The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-24
THE ROUNTREE TRIAL is over AT LAST
Continued from Seventh Page.

Continued from Seventh Page.
motive Of the man who killed Johl
Reaves.
Il have the right to say, and do say
that the fact of their illicit relations
with each other is established by tn,
facts IN this law suit. Not by one cir.
cumstaDce, but by all the circumstances
Not because they went on that trip Il
Nashville together; not because the,
were seen under that peach tree togeth
.er; not because they were at school to
getber; not because Will Jacobs saw
then with outstretched arms towards
each other; not because he persisted il
going to her house after his friends ad
vised him not to; not because she allow
ed him to continue to come and did moi
drive him away; not because they were
seen riding around the country togeth.
,er--but because of all these meetings
and conversations and circumstances.
1T is true, gentlemen, that the un
fortunate husband of this woman did
consent to that Nashville trip, in the
,presence of Mr.. and Mrs. Webb. But,
mark you, that was before he knew this
defendant was going 10 Nashville on
that same train that same day. After
he lear ned that, then he begged her to
wait and go with him the next day. He
did not do as some husbands would
have done. and perhaps as he should
have done, put his foot down on it and
not permit her to go; but he begged her
not to go. Mrs. Wright tells You that
and not witness in this record contra
diets Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Reaves is the
only witness who could contradict Mrs.
Wright. Why did she not do so? Why
would the able counsel for the defense
permit so important fact as that to go
unchalenged. when they had the only
living witness who could contradict it
here, sworn and und the rule? Do
you think they would not have contra
-dicted Mrs. Wright if they couldS Must
there not have been some oVerpowering
reason why they would not put that
witness on the standY And why would
not Mrs. Reaves wait until the next day
and make the trip with her husband?
Would size not have done so il she had
loved him, and was true and faithful
wife to him? Why refuse to listen to
his pleadings, when she knew his heart
was breaking with jealousy
"And, gentlemen, why did he wish to
tell her, first of all, that be was under
suspicion, and that she was under
suspicion with him? Would he have
dared tel that foul suspicion to
pure and innocent woman? And would
any true and virtuous woman allow
man to continue to visit her, when she
knew hat the tongue of SANDER was
maliciousy coupling their names to-
gether? Ii | thought, gentlemen, that
you we're so gullible ss TO believe that;
il thought you were so senseless as to
believe that; If thought you were no
better judges Of men and women than
that; II thought you could not give
any more intelligent consideration TO
this case than that, | would close my
speech right here and ask His Honor
to charge the jury, for | would know 1t
would be useless for me to address you
any further. But, gentlemen, L think
better OF you thon tina believe you
will give more intelligent considera.
ton TO this case than that
"Ah. gentlemen, he knew to whom he
wac going, and be knew that he dared
to discuss anything with her. But it
does seem to me, gentlemen, that II he
lacked all prudence and self-respnct, he
might have had some respect for the
memory of his dead friend. 1t seems to
me that the memory of a vanished hand
and a voice that was stlled, would have
appealed to him. IL seems to me that
he might have heard his dead friend ap
peaiing to him, don't go, Lee, don't go
and give credence to the SANDER they
are putting upon my wife,. BY the
memory Of cur friendship don't go, |
Lee But be has no more regard for |
the memory of his dead friend than he /
q Al - hol
has ruined, The Same hind of unholy !
love that has led men to betray wives |
and home and country; the same kind |
of lust-love that Satan has put into the !
world to tempt men and women to dis I
honor wife, husband. home and children,
and disgrace and ruin themselves, had /
possession of him, and with an irresistible
power compelled him on to his ruin. !
N nd vet they would have you believe
that he went there aad hung upon her
words 10 secret converse, in all limo
cence and honor.
"What would an innocent, pure wom-
an have done under such circumstances?
She would have said, you cannot come
here again. The scandal mongers have
coupled our names together. ana L must
protect my reputation and the good
name OF my children And If he had
not left the premises she would have
driven him away.
s'But his regard Tor bis friend was
by his unboly lust-love for
his friends wife, because the devil had
entered his heart. Net in single day
does a man come to this. Nor does he
anticipate it when he makes the fatal
start, but step by step until he reaches
that depth of degradation where muir
der 10 most sweet, rather than to see
the one he lusts for in the arms of an
oth'r I" u
At this point, Upon the request of Mr..