The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-24

would knock the very foundation from
under this law suit. For they know
the State relies entirely upon the Illicit
/ relations between these parties as the
motive for this murder. And il we can
show no wrong between them, we have
n" foundation at all Tor the case 10 rest
upon. Yet they refuse to bring her here
and confront US with her testimony.
mo Jail birds committed this murder
We need not go into that theory it is
too fallacious. Neither is the coverG
suggestion that Tucker or Mcknight
might have done it worth consideration
These theories are injected merely to
convince you, gentlemen Of the jury, OF
the possibility OF the murder having
been committed by some one other than
the defendant. But who is that some
body else? What enemy did John Rea-
yes have? What motive could any one
else have had? These ether theories
being out OF the way, lets see II Lee
ROuntree had any motive for the killing
of john Reaves. For if he did not have
motive ne did not do the killing For
no man would kill his friend without
motive.
Lets consider what influence bad
women may have and have had upon
men OF good character in the past.
Rome, proud Rome, was once ruled by
a viate, composed of Mark AnthO
nv, Tl5erieus and Cesar. No man in all
Rome stood higher in the esteem and
confidence and affections of the world
than Nj .rk Anthony. But Egypt had d
Queen who was the most beautiful wo.
man IN the world. And she was as las
civlous aud lustful as she was beautiful;
and she entangied Mark Anthony il. he,
desires, and he took her for his mistress
and she dragged him from his proud
place in the world, and he deserted home
and country for her, and when he die
upon the bait etield by his own hand, his
last words were in song for his voluptu-
GUS paramount.
II knew a man once who held
high pos ton ofhonorand trust in an ad
joining district. He was Chancellor of
that district. And he held the conI Is of
that district with ability and strictest
integritv;and no man stood higher than
he. But he be anne involved with bad
woman, and he lost his position, and his
aud his influence and friends
and money and all And he left there
ard went West. He had loyal, true
and lovely wife, and eight innocent,
sweet and attractive children. He took
them all to his new home with him, and
it was not long before the news came
/ hat his wife had died sudden and
m ysteriOus death and ia three months
from then, he took this same libertine
woman in the house with his little in
nocent children. Now he is drunkard
and a vagabond, and his own children
will not eclguize MIN. Talk to me
about mans previous good character.
When he once yields 10 the machina-
tioDs of a bad woman, it avsils him
nothing. Once he yields himself to her
e horace, he may expect to lose his hon.
or, his life, his very soul.
II knew q man in Nashville, who held
q high position in bank there. He
was a man of wealth. of social presti ge.
of great influence. The people honor
ed and trusted him. His wife and chill
dren loved and respected him. In an
evil hour he was caught in the wlleS of
a mistress OF house of Ill fame in that
city. He lost his character; it crum-
bled and fell away from him: he lavish
ed all his money and more upon this !
siren of the slums; he became a defaul
ter of bank funds; and when open dis |
grace and the penetentiary stared him |
in the face, he went into the presence of
his paramour and: blew his brains out.
And that man once had a character this |
defendant can never aspire to. Talk to i
me abhut mans character, when it il |
tainted by association with fallen wo- !
man. Be he ever so strong. once he !
starts that downward path, ruin, desola- |
ion and destruction await him.
IL knew man in Kentucky once |
He was the peer of any man in that |
State. He was the silver tongued ora
;or of that great commonwealth. He
,ould sway the multitude with bis elo
luence. Men ana women, noble men