The news dispatches from Richmond Saturday morning tell of the acquittal there late Friday evening of Thomas Pollard, prominent citizen, who has been on trial for the murder of his former stenographer and paramour. The details of the relations that led up to the death of the young woman, as they were adduced from the evidence, furnish but another story of the sordid life of a man and woman whose lust overcame them. Both were married but their marriage vows didn’t bind and they were guilty of that infidelity which invariably leads to destruction.
“Not guilty” was the verdict of the jury. Pollard is a free man today and his friends have congratulated him. But, Alas! is he guiltless? No! His conscience, unless it has been seared and calloused by his dip not sin, is not clear. He can never walk the public thoroughfares and look his fellows in the face with that feeling off innocence that dominates the right doer. No, never. Pollard’s life as shown by the revelation of his depravity and as admitted by him, is stained with sin, that sin the wages of which is death. Upon his heart there is the ineffaceable record of blood, the life blood of the woman whose betrayal he accomplished. No jury’s verdict can ever remove that blot. Only God’s mercy and pardoning power can wipe out its blight.
Pollard was acquitted but he’s guilty!
From the editorial page of The Kinston Free Press, Feb. 24, 1923
No comments:
Post a Comment