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Ida Chamness writings on travel and religion, 1927-1938
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Some Account of John Mercer's Case I was on business in Tipton, Iowa in Seventh month, 1936, when I was informed there would be a murder case that would come on in two days. It struck my heart with deep pain, and a feeling to attend the trial and see if there was anything I could do to help the criminal; my daughters felt the same way. I had never heard of John Mercer before. We attended the arraignment and trial. And after the people had gathered in the Court room John was brought in between his guards. The Court was about to proceed when I felt constrained to arise, and walked toward the front near where the prisoner was, and knelt in pray-er to God to appear amongst us and tender every heart, and guide in judgment; and we realize that all had sinned and none of us could be saved but by repentence and by the atoning blood of Christ and his mercy: and that we might be merciful. When the court recessed at noon I walked up and shook hands with the prisoner. He afterwards said to me with emotion - "You don't know how good it felt when I thought all were against me, to Know that Some One Cared; and that you were not afraid to show it." As he walked out of the building with his guard I saw in his eyes a pitiful appeal for help. We were led to seek him out in jail and shook hands with him through the bars, and I again appeared in prayer...No wonder we felt moved by the Spirit of God to attend to he trial, as John had no relatives near to help him. We had labored two days previous to the arraignment with a judge; and wrote to Judge Ellison, and handed it to him at the courthouse, to show the injustice according to gospel and the teaching of Jesus Christ of taking any one's life. On Eighth month, 30, 1930 the three young men Leroy Mercer and his young brother John and a companion, were escaping from the holdup of a drug store in
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Some Account of John Mercer's Case I was on business in Tipton, Iowa in Seventh month, 1936, when I was informed there would be a murder case that would come on in two days. It struck my heart with deep pain, and a feeling to attend the trial and see if there was anything I could do to help the criminal; my daughters felt the same way. I had never heard of John Mercer before. We attended the arraignment and trial. And after the people had gathered in the Court room John was brought in between his guards. The Court was about to proceed when I felt constrained to arise, and walked toward the front near where the prisoner was, and knelt in pray-er to God to appear amongst us and tender every heart, and guide in judgment; and we realize that all had sinned and none of us could be saved but by repentence and by the atoning blood of Christ and his mercy: and that we might be merciful. When the court recessed at noon I walked up and shook hands with the prisoner. He afterwards said to me with emotion - "You don't know how good it felt when I thought all were against me, to Know that Some One Cared; and that you were not afraid to show it." As he walked out of the building with his guard I saw in his eyes a pitiful appeal for help. We were led to seek him out in jail and shook hands with him through the bars, and I again appeared in prayer...No wonder we felt moved by the Spirit of God to attend to he trial, as John had no relatives near to help him. We had labored two days previous to the arraignment with a judge; and wrote to Judge Ellison, and handed it to him at the courthouse, to show the injustice according to gospel and the teaching of Jesus Christ of taking any one's life. On Eighth month, 30, 1930 the three young men Leroy Mercer and his young brother John and a companion, were escaping from the holdup of a drug store in
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