The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-04
LOCAL EVENTS AND INTER-
, VIEWS ABOUT FAIRMoNT<
) FOR READERS OF aTHES
, HOME PAPER ,
CURSES oNzyou, LOCAL WEATH.
Err SAGE, SAYS PUBLIC.
Snow on the sidewalks,
Followed by rain,
Sun peeps forth suddenly,
Sprlngtime again.
Clouds follow sunshine
My, what a muss!
Say, local Weather Sage,
Why Is this thus?

THE PRISONER AT THE BAR
IN MARION COUNTY COURT
Probably never In the history OF old
Aiarton-one OF the best and purest
counties in the Mountain State and
whose name is seldom blackened with
revolving crimes OF certain kinds
have there assembled together in one
court q larger and more r~espreshta.
tive crowd of citizens than In the
Circuit court room yesterday after.
noon-ln fact, all the day. when the
trial OF a young man charged with one
OF the worst crimes against the de.
cency Of manhood or the common.
wealth that he might commit, n crime
upon conviction will either send him
to the gallows or to the penftentiary
Tor life. But 1t is the hope o fthe good
people OF this county and for the fair
name of old West Virginia, that It will
be shown that he Is innocent OF the
charge against him; that the records
which Shall go down In history Will not
bear the blot of having n man In Ma.
rion county who would take the ad.
vantage OF the little child who Is less
than ten years Of age, who Is frail OF
statue and has loving, innocent blue
eyes and light hair, and at her tender
years. could not even imagine such a
foul crime as 1t Is alleged the prisoner
committed.
1t Is well that in the Just courts OF
America, that q prisoner at the bur is
presumed 10 be innocent until he shall
nave been proved guilty, and It is the
hope OF all sensible men that the man
now being tried for his life or liberty
shall prove himself 10 be innocent OF
The alleged horrible maltreatment Of
months duration of this little girl.
But on the other hand: II It Is shown
beyond a reasonable doubt that he is
guilty OF the crime 1t is better that
decent society be ria Of his like; us
better that he, associate the rest OF his
life with crooks, cut.throats, murder.
Iers, rapists 'ahd thieves behind the
bars and stone wall OF the state prison
lbuilded for such pests. that the song
OF the pure maidens mingled With the
laughter Of children and the singing
OF the birds and the beauty, OF the flow,
efs be taken away from him; It's best
That he be put where he cannot see
the sunshine nor ever look into the
lace OF an innocent and pure child;
that instead Of his associatlng with
people who try and are doing good In
this world that he be put behind bars
Where he can pass away the restless
nights with his conscience-which will
Judge him more harshly and with more
torment than all the suffering that can
De inflicted by man; where his black.
ened heart will beat against his uu.
manly bosom until he shall cry out in
despair that he die to cease his awful
mental anguish.
AS stated, II the accused Is innocent
OF the awful crime with which he is
charged. then it is the hope OF all that
he shall be proved innocent. Admit
Tor arguments sake that his hands
are clean Of the crime of which he is
now being tried, then 1t must be a
living hades for this young mar to sit
In a crowded court room with the fin.
ger OF scorn pointed at him. 1t seems
That 1t Is human nature for the general
public to believe that when an accused
is being tried that he is guilty until
sufficient evidence is adduced to
Change the majority OF the spectators
mind.
The Maker Of us all knows whether
this young mar is innocent or guilty,
and he. too, knows. And 1t would be
a stain never to be wiped out upon
the fair record of old Marion county II
this man was convicted, sent 10 the
penitentiary Or hanged when he Is in.
nocent Of the charge. 1t Is n Gods
blessing that the courts OF this coun-
try go slowly, that the courts do not
Jump ut conclusions and that n pris.
oner at the bar is as innocent MS the
best and most noble man In the world
until 1t shall have been proved beyond
a reasonable doubt that he is guilty.
Judge not lest thou be Judged"