The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-09-14

nile to wait and see whether the man was
really guilty of the crime or not and per-
nit him to have legal trlal. but tne
said and must be disposed Of. Mr.. Sc
ward insisted, and they incarcerated Free.
man in jail. 1t soon became known tnat
Mr.. Seward had volunteered 70 delen ,id
the negro when he was put on trial, ana
indignation arose against him, blt tnat
far-seeing man, that statesman, saw tnat
then was an opportunity of giving an op-
iect lesson to the world as to the proper
disposition Of, that case and fol-. two long
months the trial went on with seward
defending the negro. II occupied Solae
three weeks ia obtaining a. jury ana ! SAT
by almost during the entire proceedings
Of that trial, and listened to the defense
that Mr.. Seward interposed. Not that he
cared anything for the negro, put ne
wanted to maintain the law giving every
man trial, and to put down mob vio-
lence.
This trial here is great object lesson
to the world. Here is a case where man
has stricken down the beloved presid tta
presence of hundreds, or tnousanos. OF
spectators If there was ever a case that
would excite the anger, the 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 mere
and the case is soon to be submitted 10
you as to whether he is guilty OF the
crime charged against him. That, gentle
men snealss Volumes in favor of the or
Derby conduct of the people of the city
of Buffalo.
Here is man occupying an exalted posi-
ton, a man of irreproachabie character;
he was a man who had come here to as
sist us in promoting the prosperity OF our
great exposition. And ne was snot 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.
The law presumes the defendant inno-
cent until he is proven guilty, and we
start with the assumption that the de-
PENDANT was not mentally responsible for
the crime he committed. We have not
been able to present any evidence upon
our part The defendant has even re.
fused on almost every occasion to talk
with his counsel He has not aided us.
SO we have come here unaided to consider
this important question. But know there
Is in every human being strong desire
TO live Death is a spectre that we all
dislike to meet, and here this defendant,
without having any luminosity against
our president, without any personal mo-
act which he knew, II he was sane, must
cause his death. How can a man with a
sane mind perform such an act? The rab-
BILE in the streets will say no matter
whether he is insane or not, he deserves
to be killed. The law. however says that
Won must consider the circumstance, and
see IL he was In his right mind or not
when he committed the deed. If you find
he was not responsible you would aid in
lifting a great cloud from the minds of
the people of this country, II the beloved
president had met with railroad acci-
dent and been killed our grief could not
compare with what It is now. If you
And that he met his fate through the
act of an insane man 1t is the same as
though he met 1t by accident. had the
profoundest respect for President McISin-
lev watched him in congress, and dur
ing his long public career, and he was one
of the noblest men God ever made His
policy we care nothing about, but 1t al
ways met with my profOundest respect.
! His death was the saddest blow to me
that has occurred in many years
Judge Lewis was crying when he
finished and the eyes of many of
those in the court room were filed
with tears.
Judge Titus then arose and said
that Judge Lewis had SO completely
covered the ground that it seemed en-
tirely unnecessary for him to reiter-
ate it and he would, therefore, rest.
At $40 District Attorney Penney be-
gan summing up. He spoke in a clear.
well-moduiated voice, and every word
could be heard in any part of the
room. He said:
II is hardly possible for any man to