772 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

740 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

Consider the cireumstances under which the prisoners have
come to this country. They have been brought here with a
sort of eclat, much to their disadvantage. A vast apparatos
seems to have been put in motion against them. Hngland, the
queen of the ocean, has stretched forth her arm against them,
and every man, from the Lords of the Admiralty down to the
Youngest midshipman on board the Curlew, seems to have de-
eided upon their fate. We are too likely to be influenced by
these circumstances, end imagine that England would not
have taken so much trouble; would not have sent the Savage,
with Lieut. Loney, to this country, unlesa the prisoners had
been guilty. It is but courtesy, it would appear, to hang them
after all this; blood seemed necessary to cement the bond of
‘union between the two nations.

T beg that it may not be supposed, however, that in speak-
ing thus, I have any intention of reflecting upon England, or
the English navy. Those who had lived in the days of Col-
lingwood and Nelson could never have aught but respectful
feelings in relation to the latter (the navy), and with respect
to the former (England), despite her acribblers, I believe that
there exists among the respectable class of people in this
country a deeply rooted feeling of regard for their fatherland.
Knowing that this feeling of respect and regard exists in
favor of England, I am desirous of cautioning the jury on
this head, as she (England) has been the principal agent in
this matter.

The manner in which the defense has been managed, also
requires some explanation. The long and tedious examina-
tions which have taken place, were not agreeable to us (the
counsel), and would not have been persisted in, could we
have had evidence of our own, But have not this evidence;
we are like a naked and unarmed man opposed to a full
armed man. We had first to wrest from our adversary hia
weapons, and then fight him. All we could do was to en-
deavor to find out chasms in the government evidence. We
were obliged to try it as sailors did a chain cable, first by ex-
treme pressure upon every inch, and then by ringing it to see