The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-03
PARKHI[L MADE
POWERFUL PLEA
WINS FIRST CRIMINAL. CASE
REPRESENTED BY HIM SINCE
he LEFT SUPREME COURT
BENCH TO PRACTICE LAW IN
TAMPA.

The Tampa Times says: Charles e.
Rausch. on trial for using the United
States mails to further fraudulent
land scheme, was declared not guilty
by a jury in tho United States circuit
court yesterday evening, the verdict
being returned about $50 o'clock.
This verdict was rendered after former
Supreme Court Judge Charles p.
ParkhiIl Of the law Arm Of Parkhill
& jackson had delivered one Of the
most eloquent speeches ever addressed
to a jury in the federal court at
Tampa
Inspired by the presence Of the wife
and little daughter of the defendant,
realizing that the liberty of Rausch
to a great extent rested upon his pres
entation Of the case to the jury, and
further actuated by a desire to
achieve success IN the first criminal
case In which he has acted since com
ing to Tampa, Judge Parkhill for two
and one-half hours held the undivided
interest Of the jury, as ne presented
the sweeping arguments which, un-
doubtedly, resulted in the acquittal
Of the defendant.
In the course Of his address Co the
jury, Judge Parkhill contended that
the intent to defrRud constituted The
gist OF the crime: and that II the de-
nc could carry out his scheme in good
faith he committed no crime. however
unfortunate he might have been in his
effort, and however unsuccessful the
effort the result terminated.
Rausch had associated himself with
men OF great wealth In Chicago and
elsewhere, who promised to put up the
money to finance the scheme. Upon
the faith Of their representations he
secured an option on the land and af
terward a deed for the same, subject
failed TO furnish the money they had
promised. Rausch then made a con-
tract with Cashier J. r. Tatum of the
Bank of Tampa to finance the scheme.
The Bank of Tampa failed. Had
these men kept their promise and fur
nished the money, Rausch could cas-
lily have sold the land, paid off the
mortgages, and had handsome prott
remaining.
The books and literature descriptive
of these lands are very modest repre-
sensations of their beauty, value and
advantages.
Indeed. it would be difficult to ex-
aggerate the charms and beauties of
the Manatee section of Florida love
my native state; and no man would be
quicker than / to resent and condemn
the efforts OF any adventurer to mis-
represent our climate. our soil and our
advantages; but Florida. with her
fields rich with harvest. her majestic
rivers, her deep harbors and her rail-
road lines pushing themselves through
the Everglades to the sea, upon the
digging Of the Panama canal will be-
come the open door OF the republic for
the commerce of the world. The in
nocence OF the defendant does not de-
pend upon the success or failure of
this enterprise.
Certain fnancfers Of France I'M
dertook to build the Panama canal
and citizens of that country lost thou
sands Of dollars in the effort, which
| came TO be considered impossible and
fraudulent; but beneath the Stars and
Stripes Of America the busy carriers
Of commerce win yet float upon the
bosom Of the Panama cnnal.
The citizens Of Key West celsbYat-
ed few days ago the completion of
the Florida East Coast railorad, which
marks the achievement of a magnifl-
cent enterprise, but had the promoters
of that road failed, they would have
been condemned as Missionaries. Many
people now say that the draining OF
the Everglades Is feasible, but if tne
| effort fails the promoters will be
| charged with fraud. II successful. the
names of Governors Broward and
Jennings VIII go down In history as
| far seeing statesmen and successful
business men,"