Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land piratePitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
History
Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land pirate
Pitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
Copeland, James, 1823-1857; Criminals -- Gulf States -- Biography
Upon the reception of said report, the Judge made some changes in his
former charges to the effect that if doubt existed, the Jury must
give the defendant the benefit of such doubt; further adding, that he
should not discharge until the rendering of its verdict; and at once
ordered it to retire again, with additional information that if it
required any explanation on any points of law involved in the case
before it, to report accordingly to the Court, and it would give the
proper instructions sought for. After the Jury had remained some day
or two longer in retirement, the Court ordered it to report, on the
arrival of which, the Court desired to know the points of disagreement.
In answer, one of the jurors, W. L. Young, rose and respectfully
addressed the Court, stating that a majority of the Jury entertained
doubts; and as for himself, he had conscientious scruples as to the
propriety of confounding G. Overall and G. Y. Overall together; while,
at the same time, the principal part of the Jury did not believe that
when Copeland gave the name that he intended it for G. Y. Overall,
and that the latter had no proper authority for accepting the name
of G. Overall, as published in the confessions. The presiding Judge
appeared to be well pleased with the manly and intelligent conduct of
the young gentleman, but informed him at the same time that the Jury
must be governed according to the law and evidence before it. To this
declaration, Mr. Young made the following reply: “Please your Honor,
and suppose we do not believe the evidence in the case before us.” This
ready, but profound reply excited, to all appearance, a pleasant smile
on the Judge’s countenance, and created no little sensation throughout
the court-room among the legal fraternity, some of which were heard to
exclaim—“a pretty good lawyer himself.” The Judge, feeling the weight
of such an expression, did not attempt any further remarks in reply for
this time.
TAMPERING WITH THE JURY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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