The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-24
TUESDAY MORNING.
Attorney General Garner
Closes His Speech, Making
A Memorable Address.

Attorney General Garner closed a
IL o'clock the speech he began yester
day at three. 1t was a remarkably
strong presentation of the States side
of the case, and public opinion whIcr
had confidently and almost unani
mously before that predicted a quick
verdict of acquittal, was somewhat
divided as they tile1 their way out OF
the court loom, some predicting q
hung jury. Verv few. If any, believe
that the Jury will convict.
We can give very brief outline OF
Mr.. Gamers remarks tins forenoon.
He first explained to the jury some
thing of cIrcumstantial evidence
saying it was no better nor worse than
other evidences, as all evidence rested
upon the testimony of human wit
nesses. The circumstances must point
clearly and beyond any reasonable
doubt to the guilt of this defendant,
or else the jury should acquit. But
if the circumstances did point clearly
to his guilt the jury should convict
and no sentiment or sympathy should
swerve them from their duty to
society, to civilization, and the State
This defendant should not be immune
from the law. Ii his old and honored
parents are bowed down with grief;
If his innocent little children have q
stain upon their name, the state did
not put it there, and he should have
remembered these tillal duties before
he entered into the unholy relations
which brought all this trouble and
disgrace upon himself and his family.
might picture to you gentlemen the
once happy home of John Reaves. l
might remind you that he has five in
nocent, fatheTless, and worse than
motherless little children. l might
call You TO sympatnize with them. but
1 make no such appeal to you. But
do stand before you in the name of
the great State of Tennessee, in the
name Of the majesty of the law, and de
mand of you verdict of guilty, because
the facts and circumstances clearly war
rant that verdict at your hands.
The higher man stands in COM
munity, the more it is his bounden duty
to resist every temptation and desire to
do wrC ng And every MN has the
power, God has given ev4ry mao the
power. to resist tom ptation, ii he will.
The trouble with this defendant, and
with all other men like him, is not that
they have not the strength to resist, but
they have not the desire to resist The
ignorant, who in their ignorance, and in
their weak ness born of Ignorance, vic.
late the law, should not be held to as
strict account as the man of better in
teIect, higher education. more culture.
The man who has these advantages,
and who allows his brutal and beastly
passions to destroy his neighbor' home.
deserves 20 commiseration at the hands
Of the juries OF the country"
The speaker said it was impossible TO
reconcile all the testimony 10 the case;
some of the witnesses had sworn falsely
He criticised the ''triuhiviate" rather
severely, for bounding witnesses and
~ ming down evidence; and said that it
required strong men and true to face
The opposition of these men and not |
color their stories in the least. He dis |
,ussed the swearing of the several wit |
1esses as t. the coat, and said that the |
,nly way he could possibly reconcile the I
evidence was to leave Miss Ragsdale's |
testimony out. That he said, was too
conflicting in itself to be reconcied
L was upon Miss Ragsdale's evideAce
before the ccroner's jury that the arrest
vas made. At that time Miss Ragsdale
lid not underst md the Importance of the
evidence she was giving. At that time
he had not recalled that letter which
he afterwards found He was not gong
o say that she did not write that let
err; or that she did not find it
when she said she did. But how easy
or her to be mistaken about the night
hat she wrote it;how easy for her, under
he suggestion of Uncle Joe Trimbie, to
PERSUADE herself that that was the night
he wrote it 1t is 80 easy to believe
What we want to believe. 1t is 80 easy
o think thing so when we want it so.
The behavior of the defendant on the
light OF the arrest, he thorgnt, strong
evidence against bin, and
cry strong circumstantial evidence that
here was something about that light
heck coat that he feared. He was calm,
COL and collected until that coat was
Mentioned. 1t did not rattle him at all
,hen the Sheriff told him he had come
0 arrest him. 1t did not rattle him in
be least when the clothes were called
Or but when the Sheriff said sit is
he light check coat that l want" then
e went all to pieces.
Mr.. Garner took up the expert testi-
iony as to the stain spots on the coat.
lie referred to Prof. Mallett's age; "