Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-16

SVN CIT oSFNtQ W DcIltNe tnut she con- |
fessed. If she confessed it was not the |
utterance of a sane woman That let |
ter was written for dual purpose |
one is that starvation still stares that
family in the face. | don't know where
Prince spent his money. There are no
WITNESSES TO show he cared a thing for
his wife. There is no evidence to show
happy home was destroyed. but a liv-
eryed officer of the law was in charge
Yet wife was getting the money to
feed the children With" The letter he
wrested from his wife was an appeal
FOR money to buy food for his starving
children. Did that convince him OF his
wife's adultery or confirm his suspic
ions? He told Mrs. Cannon he couldn't
do anything unless he caught Mrs
Prince and Cannon together. He made
up his mind. despite her denial she was
guilty. he would Kill, Cannon the al
legged despoi!er of his home. They snv
he was wild when he shot Every shot
struck It's mark. Think of 1t, 4 wild
man. crazy man. who fires five shots
and the ground doesn't get q bullet I'M
less II went through the body. He shot
with such unerring aim that every hui
let struck Its victim. He came back.
looked at his victim with the denial
OF his wife. this sick man walked deiib-
erately back. took aim. stopped n little
and fred and the blood oozed from the
head. stopped the heart heat and i'm
pulse and stopped Cannon's last
prayer. God be merciful to me a sim
ner."
l want you to hear what comes from
the tribunals OF justice not the pedes-
tails of fame. The star witness for the
government Is Michael II. Prince
Prince said he charged Cannon with in
timacy with his wife. and YOU are asked
to believe that Cannon did not remon-
strate. but turned around sneered and
said "OthprS hn haan int
her" you can't believe It, Prince
said nothing of his w!fe's confession
DID he charge Cannon with adultery;
did he blubber and say You've brought
shame to my children? He has testi-
fed and could not be contradicted be-
cause of his wifes helplessness and the
powder and bullets that made Cannon
corpse
Prince. on the stand. made an un-
guarded admission of the truth. and if
you can't convict him on that you
can't convict him on any.
The evidence here referred to Is
when Prince testified that he had no
intntion of killing Cannon then. not
till he fired the first shot
While Cannon lay quivering. Prince
fired the last shot. Was that cruel
and malignant. Take it home and CON
slider It, And that then man. my
friend, would have nit4e made for
nm IN the Temple of Fame. When the
Gamest bird is vanouished ii turns
tail and the victor flies to a dunghill.
lie doesn't pursue him as this man did
Cannon. There is ono redeemng feat
ure of my friend Thorp's argument
when he said his opinion of this case
was as citizen of Virginia and not
as lawyer. In fifteen years expert
ence as a public prosecutor. have
never yet given my opinion.
Whats my opinion got to do with
this case. One human life has been
sacrificed and another is ut stake. 1t
is my duty to tell you of your oaths
and when have done this l have
absolved myself of your error or the
miscarriage of justice If you listen to
citizen of Nirginia's opinion or to
the laws Of the land. I say that you
need no other testimony than Princes
to convict him.
II have done my duty as best
could: gentlemen OF the jury, will you
do yours?"
General Allan concluded his argu-
ment at 2;l2 yesterday afternoon. At
2:l5 the case was gwen to the jury
The court asked the jury whether they
would retire to their room and de-
liberatc Il few moments, or did they
desire lunch.
We want the lunch" replied the
jurors. which caused a laugh.
Judge Waddill. before the case went !
TO the jury. issued this statement from |
the bench: Il think it proper that the |
court should at this moment, as tho
United States district attorney con-
cludes his speech, make Il statement |
lest his remarks in reference TO II trial |
of this case in the local courts might |
be misunderstood. The fact that not |
having in this court a jury from the
city of Norfolk, but from the Eastern |
judicial District of Virginia. is n mat
ter upon which comment might be made, |
as it was by the attorneys on both sides
of the case. But there is nothing what
soever before this court to indicate the
fact that the city of Norfolk is particu-
larly wicked city, or that equal or
exact justice would not be melcd out
in the local courts in this case. and to
all Violators of the law; and so far as
the courts of this city are concerned. |
certainly no such imputation ever can
be made, for over each of the city |
courts judges of learning, ability and |
the highest character preside. and in
its criminal court is an able and ac-
oompished States prosecuting officer
| know. OF course, that the district at
torney meant no reflection upon the
courts OF the city. or personally TO
speak as TO its government; but in a |
promiscuous case like this what he
has said in the heat of argument
might be misunderstood, and place
himself and the court in an improper
light"
This is Gen. Allan's statement: 81
confess | am little surprised that
anyone in the court room. and espe-
ciaily the court itself, should have |
deemed it even open to criticism that /
referred. as ] did. to recent publication.
the record of which flashed upon my
mind on the instant of speaking. and |
| am sure that neither the members
OF the bar, Judges of the courts. or
citizens of Norfolk who know mo |