Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-12-09
LYNCH LAW.

The Houston Telegraph express
cs hope that the press Of this State
will make lynch law odious. We
are gald to see the Telegraph speak
out against the references ofmatters,
that ought to be acted upon by the
legally constituted authorities, to
the court of Judge Lynch. The
Telegraph perhaps, thinks that
there is danger Of mobs being en-
couraged it discourages those who
wish to administer punishment by
sclf-c. constituted authorities.
We are decidedly opposed to the
court Of Judge Lynch, and regard
those who by taking tho law into
their own hands administer punish
ment, even where there is no doubt
of the victims guilt, as committing
q crime which tho laws Of the coun-
try should severely punish. We
will refer TO tho past; some who
thought that the laws were too slow
in dealing out punishment, gather
ed in crowds and hung men-the
result is, that in looking over our
exchanges, we notice arrests Of va
rious parties for having been engag-
ed in these disgraceful scenes.
We believe that up to 1860, 1T
was source of pride to the citizens
of Travis county, that their county
had never had a mob in it. In 1860
q party of men thinking that the
law would not punish man, who
they believed, had wronged them,
entered the Court House, and while
the prisoner was in the custody Of
the Sheriff, shot and killed him.
This proceeding excited general in
dignation, and those who did the
shooting had to leave the county to
escape the penalty Of the law. In
1861, there were threats made that
a man would be taken out Of Jail
and hung. All the military compa-
MES in Austin furnished guards to
defend the prisoner, and the threats
were not executed: In 1862 citi.
zon Of Travis county was arrested
and charged with having been con-
ccrned in murder. While he was
being taken to San Marcos by
military guard, he was taken from
it and hung. He had enjoyed an
excellont reputation as christian
and citizen.
In 1864, a man was arrested and
charged with having encouraged
negroes to escape into Mexico.
While he was in the custody of the
military, one night mob assem-
bled, took him and hung him on
tree. near the ford where hundreds
of citizens had to pass. We have
heard that some were shocked by
seeing boys throwing stones at the
lifeIess body, The mob spirit, up
to this time, did not feel itself strong
enough to take life in the day time
and abide the consequences.
In the month of July, 1864, mob
took and hung, in day time, three
men who had been carried to Aus
tin by a military guard. There
were at that time, portions of three
military companies in the city. We
have been told that the Provost
Marshall advised and assisted in
the hanging. The men were hung
where thir bodies could be seen from
the residence of the family Of the
lamcnted Gen. Tom Green, and we
have understood that their bodies
wcre left unburicd until Mrs. Green
requested that some ono would re-
move the awful spectacle. -.
We have given short sketch OF
the rise of mob law, in one of the
formerly, most law abiding coun-
ties in this State. There was ma
iority of the citizens which was op-
posed to mobs, but it was powerless
and could not act against them.
1t behoovcs all to frown down the
mob spirit, and TO assure the advo-
Gates OF Jugde Lynch, that the laws
will severely punish those who exc
cute his commands.-Gdt. Bulletin.
Sir Walter Scott tells story Of a
Il. nENww