The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-21

reached the city and was placed on
trial for his life. The indictment that
was made against him consisted OF
eighteen charges. This Indictment wac
presented on Wednesday,, September Il,
1903, before a SPECIAL commission held
at the Session House, Green Street
The court then adjourned until Mon
day, September 10, when the prisoner
was brought before the bar. The
prosecuting attorney, an freshman
speech to the orney-general and tho
jury. Following this speech. which
was long, Mr. Joseph Rawlins. an at
torncy, was sworn and examined by
the solicitor general. This witness
was followed by many others. and
when IL was asked whether Emmett de-
sired 10 present any witnesses In his
defense. he replied that. under the cir
cumstanCcs IL would be useless
At the conclusion of the examina-
lions Lord Norbury charged the jury.
who. without quitting the box, re-
turned verdict OF guilty. Emmett
then being asked by the clerk of the
Crown whether he had anything to say
why Judgment should not be passed
upon him, he arose and made that
memorable vindication speech which
is so familiar, and. one of tho finest
examples of it's kind In our language:
My Lords: What have 1 to say why
nounced on me, according to law? ]
have nothing TO say that can alter
your predetormination or that 1t would
become me to say, with any View to
tho mitigation OF that sentence which
you arc hero to pronounce, and which
L must abide.
II wish my memory and name may
animate those who survive me, while
look down with complacency on the
destruction OF that perfdious govern
ment which upholds It's domination by
plasphcmy of the Most High.
MY Lords. you are impatient for
the sacrifice The blood which you seek
Is not CONCEALED by the artificial ter
rors which surround your victims; 1t
ctrculates warmly and unruffled
through the channels which God Great
cd for noble purposes, but which you
are bent to destroy for purposes so
gricVous that they cry to heaven!
am going to my silent grave; my lamp
OF life Is nearly extinguished; my race
is run; the grave opens to receive me
and sink into it's bosom.
81 have but one request to ask Mt my
departure from this world; It is the
charity of its silence. Let no
man write my epitaph, for, as no one
knowing my motives darcs now vim
dictate them. let not prejudice or ignor-
ance asperse them. Let them and me
rcpose in obscurity and peace. and my
tomb remain uninscribcd until other
times and other men can do Justice to
my character. When my country shall
take her place among the nations OF
the earth--then, and not till then
let my eptaph be written"
Emmets trial was a hasty one.
Though few were there to plead for
him, MacCarthy says: mo advocacy
of either men or angels could by any
possibility have stirred the hearts of
those in authority for ono who rebcll-
ed against the Union."
Emmett was sentenced to death on
September 10, 1903, and the following
morning no was hanged, and, accord
ing to the brutal customs of the time
was then beheaded. For more than
n century Robert Emmets grave has
not only awaited it's epitaph, but also
It's discovery, for the body has been
| removed to some spot by personal
friends who have never revealed its
final resting place.