The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-05-21
"a Terrible Charge

EDITOR CECIL WING:
send the enclosed marked article and
hope it may be brought to the notice OF
everybody in Cecil county before the liquor
question is again voted upon. l would be
pleased to have you publish it in your valu
able paper.
CoLoRA, MD, May IA, 1898.
'Prisoner at the bar, have you anything
to say why sentence of death should not be
passed upon you?"
solemn hush fell over the crowded
court house, and every person waited in
almost breathless expectation OF an answer
to the judges question.
"Will the prisoner answer?'' was the
query in the minds of most present.
The judge waited in dgnifed silence.
Not a whisper was heard anywhere, and
the situation had become painfully oppres-
sive, when the prisoner was seen to move:
his head was raised his hands were clenched,
and the blood had rushed into his pale,
careworn face, his teeth were firmly set,
and into his haggard eyes came a flash of
light.
Suddenly he rose to his feet and in q
low, firm, but distinct voice, said:
81 have. Your honor, You have asked
me question, and l now ask, as the last
favor on earth, that you will not interrupt
my answer till am through.
81 stand here before this bar convicted
of the wilful murder of my wife. Truth
full witnesses have testified to the fact that
was a loafer, drunkard and a wretch
that I returned from one of my long de-
bauches and fired the fatal shot that killed
my wife had sworn to love, cherish and
protect. While have no recollection of
committing the fearful, cowardly and in
human deed, I have no right to complain
or condemn the verdict Of the twelve good
men who have acted as jurors in this case,
evidence. But may it please the court,
wish to show that am not alone RESPONSE
BILE for the murder of my wife"
The startling statement created ire
mendou' sensation. The Judge leaned over
the desk; the lawyers wheeled round and
faced the prisoner; they looked at each other
in amazement while the spectators could
not suppress their intense excitement The
prisoner paused for few seconds, and then
continued in the same firm, distinct voice
II repeat, your honor, that am not the
nnlx IF fha rIar ~ ypifn
The Judge on this bench the jury in the
box, the lawyers within this bar, and most
of the witnesses, including the pastor of
the old church, are also guilty before
Almighty God, and will have to appear
before His Judgment throne, where we
shall be righteously judged.
''If twenty men conspire together for
the murder Of one person, the law power
Of this land will arrest the twenty, and
each will be tried, convicted and executed
for the whole murder and not one-twenteth
OF the crime. | have been made a drunk.
ard by law. If it had not beea for the
legalized saloons of my town never would
have become drunkard; my wife would
not have been murdered; l would not have
been here now, ready to be hurled into
eternity. Had it not been for the human
traps set out with the consent of the gov
eminent, would have been sober man,
an industrious workman, tender father
and loving husband. But today my home
is destroyed my wife murdered, my little
pl,. =
asst upon the mercy Of cold and cruel
world, while am to be murdered by the
strong arm of the State.
God knows tried to reform, but as the
open saloon was in my pathway, my weak,
diseased will power was no match against
the fearful, consuming, ago.IAlng appetite
for liquor. A last l sought the protection,
care and sympathy of the church, but at
the communion table I received at the
hands of the pastor who sits there, and has
testified against me in this case, the cup
that contained the very same alcoholic
serpent that is found in every bar room in
the land 1t proved too much for my weak
humanity, and out of that holy place |
rushed to the last debau'h that ended with
the murder of my wife.
"FOr one year this town was without
saloon. For one year | was a sober man.
For one year my wife and children were
supremely happy, and our home perfect
paradise"