The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-02-26

out saloon. For one year was a
a sober man. For one year my wife
and children were Surpremely hap
py and our home a perfect paradise.
IL was one of those who signed
circumstances against re-opening
the saloons in our town. The
names of half of this jury can be
found today on that petition GER
tifying to the good moral character
of these rum sellers and falsely
saving that the sale of liquor was
necessary in our town. The pro-
scouting attorney in this case is one
that SO eloquently pleaded with the
court for the license, and the judge
who sits on this bench, and who
ask me if had anything tosay be-
fore the sentence of death is passed
upon me, granted the license
The impassionated words of the
prisoner fell like Goals Of fire upon
the hearts of those present, and
many of the spectators and some
lawyers were moved to tears.
The judge made a motion as if
to stop any further speech on the
part of the prisoner, when tho
speaker hastily said;
Ono no, Your honor, do not close
my lips. They are the last words
shall utter on earth.
81 began my downward career,
at saloon bar legalized and pro-
tected by the commonwealth,
which has received annually a part
of the blood money from the poor,
deluded victims. After the state had
made me drunkard and murder
er, am taken before another bar
the bar of Justice by the same
power of law that legalized the first
bar, and now the law power will
conduct me TO the place of execution
and hasten my soul into eternity,
shall appear before another bar the
judgment bar of God and there
you. who have legalized the traffic
will have to appear with me.
Think you that the Great Judge
will hold me the poor, weak vic
tim of your traffic alone respon-
sible for the murper of my wife.
Nay | in my drunken, frenzied,
irresponsible condition have muir
dered one, but you have wilfully
and deliberately murdered your
thousands, and the murder mills
are today in operation with your
consent.
"All of you know in your hearts
that these words of mine are raw
ing of an unsound mind, but God
Almighty's truth the liquor of this
nations is responsible for nearly
all the bloodsheds, murders, riots
poverty, misery, wretchedness and
woe. 1t breaks up thousands OF
happy homes every year, sends the
husband, and father to the prison
and the gallows, and drives count
less mothers and children out in the
world to suffer and die; 1t furnishes
nearly all the criminal business OF
this and every other court and
blasts every community it touches.
"The internal traffic is egalized
and protected by parties, which
you sustain by your ballots. And
yet some of you have the audacity
to say that you are in sfavor of pro-
hibitlng the traffic, while your votes
90 in the ballot box with those of
the rumsellers and worst element
of the land in favor of continuing
the business! Every year you are
given the opportunity of voting
against this soul and body destroy
ing business, and wash your hands
oflall responsibility for the fearful
results of the liquor traffic; but in
stead, you inform the Government
by your votes that you are perfect
ly satisfied with the present con-
dltion of things, and that they shall
continue.
"You legalize tie saloons that
made mo a drunkard and murderer,
and you are guilty with me before
God and man for the murder of
my wife.
"Your honor, | am done. am
now ready to receive my sentence
and be led forth to the place of ex-
ecution and murdered according to
the laws of this state. You will close
by asking the state. You will close
by asking the Lord to have mercy
on my soul. | will close by solemny
God to open your blind
eyes to the truth, to your own in
dividual responsibility, so that you
will cease to give your support of
this hell-born traffic. g. Beebe
Times.
AMERICAN POST PARCEL.