Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-19
WILLARD LEE SANE;
MURDER TRIAL NEXT
Continued from Page One

know right from wrong2 Their own doc-
tors have said he did, and he does. There
is the test!'
''Deiiberation, preparation. execution.
fight Gentlemen, in a trial for murder
/ could take these facts and convict this
man before any jury on earth.
" If can't get her, no other man snalL
have her! That's what he said XIII the
man? No, not thatl But he must see those
beautiful eyes fast closed in deathI Her
freed spirit has winged its way into the
paradise of God. He said he would NIX her,
and he did! And yet he comes here and
pleads, through his lawyer. that ne didn't
know what he was doingl
Attorney Arnold Closes.
The closing argument was made by
Colonel Reuben Arnold for the defense.
Colonel Arnold began very quietly, saying
that Mr.. Hin had INDUCED in quotations
of poetry, beautiful language, and had
discussed nearly everything except the
point at issue;. that his language could
have been meant only to infiame and ex-
cite the passions and emotions or the
Jury.
eos the question whether this man Is at
present rational. There is no grander
spectacle than a judge and jury con-
secrated to justice. Such do not look at
prejudice or oratorical display. II Is
crowd. 1t is serene and far-seeing.
ssThe study of the human mind Is one
of the most complicated things we can
study. The mind depends upon so many
things. Its qualities and functions have
to be so nicely adjusted that 1t is Won
der. not that there are so many insane,
but that the world possesses so many
sane minds.
''If you could forget the scene IN this
church, If you could get out Of your
minds this homicide, you would send this
man to the asylum with no hesitations
and you know it. Its the memory, the
knowledge Of tie horrible crime that
bothers you. know that
But we ought not to condemn a man
on whom God has laid his hand man
who has already suffered infinitely more
than his victim suffered. In this deed OF
murder was the eliminating act OF the
diseased mind.
This thing of love is very nearly al
lied to insanity anyway. Such things as
violent minds cause insanity. although II
did not have to go far In this instance.
There are two things that show his
insanity; first, that his parents always
treated him like a child and the treat
ment accorded him by this sainted girl
showed she knew there was something
wrong with him. She knew how every
body looked on him as a poor dull, af-
fieted creature on whom God had al
ready laid His hand. Why, this man
knew no more what he was doing than
a man in a dream. Pinckney says IL
was hysteria that caused hts spells. God
knows there were storms in his heart,
and that there were decisions there. DR..
Pinckney tells you that the scene in that
little church, the crowd, the sermon, the
music might have excited a sudden at
tack OF hysteria- And then he did thas
causeless act that motiveless deed. Il
was as insane an act as was ever done.
The history of the crime alone viii show
he Is crazy.
when you come to preponderance OF
testimony. we have more doctors than
they have and three OF their doctors re-
ally helped US. We have a third more
witnesses than they. He was not dis
sipated man. He never drank. He never
had bad companions This crime Is un-
accountable except on the theory OF insan-
tty. This man is imbecilie. Task you, gem
tlemen. don't be carried away by passion.
The object Of the court is to get away
from such things. Remember, you are
trying the naked issue: Is he Of sound
mind?"
This closed the argument and Judge
Gambler began to charge the jury.
In charging the jury Judge Candies
said the object of the hearing was to de-
termine whether the prisoner had sum
cient mental capacity to understand the
nature Of his offense, TO realize MS perm
and to assist his counsel.
'aThe test-is not whether the defendant
knew right from wrong at the time OF the
crime, but whether his mind is now sur
fcieutly unsound as to prevent his assist
ing his counsel in his defense.
eff you believe him now sane. you VIII
decide against him, notwithstanding you
may believe that at the time of the crime
he may have been or was insane. IL -
q question OF his present soundness OF
mind"
At the conclusion Of the charge the jury
withdrew to make up a verdict