Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-03


But human nature is human nature. after ali, par
tctarly in courtroom; and the district attorney
had disappointed his audience in particular. He
had been obliged to confess Ignorance to the pre-
else meaning Of the letters S. s. A N 1t was ali
very we'll for him to say that the precise meaning
was OF no Importance. It was Just that meaning
abou. which their curiosity and, in TACT that Of Ill
New York, had advanced to the extreme border of
hysteria S. S A N-.wiat did those mysterious let
tiers meanr The solution unexpectedly At
hand
AS the district atiorney concluded the counsel for
the defense arose. and bew'ne to the Judge and jury.
Mo ore" he said. fn this courtroom can have
heard the argument of the prosecution With moro
complete endorsement than myself There not
one word in it that would fail appeal, not only
the hearts but 70 the common sense Of all true
Americans. l that my clients themselves.
standing, they do under the shadow OF il. con-
demnaton, believe as deeply in the words OF the dis
rics-attorney as he doe: himself / AN not here to
defend lawlessness. l am here much in the in-
j. hrnsss Ny clients also, when ths trush boso.s.
right, but. voluntarily. to die for it They ask
cemency. They will make no appeal-though rig
en as the district has accused them q %
ing, they but await their inevitable sentence; "a e.
fore the gentlemen of the jury decide acd your
Honor pronounccs it, there some very fe~ words
would beg leave to say on behalf OF my clients not
In any hope of their acquitta but in explanation OF
their self-confessed crimes.
M" ysf has naturally those f.,
confessed that he is ignorant Of their significance
am able to enehten him. and have here in my hand
which deliver into the keeping of the court. to
justify the statement wish to make.
These t., twelve ely. men on trial for their lives are
represented. Some day they will be regarded the
friends of the people. regarded not so much as
derers, but martyrs For long time they had each
and all, been oppressed by certain evils in Aneri-
life which have made America ashamed Of itself
and by-word among the nations. Owing to certain
obnoxious types America is supposed be the land
Of bad manners brutality and robbery. Anyone who
really knows America knows that these things are
call the Jack-in- Othcaldom of various undesirable
representatives Of the American people Anyone who
has followed this case must Of course have noted
of execution-yes, | repeat execution-'ln the
OF the American peopler That phrase to anyone
with ears to hear. or brains to understand, should
have explained the whole matter These various per
sons had been put out OF existence III the "dme Of
for the good 5f the American peopl. WV for TIC
good OF the American people; Who could seriously
ask that question who had read the list and kew the
types Of the murdered tnen1
These men on trial may have taken fantastic
and wrong way of doing what they conceived be
need that some drastic lesson should be administered
to those various types that seriously impair the vable
ness of life in America They decided that the only
way was the way they took-to remove some choice
example OF each nconvenient and obnoxious type.
Realizing. of the penalty they must pay they.
none the less decided to sacrifice themselves-in the
met together at intervals in certain deserted man
sion in Westminster County. There they discussed
snpes to be selected for execution and the way best
calculated to flash home the dread lesson they had
ally been decided upon. each man chose the type with
which he preferred to deal A date, three months
ahead. was fixed for the execution. and meanwhile
tieularly fragrant example Of the type ne had chosen
The executions to take place a. nearly as pos
escape and then give himself up-.hus to emphasize
the moral; and further to emphasize it. each man was
to leave BY the body Of the man ne had executed q
hAAv fkA tpftfA ~ he
sible for his death the letter. S s. A n III. mean.
ing OF those letters is very simple"
The speaker paused for moment and the whoss
eourt-room - aled in danger Of eelassns from
"The letters, a, 1 said stood merely for the iii,
these .wclve decided to give their assocatios
Agsin ths attorney paused then quickly ,ddsd
AMERICAN NUIsANCES"
1t is hardly necessary to describe the that fol-
lowed One feature OF it, Of course, WAS the whiri
wind exit OF messenger boys flying for their lives and
various newspapers, to the nearest telephones; and
more. order not restored without varioul
elections.
When again he could be heard the attorney 10.
the defense finished his address with almost startling
breyity
This" he said. rs the whole story Of the muir
des to which these twelve men have confessed
There is mo no more to BE- said These men ask n.
unw.n rns sw yfi are ask & 5' o1 sfs to
understanding of the American people"
As the speaker took his seat arid great hush tn
ward!y eongratuating his opponent on the disboca
cleverness behind all that appsrcn, simplicity.
After the customary impartial charge, the jury re
tired at once. the prisoners taken their cells
and the Judge left the bench but though it was lat
IN the afternoon. no else left the courtroom
The jury was out for nearly four hours
Within half hour OF the close Of the speec
Tor the defence great sky-sisn which had prev
ously bazoned the letters S S. A. N, suddenly Aashe
forth the explanation Of those letters and the su
len November evening iumned with SOCIET'
For TIE SUPPRESSION OF AMERICAN NUl
SANCES At this great cry went up; but whe
presently another sky-sign opened out bearing Il,
legend THE GENTLEMEN MARTYRS the enthr
siasm became q roar
This roar was heard by little jurymsn who wa
holding out against the other eleven and It 6nall
decided him There was no MISLEADING the sentimer
OF the public and like wise man. the little jur,
man bowed to the will of the American people TN
It was that having been out exactly threee hour
, returned vesdict Of Not Gslty
4 $50 ~