Show prohibition fc TUIl here is a storeng plea for temperance tem perince N which aich appeared in ina a recent number of the farm ind and home it is inter asting st thib ti time when the cit citi elee elec tion is about to be held and the saloon question enters largely into the election results read it ard condei over it prisoner Prison cr at the bar said the judge have you vou anything to fa say y why sentence of death shall not be passed upon youa A solemn huah fell over the crowded court room and every person waited in almost breathless expectation for the answer to that question the judge waited in dignified silence not a whisper was heard ally anywhere here ard the situation became painfully oppressive then the prisoner was seen to move his head was as raised his hands Clet clenched lebed while abile the blood rushed to his pile care worn face suddenly he arose to hs his feet and in a low but firm cioce said 1 I have bour honor you have hae asked me a question ind and I 1 now nom ask is as a last favor on earth that ou will not interrupt my answer until I 1 am through 1 I stand before this bar convicted of willful murder of rny my wife fruth 1 ful witnesses liae testified to the fall fad that I 1 nab I 1 i loafer a a drunkard and a wretch that I 1 returned from one of ma m pro prolonged lorg 1 I debauches ind fired the fatal shot which killed the wife I 1 had sworn to love cherish and protect while I 1 have no remembrance of committing the fatal have no right to cimpl in or to condemn the verdict of the t valc good mm who nhu have acted as jury in this cal cae for their verdict is in fit accor accordance darce with the dpn c which I 1 mek have heard but maa ma it alca e the court I 1 wish mish to show that I 1 am not ilone alone responsible for the murder of my wife this startling ling st itcan nt crl cri cited a tremendous sensation the judal leani d over the dk d k the law lawyers ars looked it each other in amazement the pr prisoner ioner paused a moment and then continued in the same distinct vote voie 1 Y s I 1 repeat it I 1 am ain not alone guilt of the murder of my wife ife the judge en ell his big bei eh ch the jur in the box the I 1 loeri iw erg w within it hin this bit bir and most moat of the witnesses including the pastor of the old church are also guilty before almighty god ind will hive to stood stand with me before his judgement jud gement throne where wie we shill hill nil all be righteously judged for ill all our thoughts words and deeds if there had not been in ma m tan t an I 1 would not hone hae become a drunkard drun kird my wife bould not hive been murdered ind I 1 would could not be here now re reidy idy to be hurled into eternity had it not been for these humin hum in trips I 1 would have been a sober man an industrious workman a tender fataei and i loving husband but tod today ay iy my home is des destroyed troyed my little children cast out onto the world while I 1 am m to be hung by th the e s trong strong arm of the state god knows inov I 1 hive tried to reform and pram priced ed for strength to withstand the licensed temptation but so long as the open s doon v was as in ma m lithway my weak ind and was nas no match against the fearful agonizing con consuming appetite for drink for one year near our town was mas with ith out a saloon I 1 was one of those who ho signed the against the reopening of saloons in our town one half of this jur the ing attorney on this case and the judge who nho sits on this bench all voted for the saloons ba B their votes notes and influence saloons were mere reopened re opened and they have hane helped to make me what nhat I 1 11 am the impassioned words of the prisoner fell like coals of firt fire upon the hearts of those present the judge made a motion as if to stop further speech but the prisoner hastily lid your honor I 1 am nearly through do not close ma rn lips then he resumed 1 I began mi downward donard career at a saloon bar licensed ind and protected by the voters of this tov town n had it not been for the license voters the saloons which have hae wrecked my life and destroyed my mv home would not have existed after the saloons vou have hae established have hae made me a drunkard ind murderer murder tr I 1 am taken before another bar the bar of justice lu stice and no now the law ian power will mill conduct me to the place of execution ind and histen my illy soul into eterniti I 1 shall hall appear bufore bt fore another bir then the judge ment bar of god and there vou liu who nho have hane licen licensed bed the traffic must appear with ith met me think ou thit that the gibat judge will nill hold me the poor weak of your saloons alone responsible for the murder of my wifel ife nay I 1 I 1 in my drun drunken keit frenzied irresponsible condi tion have murde murdered redone one but aou vou ha have e delibe deliberated ratel voted noted for the saloons which lia C murdered tho thousands wands and these saloons are arc in full operation open tion to day with ith bour cur consent you licensed d the saloons which mad ald me a murderer I 1 ion im the logical product of dour own votes and vou are guilty with nith me before god and mm min for the murder of my wife 1 I stand here today toda condemned murderer dili one of a in ilion the 1 to ro duct of lic licensed ened saloon biloon votes let bour conscience condemn have hae voted tor for the rum shops hops there them is i remedy and ever sc sensible risible roan man kno knows whit hit it is I 1 am inne your our honor you will close ba b a sing gods mere i on rn soul I 1 close ll 11 bi asking the lord to have mercy on his people and to open their blind eyes ekes that they will cease to give their votes to consent to the running of licensed murder mills in our country |