Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-08-04
The Man Who Stole Francis and Mum
sons Horses Safely in Jail-Confdence
in the Laws-Mob Violence Judged to
be greater Evil than Horse Stealing.

in the Laws-Mob Violence Judged to
be greater Evil than Horse Stealing.
In our notice last week of the re-
covery Of Francis and Munson's stol-
en- horses, and the apprehension OF
the thief, we expressed some fears
that the latter might be disposed OF
without legal trial, the people in that
part of the county having long been
in threatening mood toward this
class ofroving scoundrels. The old
man, calling himself James Melville
was taken by those having him in
charge, and carried round by way OF
the neighborhoods where he had stol
en- the horses-the escort having nc
legal warrant for lis arrest and de-
ten ton, and rot taking out the like
till their arrival in Lancaster, where
they delivered him to Esqr. Burr be-
fore whom he plead guilty, and was
thereupon committed TO Jail in de-
fault Of bail bonds to the amount Of
5000. to be held for sentence to Wau.
pun for stealing two horses from AL
bert Francis-subject TO like bonds
and sentence for also stealing L.
Munson's horses. The old man APP
peared broken down and in deep sor
row upon being reminded of his app
preaching incarceration in prison,
probably during the remainder of his
life.
We since learn from the west part
cf county that, but for the fact that
Mr.. Francis and j. G. Trainer per-
sistently and from respect for the
laws, stood by the prisoner and felt
in honor pledged for his delivery TO
the sheriff, he must have suffered vi
olence from the offended people.
And here we feel it to be duty to
add few words on mob violence and
its evil effects:
Lynching always tends to destroy
respect for law, because it gives the
the sanction of civil and respectable
people TO the idea that civil law is
worthless and powerless.
1t teaches ruffians and law break
ers that they may violate law with
impunity if they in turn can bnt es,
cape being lynched.
! Very true, while the vigilance com
mittee remains in force men are de,
tered from crime; but when the CONS
mittee disbands, then the world is
we'll posted that mob law IS right II
only power and numbers so order.
Lynch law dishonors self govern
ment, because it proclaims that il
cannot protect the lives and proper
ty of the people.
The mob. is an enemy to life and
property because it makes them
cheap by exposing either or both to
majority violence or popular fury.
1t famiharizes the people with vi
olencc and makes them ready to eX-
cuse murder as o II after Of small mo
ment.
In the long run, the demoralizing
effect Of such wild and lawless doings
is greater than the injury Suffered
to be done by awaiting the tardy and
| loO OtlCh lCoo SCAtdih Op"to0 "a tnS
law
The lyuchef too often makes mis-
takes-in fact cannot reason OIL delib
crate. The lyncher feels that he does
public service, but is he less Grim
inal before the law? What citizen
or property is safe, the mob being
likely to arise and offer violence for
any cause that fury or interest may
suggest
The Ku Klux Khan south thinks or
pretends to think that the public
good requires reign of lynch law
and the murder of all men who disa~
gree with them in politics.. One hun-
dred years ago a religious party in
Europe still taught lynch law as a
holy duty. A dozen years ago it
was no crime in half the territory OF
the United States to hang abolition
lists or shoot men and women for
teaching certain children to read
The Iynchers Of a dozen years ago
IA e the Ku Kluxers of to-day-whilst
the old abolition sufferers still pro-
claim obedience TO the laws and the
right OF all to be free and 10 freely
Learn to read, the latter having gain
ed the day.
We grant there are crimes which
the civil laws ALMOST fail to punish
among these chiefly are seduction -
Our patriotism and fidelity to law are
often quite overcome, and we ear
hardly suppress Il wish that the Sc
Queer may fall victim 30 Judge
Lynch, because no civil tribunal can
avenge the wrong.
But the scducer is an outlaw upon
the earth, to society, to his friends
and to himself burning fire. Even
if stray pistol shot escapes the SC :
ducer's heart he crawls through life
a victim to constant remorse which
God cannot remove-at least never
does remove.
But the horse>thief, the murderer
the robber may be taken, tried, con
victed and punished Even falling o.
such Justice these may seek and OBJ
tain pardons from their God. which
the seducer may not.
Aud thus and so and for such reas
ons we argue that all criminals how
ever black and damning, should be
dealt with by the courts; and that
even the seduccr, though hardly tC
be reached by the laws, should &C
his way, subject only to be taken anc
punished under. civil law.
ssg-Tbo New York Herald hate!
the Republican party, and would