Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-04-29
n \S421AA4ASS~@44A@S Hearsay, Reading
Observation - ~ Written for The Courier by ~ s."
Observation,

In 1S49, in company with fellow stu
dent, wo concluded, partly from curiosity
and partly from q desire to see more of
the world, to spend our spring vacation
in.Kontucky. Our route, after reaching
Cincinnati, was by steamer up the Ohio
to Lexington. At q village near the
Blue Licks we spent day, and rambled
over the ground, on which, near a hun
dred years before, severe battle had
been fought between company of
Kentucky pioneers and q large body
Licking river. The battle was
very disastrous to the Kentuokians. In
it their noted pioneer, Daniel Boone, took
prominent part, and brother of his
was killed, with many others. We were
surprised To notice how little the people
in tho neighborhood knew of the spot
where the battle was fought, and how
little interest they manifested about an
event aud place that were matters of SO
much interest to us. At the end of an
other day we reached Lexington, the
central city of the famous "Blue Grass
Region" within short distance of Ash
land, the home of Henry Clay, then still
living.
AS our mind has been running of late
on the subject of capital punishment,
and the crime that makes 80 dreadful a
penalty appear necessary, we will drop
the subject of travel, and resume the ar
gument by citing some noted cases that
tend to illustrate the truth of our posi-
ton.
1. While at our temporary boarding
place we became acquainted with a
young law student who related recent
trial at the Lexington court house. A
young man by the name of Shelby had
killed another by the name of Horine.
The killing was most brutal, and utterly
indefensible from any legal or moral
aspect The two men were eating at op-
posits sides of the same table. Horine
was an Industrious mechanic. Shelby
was the scion of an aristocratic family
we'll up in social life, and always we'll
dressed. AS they were sitting facing
each other, Horine gave scrutinizing
and somewhat protracted look at Shelby.
He took offense and indignantly asked
why he looked at him so. The other,
piqued at the question and the manner
of asking it, replied with Roland for an
Oliver, IA crow can look at q jac kdaw,
aud Horine can look at q Shelby"
That, in the Interpretation of the latter,
was adding insult to injury, and without
any other apparent Provocation, he shot
him to death on the spot. The case
caused widespread local comment and
indignation, and it was thought that the
trial that followed would lead to Shelby's
conviction. But it did not. Henry Clay
was employed to defend him. Tho rela-
tor said he had often heard Mr.. Clay
speak, but never heard him make 80
poor an effort as on that occasion. He
dwelt especially on the offensiveness of
sCoRNFUL LOOK, pr0trdcted one at that,
and then wrinkling his brows, protruding
his lips, and peering in sinister way
with his penetrating eyes at the jury, he
tried to convince them by such an object
lesson, that look of that kind was as
l,nI u..l Il l1al l1,Y N,t
The truth, however, is that Mr.. Clay's in
fuence was 80 great that it overawed the
court and jury, and he virtually dictated
the verdict that shocked all right think
ing people.
Kentucky is reaping to-day the fruits
of allowing her great Senators like Henry
Clay and John j. Crittenden to come into
her criminal courts TO overawe judges
and juries, and thus turn murderers loose
upon the public, to prey upon other vic
Tins, and By their example, to encourage
the vicious element in society to deeds of
murder. Kentucky is still known as the
"dark and bloody ground" The murder
of Governor Goebel is still fresh in our
memories, and the latest revelations dis
close the slayer, and an Ex-Governor as
the main particeps criminis!
Q. About the same time In 1849, as
cleaned from the papers of the day, there
was noted trial in Boston, Mass. The
murderer and his victim we're very promi-
nent, professionally, socially and intel
lectually. DR.. George Parkman, the
murdered man, belonged to family that
inherited distinction in Boston for seve-
raj generations. Besides, he was very
wealthy--a millionaire. He was pri
vate banker, loaning money to different
persons-among others to DR.. j. w.
Webster, who afterwards killed him.
Prior to this DR.. Webster stood just as
high socially as DR.. Parkman. He was
professor of chemistry in Harvard Uni
versity, and lecturer on chemistry in the
Massachusetts NJ Medical College. He was
eminent In his favorite science, but he
was not successful financier. Notes
held by Parkman matured and he could
not meet them all. .Parkman dunned him
80 often that Webster dreaded his visits.
In his last visit, according to Webster's
testimony, he became unbearably offen-
ve,applying epithets to him that angered
him beyond his ability to control him
self, 80 that In his wrath he picked up a
grape vine club, used in chemical expert
mentation, and struck him such blow
on the head that it killed him. He then
tried to destroy the body in order to con-
ceal his crime. But he succeeded only
In part. for before he was half through,
suspicion fastened on him and he was ar
rested, tried, convicted and actually exc
cuted by hangingi II such case had
occurred in some Western State, the pris"
oner would have been acquitted on the
plea of emotional insanity" But high
as Prof. Webster stood socially, profes-
sionally and intellectually, the judges
charge to the jury was unequivocal, and
the jury laid aside all prejudice and pre-
conceived notions about the right
or wrong OF voting away mans
life, and without a dissenting voice
brought In q verdict of guiltyi That
was In Boston, probably the most intel
leotual city in America. 1t was at Hai-
ward, the radiating centre of edu-