The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-04-23
PLEA For A FALLEN WOMAN.

convincing and was not denied Some
thing about the case aroused the in
dignation Of Temple Houston, great
lawyer, who instantly undertook her
defense. After referring to the legal
questions involved and discussing the
jury so he could almost have laid his
hands on the shoulders OF each and in
low, clear voice closed his address
with these words
Gentlemen, you heard with what
cold cruelty the prosecution referred
to the sins Of this woman as IL her con-
diiion was OF her own preference. The
evidence has painted you picture Of
her life and surroundings. Do you
think that they we're of her own choos-
ing? Do you think that she willingly
embraced life so revolving and horri-
BILE All. no Gentlemen, one OF our
sex was the author OF her ruin, more
to blame than she then let US Judge
her gently. What could be more pa
thetic than the spectacle she presents
An immortal soul in ruins? Where
the star OF purity once glittered on her
girlish brow, burning shame has set
its seal forever! And only a moment
ago they reproached her for the depths
to which she has sunk, the company
she kept, the life she led. Now, what
else Is left her? Where can she go and
her sin not pursue herr Gentlemen,
the very promises OF God are denied
her. He said; Come unto me all ye
that labor aud are heavy laden and /
will give you rest.H She has indeed
labored and is heavily laden, but II at
this instant she were to kneel down
before US all aud confess her Redeem
er and beseech His tender mercies
where is the church that would receive
her? And even if they accepted her
when she passed the portals to worship
and to claim her rest, scorn and mock
cry would greet her and those she met
would gather their skirts around them
the more closely to avoid the pollution
n Of her touch. Would you tell me q
single employment where she could
, realize Give us this day our daily
: breadY Our sex wrecked her once
: pure life. Her own sex shrink from
Z her as they would the pestilence. So
: ciety has reared its relentless walls
Z against her and only in the friendly
3 shelter Of the grave can her betray ed
: and broken heart ever find the Re
: deemer's promised rest. They told
: you OF her assumed names as feeting
9 as the shadows on the walls OF her sins
2 her habits, but they never told you OF
q her sorrows, and who shall tell what
y her heart, sinful though it may be
. now feels? When the remembered
: voices Of mother and sisters, whom she
e must see no more on this earth, fall
z again like music on her erring soul she
: would return but must not--no not in
: this life, for the seducer has destroyed
, the soul.
: "You know the story of the prodi.
z gal son but he was a son. He was
= one OF us, like her destroyer but fol
= the prodigal daughter there is no re.
3 turn Were she, with her wasted form
8 and bleeding feet, to drag herself back
: to her girlhood home, she, the fallen
3 and the lost, what would be her well
y come? Oh, consider this when you
ccme to decide her guilt, tor she is be-
fore US and we must judge her They
sneer and scoii at her. One should re
spect her grief, and tell you thai
there reigns over her penitent and
chastened spirit desolation now thai
none, no none but the Searcher of al
Hearts can ever know.
None of us Are utterly evil, and re-
member that when the saffron scourgC
swept over the city of Memphis in 1878
a courtesan there opened wide the door
of her gilded palace OF sin to admit
the sufferers and when the scythe o
the Reaper swung fast and pitiless sh,
= was angelic in her ministering. Deatf
called her in the midst of her mercies
and she went to join those she tried tc
save. She like those the Lord for.
gave, was a sinner, and yet | believe
that in the day OF reckoning her judg.
ment will be lighter than those who
prosecute and seek to drive of the
earth such poor unfortuuates as she
whom you are to Judge.
They wish to fine this woman and
make her leave. They wish to wiring
from the wages Of her shame the price
Of this meditated injustice to take
from her the little money she may
have and God knows, gentlemen, it
came hard enough, The old Jewish
law told you that the price Of dog