The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-11
Eloauence Of a Young Attorney Saved
Him From GaIlows.
HE AUDIENCE ENRApTURED.
Listened With Closest attention 10
the Is.ov of Words from the Lips
of the Msst. r.nus lonns. Man in
the Dln.y O d C..u,t-i;o3in.

day William Roberts w4s to be tried for
nls lie by jury of his peers
william ROBERTS had ben born and rails
ed II the county; had, when mere boy,
gone into the JoaI eGerate army and tol-
4o@sd Jackson win q courage as undaunf-
ed and heart light as any IN that
NOBLE band OF heroes whose record has
never been t1ualIed since time began.
iasTefpre, interest in the trial was brad
spread, aiid IRON every direction on horse
eack. in wagons and afoot, they came 10
heaF the oiat0ry that was always q chief
feature in the trials of Virginia. To ev-
cry post of the picket fence around the
courthouse were ;etnersd two or three
horses, and their stamping and neighing
fnsHs4ed with the hun, OF canversa ion.
making noise that can be heard nowhere
else
Suddenly the news spread that the mur-
der case had been called and Immediately
The crowd converge6 toward the court
house and squeezed into the already
crowded COURTROOM that rteked with the
smell of whiskey and tobacco.
THE PRISONER.
There was a hush OF excl -ement as the
sheriff brought the pvison-r in. He was
q tall man-broad in the shoulders and
very muscular, with kindly looking ha-
zei eyes which were as Gear as an Eagles.
His nair was dashed with gray. his brows
black and he wore no beard.
q
shat Nellie. the prisoners daughter, had
become a mother without being a wife.
and that q young man Of prominent fam
!y who was suspected of having caused
her-ruin rad betn found dead, his fish,
Ing tackle near him and = pocket knife
clasped lightly in his lifeless hand, beside
& brook that ran near the prisoners house.
Taet there had o ea q desperate struggle
there vas abundance OF evidence In the
tranrIed ground, while data had been.
the rasuIi of strsnsulation. there being no
bruises On the body, save thosf about the
throat.
The charge was murder. and the prose-
cBting attorney was using all his powers
"a have verdiu; returned il the first de-
gree The dcfc,lse plead Nc. guilty. While
,acy confessed 10 the killing they claimed
that il was lustiftab.e-
lie prosecuting attorney opened with
d sec thing speech Ia which he drew upon
a rich IMAGINATION for the details and
pictured III, crime as one of the most re-
voting in t,e history Of The county, State
or nation. L.. was answered by an old
Lawyer who had fought side by side with
the prisoner On the crimson front o! battle.
xfo pictured tie kindness. bravery and no.
billy OF the prisoner at the bar, closing
by saying that nothing would ever con-
vinca aim that such q man could be gull
" Of the crime 50 heinouslg depic &c by
The attorney for tf+, Commonwealth.
FOR THE DEFENCE.
As the uurInur of applause was. husfed
q izii. handsome eGtfss rose from ais seat
ard gracefully addressed the jury. Few
N the room had ever seen him before
ard The .Get pest attention was paid aim as
the words fell from his bps IN 4 voice that
vas clear and resonant, penetrau nS TO The
.a-therest corners Of the room.
/ cannot attempt =te give his words as
they fell in iimpId strains from his youth
I-,,,
Eu2se dwe3!s n th4 memory oil every one
WIG was on that day in the old court
Gentlemen of the JURY he began
gracefully turning toward the jury bench
Il an. vel! aware that nothing / car
say can affect your Terdict Upon the
MN uow before you. You arc sworn TO
pass judgment according TO the ruth end
/ KNOW Ihai you viii perform hat OATH
But. gentlemen of the jury. I can endeayor
TO give you q deeper ins3gh; into the char
acter OF the prisoner before you than you
now posssss, and did ! not raise ny voice
n his behalf / woEliG feel the stain OF his
blood upon ne. came from Il distant
county TO plead before you for not on
IS he lille OF ibis man. but for the hon
Or Ct his mama and that OF his posterity-
When / have finished, Il sou fail 10 say
THAI in killing ne CID What every one
with q spark of manhood would 90, and
ought TO haV. done. then my tongue Will
have dore poor service in a good cause.
MY father sen. me here TO SPEAK a
word for the man who saved his life al the
risk of his own and who for four iona years
fought against rha erlba tlei hosts thai
); ere invading cur native State, and never
FILTERED from his duty. Neither has ne
5altere6 IN this greater 1riat.
..T-bs ma. before you Is William 70
berss. you al knox him. He Is not the
man whom the Memorable attorney for
,l,eS Common yea lin mas pictured as TEL
on ana a murderer Gentleman OF inc
&.,Iry. never saw this man before. but
love and / admire MIN. t5e saved my
lather's life, and so II MEASURE ON" ~
s...n, my own. know nothnG OF tae
case. save what / have heard from the
y-:taesses who have been questioned be-
.ere YOU let me tell you the sorry OF
this so-calied crime as 1t has been de-
THE STORY.
civilian :iooerts cane home from ms
surrender al .sppomatta& Saddened ana
q penni.ess man Th-re Is no need TO ieil
YOU how he has worked and married ana
raised a family which ne loved even as
yeu love your own dear oaSs,- as has
s-oae in and eat among you and you nave
seen no fault in him. All these things
you know better than -
ABOUT tiso years ago when the SORT.
gentle influence of spring made Al things
fair and beautiful there came 70 your
vicinity g young mara visitor lie vas
chzrYnEd with your country. win the
birds and the brooks. He was fond Of fish-
2ng wou:d that he had ceaientec him
self with me s2eck!ed beauties that
Fash n he ciea- waters OF your native
cll!s. Ore DAY ghen returning from ms
days fish ne :nt; the daughter 81 the man
rho sits II yoa6er chair. fheaeeforth the
fish were forgotten. There was fatr>er
game. Mile Roberts WAS the Green OF
The neighborhooG n shape and Beauty.
"Tsir rs htr naive skies ara pure and
i.nccsn. rs the crystal waters OF h ns-
tive brooks. she WIS the ido4 Of her faith
sr's love and the ad:nIra ton OF al who
esw her
y vii rot dwell ca tbs, de.ails Of the
consequences Of inst meeting. You have
heard how he PROMISED 10 marry her ans
aow he G!d not k=sp The p-o-sstse. Ynp
know. tor. the pain and anguish OF the
fathers heart. Imagine yourself in his.
place
Now. gentlemen of the jury. call scu
to with IS gro her meeting n the same
wood ana with .hs sane brock nalsiag In
melody. brt is muse Is drowned by the
SOUNDS of angry voices and the struggle
- ,rrn c4s.n,-, ,oer, for the ,r,aE1ery