The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-08-20
A LESSON FOR LYNCHERs.
From the Savannah Republican.

We have consistently set our face against the
practice, becoming far too common in the South
for the public safety, of body of citizens taking
the law into their owu hands aud practically sub
sttuting themselves for the judicial tribunals of
the land. Considerations of public policy and in
dividual justice have been urged again and again
We have argument of facts, derived from
recent experience which we desire to bring home
to those who insensible to all other appeals
The circumstances are local, but they are terrible
in their significance, and universal in their appl
cation. --e.. -s
| Before doing so, however, let lis not be misun-
derstood We do not mean to say that there
not cases. such as extensive and intricate combin-
atoms threatening immediate or wide spread
disaster in which the tardy process of the law may
be Inconsistent with the public safety and perhaps
Others for which the law affords adequate
edy. These, however, rarely occur. Our views
are confined to the ordinary crimes committed in
the country, for the punishment of which the law
and its authorized administrators are ample for all
the ends of public justice and social security.
In the month of February last, in this city an
alteration occurred in obscure street, between
white man named Patrick Brady and negro
Brady received a stab in the breast, from which
he died in a few hours. Suspicion fastened upon
one Paul. and at that time runaway. who had
been seen in the neighborhood the night of the
occurrence. Many became convinced of his guilt;
party of the friends of deceased collected
and hunted him down until he was forced to
| take refuge in bakers oven, where he was shot
! Hesubsequently died of his wounds, though pro-
testing his innocence to the last. SO great was the
excitement against all concerned, that the Mayor
was induced to order out the militia to guard the
witnesses from the Council Chamber to the Jail
Again: some three weeks ago, the overseer of
gentleman of this county murdered while pass
ing from the house to the field, about day light
suspicion rested on one Adam, negro under his
charge, who had but few days previous been Sc
verey chastised and had been heard to use threat
enng language with regard to the deceased. The
neighbors collected Adam was arrested and be-
sides the circumstances favoring his guilt small
negro boy, under the impulse of fear, 70 doubt,
testified that he saw Uncle Adam shoot the over
seer with gun, and then drag him off to the bush
es and bury him.
The crowd were greatly incensed and insisted
on hanging the alleged murderer forthwith, to-
gether with several of his felowservants supposed
to be implicated. A coroner's jury were of the
opinion that Adam was the real murderer, which
seemed to be enough to Authorize Immediate
execution of the law. Through the influence of
few more considerate bystanders, and with
great difficulty, the crowd were induced to forego
the execution Of summary vengeance, and Adam
was brought to the city, and lod ged in JAIL where
he remains, we believe at the present time.
Here are two cases; third completes the story.
It is as follows:
On Tuesday last, a desperate negro, named
Toney. who had been for many mouths the terror
of the city and its neighborhood, after much hard
fighting and being shot severely, was arrested
Believing that the end of his guilty career was
nigh, he voluntarily confessed, in the presence Of
large number of gentlemen that he was the real
murderer of Mr. Brady, and that the unfortunate
Paul, who had paid the penalty with mis- life, on
suspicion, was entre y innocent; and ignorant of
the transaction until informed Of it by others The
confession, alas, came too late.
He also confessed that he murdered Mr. Will
liams, the overseer Of Mr. Hines. and going the
spot where it was Ed produced the hoe with
which he dug pit to bury his victim, by the side
of the canal. Adam, he assured them, was guilt
less.
Comment is unnecessary All will see in the
the circumstances related the terrible danger of
substituting the decree of an excited multitude
for the dispassionate and impartial arbtrament Of
the courts.
The runaway negro Toney johnson, alias Thom-
as Shaw, who arrested near Savannah, a few
days ago, was hung by the citizens of the District,
Wednesday morning, at the Dean Forest
Bridge, on the Ogeechee Canal. The following
is his confession:
was brought by Henry Tucker from Virginia.
when was seventeen years of age; am now
about twenty-tour years old. L was sold to DIR
Briggs, in Troupvie, Ga, and was sold by him
to B. l.. johnson. / away from Mr. johnson
in December, 1860, carrying boy with me to
Savannah said boy has been returned to his owner,
having been taken the Savannah and
Charleston Railroad, near the Savannah River. |
was captured also at that time, but made my es
cape afterwards and returned to the city of Sa-
vannah, and have been in the county of Chatham
ever since.
On March the 4th, I murdered Mr. P Brady, !
in the city of Savannah in Yamacraw. Mr. Brady
saw ME pass his house several times, and took me
to be runaway He invited me into his house,
saving he would give something to eat |
went to the door, and he arrested me- saying, 'you
are nv prisoner" | had knife and stabbed him
in hia left arm also his left shoulder, which killed
him in ten minutes. Ii;amediatey left his house
for the woods
killed Mr. Samuel " Williams or about
the 18th day of June, 1861. | was persuaded to
do so by negro man named Guy, belonging to
MIR James J. Hines. | saw Guy on Mr Hines
place two or three times, and he persuaded me to
kin MIR Williams and | agreed to do so. | saw
Guy the came morning | killed Mr. Williams he
told me to stand in the bushes close to the bridge,
asd that Mr. Williams would cross the bridge. +
Guv then went to the feIa, After had killed
Mr. " illians went to the field and saw Guy, and
told him | had killed Mr. Williams. then asked
Frank for hoe to bury Mr Williams, telling him
| had killed him; he told me | would find one
under an old house. l buried Mr Williams by