The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-12-28
Why the Death Sentence Was Passed



shall not be passed upon you?'
A solemn hush fell over the crowded
rt.room, not u whisper was heard
anywhere and the situation had be-
come painfully oppressive, when the
prisoner was seen 10 move; his head
was raised, his hands were clinchcd
and the blood rushed into his pale,
care worn face; his teeth were fitmy
set and into his eyes came - flash OF
light. Suddenly he rose to his feet
aud in low, firm voice he said
~ have! Your honor, you have
asked me question aud now | ask rs
the last favor on earth. that You viii
not interrupt my answer until nm
through. | stand here before this bar
convicted of the wiIllnl murder Of my
wife Truthful witnesses have tcsli.
lied to the fact that was = iuaicr, q
drunkard aud wretch; that ! re-
turned home from Il long dcbauch aud
hrud the fatal shot that killrd the wli"
/ had swOin to love, cherish and pro.
tect. While | had no remembrance
of committing the fcaIiui, ccwardiy
and uhuman deed, have no right to
complain, OF condemn the verdict Of
twelve good meu who have acted ~
Jurors 10 the case, Tor their verdict /.
in accordance vito the evidence. But
may it please the court, | wish TO
show the court that | am not alone
responsible for the murder OF my wife.
This startling statement created
tremendous sensation,
al repeat, your honor, that | am
not the only Que guilty of the murder
Of my wife. The judge on his bench,
the jury in the box, the lawyers, in.
Guiding the pastors of the churches,
are also guilty before almighty God
and will have to appear with me be-
fore His judgement throne where wc
shall be righlcousy judged
''li twenty men conspire together to
the murder Of one person, the law
power Of this land will arrest the
twenty and each will be tried, con.
vic,cd and executed for the whole
murder, aud not one twentieth OF the
crime. | have been made drunkard
by law.
"If il had not been for the legaIlcd
saloon Of my town | never would have
become II drunkard; my wife would
not have been murdered; | would not
be here nov ready to be- buried into
eternity. Had it not been for the hu-
man trap set out by the consent ot
the government | would have been Il
sober man, an industrious workman, q
tender father and loving husband.
But to-day my home is destroyed, my
wife murdered, my little children
God bless and care for thcm-sast On
the mercy Of cold and cruel world,
while am murdered by the strong
arm of the State. God knows | tried
10 reform, but as long rs the open
saloon was IN my pathway my weak
diseased Will power was no match
against The fcuful, consuming, agpn.
izing apprrii" Tor ).lrr" Tor oac
yeaI my vile and cnndfcn were SUI
premely happy aud our little home
perfect paradise. was one Of thos"
who signed a rcmOnstrauCc a0tlust re-
opening the saloon ia our town. The
names Of onG-balf the jury can be
found to-day on the petition certifying
to the moral character Cd Of the
rum seller aud falsely stating that the
sale of liquor was necessary IN on
town. The prosecuting attorney in
this case was tho one who so eloquent
ly pleaded with this court for the
liceusts, and the Judge who sits Oh his
bench and who asked il ! had any
thing to say before sentence OF death
was passed upon me, granted the IL
cense. / began my downward career
at a saloon bar legalized and protected
by the votes of this commonwealth
which has received annually part OF
the blood money from the poor de-
luded victim.
latter this State has made me u
.drunkard and a murderer | en- taken
before another bar-the bar of justice
by the same power that legalized the
first bar, aud now the law power will
conduct me to tho place of execution
and hasten my soul into eternity.
shall appear before another bar--thc
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 helpless victim of your traffic
alone responsible for the murder of m,
wife? Nay, / in my drunken, ireu
zied, irresponsible condition have muir
dered one, but you have deliberately
and wilfully murdered your thousands,
and the murder are in full oper'
alton to-day with your consent.
GAN of YOU know in your hearts tina