004

savage asked to have spared. It is
for you to say whether the witnesses who
stated these things told the truth, and
it is for you to say whether, per the
testimony, John. D. Lee, can be considered
innocent. If there be any good reason
for disbelieving the testimony given before
you, then the defendant may be innocent,
and it is for you upon your oath, to say
whether any alleged fact is proven
or not. But if you believe the testimony
detailed by the various witnesses, then
truly there is no escaping the conclusion
that the prisoner is guilty. The testimony
is overwhelming, and the human heart
revolts at the fiendish cruelty displayed,
and were it not for the requirements of
justice, it should forever be sheltered
in oblivion. But it was too horrible a
deed to slumber forever, although for
nineteen years, the perpetrators have
gone unpunished. The defense has
introduced no witnesses or evidence to
refute the testimony for the prosecution,
but risks the whole case upon the hope
to shake your confidence in the wit-
nesses for the prosecution. Were those
witnesses unworthy of belief? The most