The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-26
tPUBIdsHED BY REQUEsT.)

thing TO say why sentence of death
should not be passed upon your"
A solemn hush fell over the crowd
! ed court room, and every person wait
ed in almost breathiess expectation for
an answer to the Judges question.
/, The Judge still waited in dignified
silence.
! Not Whisper was heard anywhere
and the situation had become painful
lily oppressive. when the prisoner was
seen to move. His head was raised,
his hands We're clinched and the blood
had rushed into his pale. careworn
face. His teeth were firmIy set ana
into his haggard eyes came fash OF
light.
Suddenly he arose to his feet and.
in low, Arm, but distinct voice said
Il have, your honor. You have ask
ed me q question, and now ask, as
the last favor on earth. that you win
not interrupt my answer until I am
through.
II stand here before this bar con-
v.cted OF the willful murder of my
wife. Truthful witnesses have testi-
fed to the fact that / was a loafer. a
drunkard and a wretch; that re-
turned home from one Of my long de-
bauches and fired the fatal shot that
killed the wife 1 had sworn to love.
cherish and protect. While / have no
remembrance of committing the fear
full, cowardly and inhuman deed I
have no right to complain or condemn
the verdict OF the twelve good men
who have acted as a jury in this case.
for their verdict is In accordance with
the evidence.
to show that j am not alone respon-
sible for the murder of my wife" This
startling statement created profound
sensation. The Judge leaned over the
desk. the lawyers wheeled around and
faced the prisoner. the jurors looked
at each other in Amusement, while the
spectators could barely suppress their
| intense excitement. The prisoner paus-
ed few seconds. and then continued
in the same Arm. distinct voice:
| Il repeat, your honor that / am
not the only one guilty of the murder
of my wife. The Judge on this bench,
| the jury In the box. the lawyers with
in this bar and most of the witnesses
are guilty before Almighty God. and
will have to appear before his judg-
ment throne. where We shall be right
eously judged.
| IF twenty men conspired together
! for the murder of one person the law
power of this land will arrest the
twenty. and each will be tried. con-
victed and executed for whole muir
der and not for one-twentieth of the
crime.
II have been made a drunkard by
law. II 1t had not been for the legal
ICED saloons of my town would never
have become drunkard. and / would
| not be here now ready to he hauled
into eternity. Had II not been for the
| human traps set out by the consent
| of the government / would have been
an industrious workman. tender
father and loving husband. But to-
day my home Is destroyed, my wife
murdered and my little children-God
bless and care for them--cast out on
the mercy of cold and cruel world.
while am to be murdered by the
strong arm OF the State in which l
live
| God knows I 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. con-
Stunning. agonizing appetite for liquor.
At last / sought the protection, care
land sympathy OF the Church OF Jesus
| Christ.
For one year our town was sober.
For one year I was sober man. For
one year my wife and children were
supremacy happy and our little homs
was a perfect paradise.
| II was one Of those who signed re-
tmonstrances against reopening the sa-
looms in our town. The names OF half
of our jury can be found today on the
petition certifying to the good moral
character of these rumsellers and
| falsely say that the sale OF liquor vas
necessary in our town The prescott
ing attorney In this case was the one
that so eloquentiy pleaded with the
court for the license. and the judge
who sits on his bench. and who asks
me IL / have anything to say before
the sentence OF death is passed on me,
granted the license"
The impassioned words of this pris-
oner fell like Goals of fire upon the
hearts of those present and some OF
the lawyers and many OF the specta-
TORS were moved to tears.
The Judge made a motion as IL to
stop the prisoner. when the speaker
hastily said:
mo! no. Your Honor. do not close
my lips. l am nearly through and
they are the last words ] shalt utter
on earth.
II began my downward career at q
saloon bar. legalized and protected by
the Commonwealth, which has receiv-
ed annually a part Of the blood money
from their poor, ueiuoeu flcbsS
After the State had made me drunk
ard and a murderer. / am taken be-
fore another bar--the bar of Justice
by the same power of law which legal
fized the first bar. and now you VIII
conduct me to the place of execution
and hasten my soul into eternity. !
shall appear before another bar-the
| Judgment bar Of God--and there you
/ who have legalized the trafic 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 for the MUIR
der of my wife? Nay. i, in my drunk
en-, frenxied. irresponsible condition
have murdered one, but you have will
| fully and deliberately murdered your
thousands an. the murder mills arc TO-
day In operation with your consent
This Internal trafac IL legaiised ana
protected by parties which you sustain
by your ballots. And yet some ~ you
have the audacity to say that you ~
in favor OF prohibiting tho tranic wnile
Iyour ballots go into the boz with tncse
Iof the rumsellers and the Worest e.o-
ment Of the land in favor of cont'n-
luing the buainesB!
scyerv wear YOU are given an Op-