The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-11-20

reason of doped medicine given to him
by Duff. That any sane man under
similar circumstances would soon be.
come insane, his reason dethroned, and
the testimony showed he was melan.
choly and had even tried to kill himself
to end his troubles. The testimony of
Mrs. Clark that Duff made her promise
to write to him when she was coming
home from Illinois showed he was the
guilty one and had her. in his power.
Even Mrs. DIFF wrote to Mrs. Clark that
she had no respect for her husband, had
lost it years ago, and that the best
thing they could do for both families
would he to skip the country. The de.
fendant had noticed his wite's sad con-
dition and begged her to tell him what
was the matter, promising to forgive
her everything. When she confessed
all TO him he went to Duff and told him.
that it was no use for him to deny it,
that his wife had told HIM all. That he
didn't want to disgrace his family, but
that Duff must leave Garden Grove.
!
Dutt sold his property, but did not
leave at once and Clark then told a
brother Mason that if Duff did not leave
every Mason and Odd Fellow should
know what he had done. The yerv
letter Clark wrote demanding $50 900
and that Duff leave the country and
state within ten days showed that if
was written by an insane man. Tho
testimony of Dr.. Doolittle was that
Ciark mad been insane when he treated
nm In February up to the present time.
All the experts testified he was insane.
! That brooding over his trouble the sud.
den sight Of Duff in Garden Grove tho
day OF the tragedy had broken the
slender thread which held his reason
and at the time of the shooting he knew
not what he was doing. That not ono
man IN o0 but would kill tie man who
mas ruined his home and family. Here
was man who had never had Quarrel
or hght IN his life suddenly killing a
man. What caused him to do il? The
only answer is that his reason is de.
throned. Up to the time of meeting DR..
Oun Mrs. Clark had been pure and
vlrtuous woman. What has Clark dore
that you should inhict even the siyhtast
punishment on him? Are you going to
say by your verdict that man can de.
ssroy your family and then when reason
Is dethroned and he kills him. send him
to the gallows or the penitentiarye Mr..
Holman closed with an eleouent
appeal to the jury to return this poor
man to his family and home where te
could give his innocent girls the protec.
ton OF father, by acts of their mother
having been deprived of a mothers care
MIR. Hoffman closed at 2:35 havin, ta,k.
ed two hours.
After five minute recess at the close
OF MIR. Hoffman's able argument Hon
Lewis Miles, of Corydon, United States
District Attorney, addressed the iurv.
making one of the finest pleas both in
language and IN length of time occunied
that has ever been heard in this o, anv
other court. 1t had been rumored that
Mr.. Miles would make an ELOQUENT
appeal on behalf of his client. and
everyone was expecting great things
from him and they were not disappoint.
ed He began his argument in so low
tone ne could not be heard all over the
room but soon was warmed up and
talking SO he could be heard inside and
outside, the court room. In eloouent
tones he pictured the home which for "a
years had been one of the happiest in
the world. and was only disturbed when
the wife and mother was dragged down
to that degradation which only an adul-
terer could drag it. He pictured the
broken hearted husband who was made
to suffer all the anguish possible. for
human to suffer. The children. two
lovely girls and three manly bows who
were bowed in grief over the shame
brought upon them. What under Gods
name had they done that thew mnst
SO suffer- He told of the tragedy. how
the husband had become changed and
broken, passed sleepless nights talking
and crying. He had been crushed In
spirit until reason tottered and was de-
throned, and when at last he su lienly
saw the man who had ruined his family
he becameinsane and knowing not what
he was doing he had rushed awav.
secured gun and taken the life of
fellow being, and was now at the bar of
Justice charged with the highest and
greatest crime man can be charged
with, yet not guilty of any crime, for at
the time he committed the deed he was
insane, insane, insane, muttering to
himself, his every action indicating that
he was bereft of reason. His descrip.
tion Of the change in the home and
family brought tears to nearly every eye
t,o oo,,, ;onl,,J;,n