The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-05-21
MOB LAW AND A NEW CONSEQUENCE.


harmony Of community, and has hurried O
mortal into the presence of his Judge. Mob Law
10 at best a most dangerous agent in a civilized
land, and should never be resorted to except in
extreme cases, when the most fagrant guilt il
selfevident, and the civil law 10 powerless te
punish the crime
We do not believe that the civil law is totally
aasf6cient in Western Kansas, while We all
know that it is not wholly efficient. But while
there are forms of law existing, we shall protest
against the assumption of its prerogatives by
others than the constituted authorities. And the
most dangerous precedent that can be established
10 . neglect to punish trangressions of law. The
recent mob spirit manifested in Clay County.
although carried to a brutal extreme, is yet q
peculiar case. The character Of a number Of
those charged with the crime satisfies US that
they either had nothing to do with it, or elee
they had some most extreme aggravation. We
do not seek to justify the perpetrators But the
whole thing is involved in a mystery which
justi6es us in counting the cost of such an effort
to obtain justice. An old established axiom,
and one which generally governs such matters
10 that nine guilty men should escape rather than
that one innocent man should suffer. There is
multitude of stories afoat regarding this affair."
yet we have not heard single positive charge
against any one. In fact it looks to Us, iudg-
ing by what We have heard, and without know.
ing what the stories under oath may be, as
though one party were prisoners, and the other
Witnesses against them. The men arrested are
not desperadoes. but have always been peaceable
citizens. We have not the least idea they will
ever hang any body else ; and as for their hav-
ing ordered any body to leave the country we
shall not believe it until We hear better story.
It seems impossible to get at justice in the case
We therefore submit if it is not proper to dis
charge the prisoners, and let them put in their
crope.
We are led to these reflections by the disgrace
ful conduct of A. J. Mead. and his strikers.
There is some doubt as to which county this
case belongs. The crime was began IN Clay
county, and by mere accident completed in
Riley. We are unable to determine the point,
but many believe that it properly belongs to
Davis county. However, Davis county assumed
1t. and her officers made the arrests. The good
citizens Of Riley, who have the interests of their
county at heart. were perfectly willing that Davis
should have the trouble and expense But not
90 with Mead and Humphrey. The prisoners
had hardly arrived at the Fort. when these men
began working to have the case remanded to
Riley. Can any one give On excuse for such
conduct Does it indicate honesty Of motive
The Sheriff of Riley, tool Of Mead's. was in
town with the wri,s. ready to pounce upon them
a. quick as released. Their eagerness betrayed
the feeling which actuated them. Their sole
object in this prosecution is to swamp Riley
with costs, and make political capital. the odium
Of which is to be cast upon the Republican party
Of that county. The people down there can see
Who is responsible for the costs by remembering
who took them from county which had assum.
them. Humphrey volunteers to aid in the pros
ecution Sam. Wood 10 sent for and he arrives
and does the same thing. The result is, that in
Riley county bitter political feeling has entered
the examination. and thereby justice and the
supremacy Of the law are driven out
In Gods name, what is to become Of the eoun- |
Try when such motives enter the court and trans.
form it into political caucus. We are unable |
70 determine which alternative We should chose |
-the Horse Thief the Mob, or the Politician |
Who would dog prisoners in such manner.
At meeting in Washington the women |