The Arkansas advocate., 1835-02-13
From the Natchez Courier. LYNCH,Ss LAW

hc fluicGnenl dgalnSt James Foster, for the murder of hls wife, was quashed on Saturday last, and the prisoner released from the custody of the Sheriff. Ifhowev- CT, We had been in his situation, we should have preferred hanging ten times over, than to have beer. rackcd with the feelings that Il must have been the occupants of his breast fort or three hours subsequent to his discharge.
 When 1t was understood that he was to be discharged, two or three hundred people gathered around the doors of the Court house. Foster fearing the effects of the excitement against him, on seeing the crowd ;;isrei'id iiffi, begged the protection Of his counsel against personal violence. It was granted as far as it was in the power of the counsel to do so. He was guarded through the mob, and placed one hundred yards in advance, and then told that his fur ther protection depended on his heels. In- stead Of taking the advantage thus given. he still clung to his counsel, but was imme- dlately seized by the mob, and conducted to an old field in the outskirts of the city, where Judge Lyneh usually presides, and where no flaws in an indictment are suffer- ed 10 interfere with the administration of justice. He was then divested of his up- per garments, and about one hundred and fifty lashes well laid on. He was then par italy scalped, and the contents of q tar bar rel turned on him, and quantity of fea- thers deposited thereon. In this condition he was marched to the sound of the drum, and the yels of the mob, through two of the principal streets of the city. It was the de- sign of the mob to have branded him on each cheek and on the forehead, but owing to the lateness of the hour, 1t being nearly dark, this was dispensed with. It was f. nally found necessary, to preserve the life of Foster, to conGne him in jail, as several voices were heard crying out chang him, hang him" and eto the river, to the river" It was well; for he tainted once or twice under the inf1iction of the punishment, and an exposure of an hour longer to the wea- ther would certainly have been fatal.
 We had seen Foster but an hour or two previously in the prisoners box, apparently m perfect health, and one of the finest look ing men in the country. He was mem- Der Oi Ntditby dbd iooPOotopio Aati'i'J VI this county.
 It was a horrid sight to see him as we af- forwards saw him; pale and trembling' the blood tricklng down his neck; the tar and the feathers making his appearance that of monster. So far from recognising Foster, we could scarcely realize that he was a .tfan. The mob believed that he apas q monster at heart, and were determined that his external appearance should correspond with the inner man.
 According to the evidence before the Co roner, he had invited his unsuspecting wife, tta9,t talSe walk With him and returned with, with upon her body. He escaped his trial bl the technicaities of the law. This muei for the justification of the mob, if any thing can justify one. Perhaps this is as strong a case as conld be presented; but we are believers in the supremacy of the law, ant think that they whom the law condemns should be punished, and those that the laa, fails to punish, should be left to the punish ment of higher court.