Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-11-10
A DREADFUL CHARGE.

:
thing to say why sentence of death
shall not be passed on you? p
A solemn hush fell over the crowd
ed courtroom, and every person wait
ed in almost breathless expectation for
an answer to the judges question.
Will the prisoner answer?
Is there nothing that will make him
feel some sign Of emotion ?
Will he maintain the cold indlffer-
ent attitude that 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 whisper was heard anywhere
and the situation had become painfully
oppressive, when the prisoner was seen
to move, his head was raised, hands
were clinched, and the blood had
rushed into his pale, careworn face'
his teeth were firmly set, and into his
haggard eyes came flash of light.
II have Your honor, you have
asked me question, and now | ask as
the last favor on earth, that you will
not interrupt my answer until l am
through.
81 stand before this bar convicted
of the willful murder Of my wife.
Truthful witnesses have testified to the
fact that l was a loafer, a drunkard
and a wretch that | returned from
one Of my long debauches and fired
the fatal shot that killed the wife l
had sworn to love, cherish and pro-
tect. While have no remembrance
of committing the fearful, cowardly
and inhuman deed, I have no right to
complain or condemn the verdict of
the twelve good men who have acted
as Jurors in the case, for the verdict is
in accordance with the evidence.
"But, may it please the Court, |
wish to show that l am not alone re-
sponsible for the murder Of my wife.
This startling statement created
tremendous sensation. The Judge
leaned over the desk, the lawyers
wheeled around and faced the prison
er, the jurors looked at each other in
amazement, while the spectators could
hardly suppress their intense excite
ment. The prisoner paused few Sec
opds, and then continued in firm,
distinct voice
~ repeat, your honor, that | am not
the one guilty of the murder of my
wife. The judge on this bench, the
iury in the box, the lawyers within
this bar, and most Of the witnesses, in
cluding the pastor of the old church,
are guilty before Almighty God, and
will have to appear with me before
His Judgment throne, where we all
shall be righteously Judged.
"If twenty men conspire together
for the murder of one person the law
power of this land will arrest the twen-
ty, and each will be tried, convicted
and executed for a whole murder, and
not one-twentieth of the crime.
81 have been made drunkard by
law. If had not been for the legal
lied saloons OF my town, | would have
never become a drunkard; my wife
would not have been murdered; l
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 today my home is de-
stroyed, my wife murdered, my little
children-God bless and care for them
cast on the mercy ofa cold and cruel
world, while ! am to be murdered by
the strong arm of the State.
"God knows l tried to reform, but
as long as the open saloon was in my
pathway my weak, diseased will-pow-
er was no match against the fearful,
consuming, agonizing appetite for
liquor.
"For one year om town was with