Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-28
CHARGED WITH MURDER

anything to say why sentence OF
death shall not be passed upon
you?"
A solemn hush fell over the
crowded court room, and every per-
son waited in almost breathless ex-
pectation for the answe1 TO the
judges question.
The judge waited in dignified 81
lence.
Not 2 whisper was heard any
where and the situation had be-
come painfully oppressive when the
prisoner was seen to move; his head
was raised, his hand was clinched,
and the blood rushed into his pale,
careworn face.
Suddenly he arose to his feet, and
in a low, firm, but distinct voice,
said:
Il have, Your honor. you have
asked me a question: and / now ask,
as the last favor on earth, that You
will not interrupt my answe. until
l am through.
Il stand here before this bar, con-
victed of the wilfM murder of my
wife. Truthful witnesses have tes-
| titled to the fact that | was a loafer
a drunkard and a wretch; that | re
turned from one of my prolonged
| debauches and fired the fatal shot
| that killed the wife | had sworn to
love, cherish and protect. While
have no remembrance of committing
the fearful deed, | have no right to
of the twelve good men who have
acted as jury in the case, for
their verdict is in accordance with
the evidence
But may it please the court.
wish to show that 1 AM NOT
ALONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
MURDER OF MY WIFE,"
! This startling statement created a
tremendous sensation. The judge
leaned owe. the desk, the lawyers
wheeled around and faced the pris-
| Onr, the jurors looked at each other
in amazement while the spectators
could hardly suppress their intense
excitement. The prisoner paused
few seconds, and then continued in
the same firm, distinct voice
Il repeat, your honor, that l am
not the only one guilty of the muir
der of my wife The judge on this
bench. the jury in the box, the law
yes within this bar. and most of
the witnesses. including the pastor
of the old church. are also guilty
before Almighty God, and will have
to stand with me before His judg-
ment throne. where we shall all be
righteously judged.
IF it had not been for the sa-
have become a drunkard; my wife
would not have been murdered;
would not be here now, ready to be
| hurled into eternity Had it not been
for these human taps, l would have
been a sober man. an Industrious
workman, a tender father and a low
ing husband. But today my home is
destroyed, my wife murdered, my
little children-God bless and care
for them-cast out on the mercy of
the world while | am to be hung b.
the strong arm of the state.
God knows. | tried to reform, but
as long as the open saloon was in
my pathway, my weak diseased will
power was no match against the
fearful. consuming, agonizing appe-
tite for liquor.
| Il began my downward career at
a saloon BAR-legalized and pro-
| tected by the voters of this town.
After the saloons you allowed have
|
derer, l am taken before another
| BAR-the bar of justice. and now
| the laW-power will conduct me to
the place of execution and hasten my
soul to eternity. l shall appear be-
| fore another bar-the 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 weak. helpless victim of your
traffic-alone responsible fo-- the
murder of my wife? Nay | in my
drunken frenzied, irresponsible con-
dition have murdered ONE-but you
have deliberately voted for the sa
looms which have murdered thous-
ands, and they are in full operation
today with your consent.
'All of you know in your hearts
that these words of mine are not the
rawlings of an unsound mind, but God
Almighty's truth
you legaliZed the saloons that
made me drunkard and a murder
Ter, and you are guilty with me be-