somerset Democrat, paper pub
lished at Somerset, and which reported
the evidence as II fell from the lips OF
the witnesses, must have criticized incl
dentally tue Court If my article contains
such ri..cism.
The Somerset Democrat in its issue of
December 80, 1896, said, inter dli0,
Nv hen the awfui words Guilty OF
murder in the first degree fell from the
lips of the jurynen the prisoners turned
pale, but gave no further evidence of
emotion. During this scene not a sound
was heard in the courtroom, save that
made by the Clerk of the Court when
polling the jury aud the response made
by the jurymen. The large crowd pres
ent hardly seemed 10 breathe during the
solemn proceeding, and, after court WAS
declared adjourned, those in the court
room passed out in silence. IL was, ia
truth, solemn and impressive scene,
aud gave those present "A new idea OF the
awfnlness, as we'll as the majesty, of the
law"
IL further says, in the jackson case:
Nv hen ihe words not guilty fell from
the lips OF the Jnrymen, and as soon as
the large audience present heard the
verdict of acquittal, II loudly applauded
and exclanaJions of approval were heard
on all sides, but these manifestations
were quickly quelled by Judge Longe-
Decker."
brage with Its c0ntemporary-th SOmer-
set Democrat. II dare not. No criticism.
direct or incidental, was intended for the
Court. | consider Judge Bongenecker
one of the most impartial men sitting on
the Bench in this Commonwealth and
entertain for him the warInest aud nigh
est esteem.
Lawyer Martin. as the Herald calls
him, does not think of losing the interes,
he has in the Roddy boys. lie is still of
the opinion that they were unjustly con-
yicted, and that they are not the right
men but, as ! have said before, they are
poor and without means, and, for infor-
nation 10 the Herdtd, / wish To say there
are thousands of good-thinking people in
JohnstOwn and Cambria county who be-
lieve a. the writer does and VINO will AT
the proper time snow their feelings.
The editor of the Heroid says / had
better turn my attention 10 other matters
which am more familiar with, or some
people may look upon me "a u '.buSh |
lawyer" Let me say to him, Cambria
county has no bush lawyers. Somerset |
may have had. The editor of the Hel,0L{ |
was admitted 20 the Bar of Somerset /; he |
afterward became an editor. IL il now |
time he goes 10 raising spinach.
In the TRIBUNE OF Saturday last Won |
printed clipping from the Somerset |
'S'GRdgrd, which thinks the writer not 1
competent to Judge; and further, that ]
he ls too bright for JOhuStoWu, and Sug-
gests that he join the DaZzier COMPANY /
the next time II comes u the city.
II may be that myself and thousands /
of others are in error of Judgment in this /
matter. bur until the guIit OF the Roddys 4
is more clearly proven, we prefer 70 err /
on the side of mercy
As for myself, / would rather be a star I
in the Dazzler Company tnan 10 have NV |
heart eailouSed with an uuchristian feel 1
ing. ask the Hcrati and S,radard 10 1
do me the Justice 70 publish this in their |
papers. =. T.. MARTIN.
JohRs'o,rE. Jan. l3 lSJ7.
The HERALD has no disposition 20 enter
into a controversy with lawyer Martin in |
regard to the merits Of the trial of the /
unfortunate Roddy boys, convicted Of |
murder in the first degree, but when Law !
yer Martin says he IS 'stiu OF the opinion l
that they tthe Roddy boys were unjustly |
convicted" he not only criiicises the |
Court, whose duty it is To see that all de- !
fendGnts are given fair and impartial tri- |
ais, but he casts n reelection on the twelve |
good men and true" who were solemnly |
sworn To render a verdict in accordance |
with the evidence.
II the character Of our courts and juries |
is to be impeached by an indifferent attor- |
ney, who makes up his mind from read !
ing the reports of testimony as printed in |
weekly newspaper as to the guilt or in-
nocence of defendants on trial for capi- !
tai crime, then trial by jury had better
be abolished.
The HERALD, in common with the law
abiding people of Somerset county. will /
cheerfully aid the Roddy boys in estab- !
fishing their innocence, if they are inno- |
cent otherwise. it prefers % see the law |
of the Commonwealth strictly enforced. !
For the information of Lawyer Martin !
we desire to say that the writer never |
read law, but, on tho other hand, is a /
common everyday country editor with /
an eye jealous OF the integrity Of the |
cnurts and jnries of his county and State:
and he would rather leave the question Of |
the guilt or innocence of alleged mur- |
derers 10 them rather than with bump |
tious young baTristers who seek to gain |
n3toriety by coming TO their defense after !
they have been fairly tried and convicted. |
With assurances of our distinguished
consideration, we again suggest that Law /
yer Martin eondne himselfto matters with
which he is moro familiar. Meanwhile
the convicted Roddy boys will have every
attention shown them TO which they are
1titled under the law.
1T. EoTiah Murmurines.
6. W. Snowman. Of Johnstown, has
been visiting with former neighbors at
this ulaca