The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-11-18
STATEMENT FOSTER
DID NOT DELIVER
Prepared It to Give Just Before Re
ceivirg Long Prison Sentence
Says Justice Did Not Triumph.

The following statement was pre-
pared by Lou a. Foster, and he in
tended to read it in court at Newfanc
when asked by the clerk whether he
had anything to say why the sentence
Of the law should not be passed upon
him for shooting Osse Prouty. By ad-
vice Foster did not read the state
ment:
II the court pIeases: In response to
that time honorcd question an unfor-
tunate fellow being is grateful of the
privilege of saying word in his own
behalf. And in so dong it is with
charity for all and malice toward
none.
| have no fault to find with the
sheriff department in this sad circum-
stance. | gave myself up and they
have been very kind. / have no. fault
to find with the prosecuting officers,
save that do not believe it Just to
seek out my enemies, whose standing
for truth and vcracity in their respec-
tive communities is matter of specu-
Iatlon which | do not care to discuss
more than to say one OF them, the
most pronounced against me- has been
admonished with reference to his con
duet by our worthy state : attorney
whom | commend for doing what
seems to him his duty. | cannot bring
myself to feel it Just to let the teSti-
mony Of such man brand me z Grim
lnal among my fellows But ! forgive
them and pray that the One toward
whom they held up their hand and
| took an oath Will also forgive them.
| Coupled 10 this is the mistaben cvi-
! dencc of that unfortunate woman
whom our worthy attorney general so
truthfully characterized as waif
drifting upon the ocean of life without
home or shelter
/ am deeply sorry for the unfortu-
nate widow and children of my assail-
ant and wish it were within my power
to restore to them their husband and
father
With reference to the jury. ] have
no fault to find, Notwithstanding my
personal opinion of the verdict. God
has placed it beyond human possibility
for any jury to be able to determine
whether some testimony il true or
false. and thus we are again reminded
of the frailties OF human agency and
the weakness Of the judgments OF men
The charge Of the court was eminentlN
fair and lust.
was born Of good parentage an'
began contributing for their support
early in life workin" my way through
the schools and academy and travelling
quite extensively in preparation for +;
life of useful citizenship. have my
faults like all other mortals but III TIL,
sum total Of life | believe | have don,
some good in the world
IN giving me my sentence | ask thu
members OF this honorable court to eN
change places with me through the pas
three wears and endure my mental an'
physical suffering and humiliation; en-
dure all of the epithcts that tire eNl
dencc has shown were hurled Mt ever
possible opportunity; endure having
animals shot down on my own prem
: ises: being shot at and obliged to see
refuge in my own buildings; eudur
the many threats aud attempted at
tackS especially the one upon this sa
occasion; endure what | did on m
; own premises the fatal night, then ~
. yourselves if the bands Of paticnc
i were not justified in breaking to lc
@ the Divine right of -prcservatio
assert itself.
! am profoundly arieved over TIN
sadness of this awful circumstance, Nc
cannot feel that I have violated an
= law Of Heaven or earth, but | mus
II suffer for it and will not complain.
r will recognize it rs another mysterior
1 providence where Justice does not a
: ways triumph, neither is innocence
J. perfect shield Nevertheless, ] sha
J. cling more aud more az the clock {
time ticks on. to the CONSCIOUSNESS
. that in the final elimination of Z
: things, the poet 5 prophecy shall con
T true:
: .'Though right to be forever on Il
> scaffold
: Wrong forever on the. throne
Il That scailold swavs the future,
= And behind the dim unknown
p Standcth Cod, mid the shadows,
1 Keeping watch above Ills Own.