The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-02-23

as he entered the door at the rear OF
the chamber.
With u quick, huoyant stride ne soon
reached the bar whore. with Mr..
Weeks on his right and Mr. Battle on
his left. he waited for the sentence.
District Attorney Gardiner moved for
julgmeul The clerk asked the prls.
oner Il he had any legal cause to show
why Judgment should not be passed,
Mr., Weeks said;
The defendant Roland r, Mollncux,
respectfully moves for new trial
herein upon the following grounds,
The motion was denied. an exception
was taken. and Mr., Weeks moved that
no Judgment be rendered, ON the
ground that the facts stated do not
constitute Il crime, Again the motion
was denied; again the exception, and
then Mr., Weeks said;
The defendant, Your Honor desires
TO speak In his own behalf"
Molineux, In a resonant voice. with.
out tremcr. began,
"of the crime for which r.
Just wait minute. said Recorder
Gotf, leaning forward slightly and
looking earnestly at the prisoner. rs
this by advice NJ counsel9"
BY request OF the defendant and
without regard TO the advice OF coun-
sci, said Mr.. Weeks.
Recorder Con hesltated an instant.
and then said:
This defendant has been In this court
for three months, defended by able
counsel. II is an unusual thing for a
defendant who has been so very we'll
and ably defended by counsel 10 ad.
dress the court.
1t Is the defendants desire, and We
have nothing to say to him except that
We believe II is his right" said Mr.
Weeks.
The nervous tension was AT the snap.
ping point The tones OF the recorder
and the lawyer alternately cut the
stiffness. and there was an involuntary
leaning forward by those in the rear
To catch everything that was said.
His counsel" said Recorder Goff
slowly. has said for him all that the
law permits to be said In reply to the
question, What has he to say Why
judgment Of death should not De pro-
nounced against him2"
Il nave advised him that way" said
Mr. Weeks, but II Is his desire. Your
Honor"
That is another matter" returned
the judge III It is a desire expressed
By the man at the bar under these
circumstances and presented to the
courts discretion. that Is one thing,
but thing presented as a matter OF
right. that involves another thing"
Il have simply presented IL as the
Defendants desire and my advice"
The scene was like fencing bout
between adepts-parry and thrust
thrust and parry.
Then" said the recorder. with a
tinge Of bitterness. II ignore your ad-
vice"
"Slrl' said Mr. Weeks sharply.
II ignore your advice" said the re-
corder with still more apparent bitter
ness, adding: Il will comply with the
DEFENDANTS request"
A sigh OF relief went up from hun.
dred throats. as II was feared that the
prisoners request was TO be denied.
Molineux. with the same firm. reson-
ant voice and with a slight courtesy
toward the recorder began again:
Il thank you. Your Honor. or the
crime for which stand convicted. and
Of still another crime for which am
charged. l am absolutely and entirely
innocent. All Of the evidence
You are not charged with any other
crime" said Recorder Con, interrupt
ing him.
Il supposed that might refer to It.
said the prisoner. unrufiled, "since the
district attorney did in his opening and
closing argument"
Your counsel has attended to all
that matter" said the judge.
Very well. Your Honor" said Moli-
neux. glancing at a few brief notes
Quilting what he had to say. He went
on:
Yellow journalism put a price upon
my head! II was an invitation to
every blackmailer, every perjurer
every rogue. every man without prin-
clple, but with price, and to that in
yitatlOn Mr.. Hickman responded.
The handwriting experts who have
testified against me, Your Honor. may
give their opinion; they may give their
reasons what they believe; what they
think; but | know that these hands
(raising his arms toward the COURT
never put pen 10 paper to address that
poison package or to write the disputed
letters.
Your Honor will not permit us TO
make mention Of the great injustice
which is matter Of history, but ex-
perts In handwriting have made mis-
takes before. and they have repeated
II here.
Your Honor. all this Is as nothing
to what is in my heart at this moment.
Above and beyond everything else
denouncc and despise the action OF the
district attorney In attempting to vilify
and attack the character OF the pure
and lovely woman who bears my name.
1t was the act Of blaclSguard! II
was a damnable llel