The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-25

dangerous class TO the community than
the anarchists about whom We read 50
much
Now, it is the duty of every American
| citizen, or every good man. 10 stand firm
| ly by the law. and put his voice against
any idea that a man should be punished
! for any crime until he is proven guilty in
court, beyond any reasonable doubt
Weak Minded People
MY associate and myself are here &c
uphold the Law. Some weak minded peo-
! PIE entertain the notion that the lawyer
who appears in defense Of a defendant is
! in court 10 obstruct the due process Of
the Law. to delay by technicalities. But
every man who knows the members Of
/ the bar understands that this is not 50.
| Ny associates and myself are here for
the same purpose that the learned dis
/ trict attorney is here for-to see that this
trial progresses IN legal. orderly and
/ proper manner. we must. in every way
possible put down and suppress this feel
/ ing that cases may be disposed of with
out Intervention of courts OF justice.
Il remember. gentlemen. when I was a
young man living IN Auburn studying my
profession the news came that a colored
man had gone I'D on the shores OF
Owasco lake and there had murdered
practically an entire family named Van
Ness. The news created intense excite
ment. The people gathered on the streets
10 hear the news. IN tn course OF the
afternoon ot twas learned that man.
1 Freeman, had been arrersted and was
being brought 30 the city TO be incarcer-
ated. The people upon the streets became
more and more excited. They began 20
talk Of mobbing the colored man when he
arrived. William H. Seward. who lived
in that city. appeared upon the streets
and coUnsened moderation; counselled the
people to wait and see whether the man
was really guilty or not, and permit him
TO have a legal trial. But the people
! protested. he was guilty, they said, and
must be disposed of. AIr- Seward insisted
ana they put Freeman in jail. Ii soon
! became known that Mr.. Seward had vol
unteered TO defend the negro when he
was put on trial. ana indignation arose
against him. but that far-seeing man.
that statesman. saw that then was an
opportunity OF giving an object lesson 20
the world as to the proper disposition Of
( that case. and for two long months the
trial went on. with Seward defending
L -
in obtaining a jury and I sat by almost
during the entire proceedings Of that
trial and listened to the defense of Mr..
Seward introduced Not that he cared
ANYTHING for the negro but he wanted to
maintain the law giving every man a
trial and to put down mob violence.
Object Lesson to World.
This trial he is q great object lesson to
the world. Here is a case where a man
has stricken down the beloved president
of his country. in broad daylight, in the
presence Of hundreds OF thousands Of
spectatos. If ever there was case that
would excite the anger and wrath OF
those who saw it, this was one; and yet,
under the advice Of the president, Let no
man hurt him. he was taken. confined in
our prison. indicted. put upon trial here
and the case is soon to be submitted 70
you as to whether he IS guilty Of the
crime charged against him That gent
lemen. speaks volumes in favor OF the
orderly conduct of the people of the city
of Buffalo
Here was man occupying an exalted
position. a man of irreproachable charac-
ter; he was man who had come here to
assist US in promoting the prosperity Of
our great nation. And he was shot down
while holding reception.
His death has touched every heart In
this community, and in the whole world.
and yet we sit here quietly. considering
whether this man was responsible for the
act he committed That question is one
you are called to decide.
Defense OF Prisoner.
sT..F Hon
nocent until he is proven guilty. and we
start with the assumption that the de-
fendant was not Intentionally responsible
for the crime he committed. We have not
been a0le to present any evidence upon
our part. The defendant has even refused
on almost every occasion 10 talk 10 his
counsel. He has not aided us. so We have
come here unaided. TO consider this i'm
portant question. But I know there IS
in every human being a strong desire 10
live Death is spectre that we al dis
like to meet, and here this defendant.
without having any animosity against
our president, without personal motive,
so far as we can see. committed the act
which he knew, II he was sane, must
cause death. How can a man with a
sane mind perform such an act? The rab-
bic In the streets viii say no matter
whether he be insane or not. he deserves
70 be killed. The law. however. says
that you must consider the Circumstance
and see II he was In his right mind or not
when he committed the deed. II You find
he was not responsible you would aid In
lifting q great cloud from the minds Of
the people OF this country. II the be-
loved president had met with railroad
accident and had been killed. our grief
could not compare with what Il IS now.
II you find that he met his fate through
the act Of an insane man, It is the same
as 81 he met it by accident. had The
urofoundest respect FOR President McKfn- .
ley. watched him in congress and dur- {
ing his long public career. and he was
ore OF the noAlest men God eve made I
His policy we care nothing about but it 4
always met with my profoundest respect !
Hls death was the saddest blow 70 ne I
that has occurred IN maay years"
Judge Lewis was crying wHen he finish 1
81. and the eyes of many Of those 81 the 4
court room were filed with tesrs-
Judge Titus then arose and said that .
Judge Lewis had 50 completely covered +
the ground that e seemed ent.reiy un-
necessary for him % erfterate Il. ard hs
would. therefore. rest
PROSECUTION SUNS CASE Up.