Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-11
THE LATE TRAGEDY ON POPLAR

We are decidedly opposed to striking
n man when down. 1t matters not what
may be his offense, there are courts APP
pointed by law before which he can be
tried, and, if found guilty, made to ex-
plate his crime in some of the ways
known to the criminal law If John
Cosgroye was guilty of murder on last
Saturday fnight we presume, before the
court over which Judge Flippin pre-
sides, he may be made to answer for the
infraetion Of the law in this respect
But why condemn him beforehand, and
without giving the poor man an OPP
portunity of defense? The facts elicit
ed at the time of killing are by no
means such as would condemn Cosgrove
to greater degree Of crime than that of
manslaughter Cosgrove keeps board
ing house; one Of his boarders willis
and himself become engaged in a quar-
rel in reference to some small matter of
business; Cosgrove comes round from
the counter, behind which be was then
standing, and administers several blows
with his hand, and perhaps uses his foot
in kicking him. Willis falls outside the
door, which is close by, and Cosgroye
finding him down picks him up and as
certains that he is insensible, brings him
into the fire end applies stimulants to
bring him to life, but finds it unavailing
and that the unfortunate man is
dead. Now this is an unlooked-for
state of affairs and termination of the
difficulty. 1t Is enough to appall any
one, and is natural that Cosgrove should
endeavor to cover up his victim without
the cause of the mans death being
known to the tribunals of justice. He
alleges, with his witnesses, befora the
Coroners jury that the man came to
his death from heart disease, and,
in fact, the blows upon the head
we're, in themselves, hardly thought
sufficient to cause death. Willis
was not injured in any vital part
Of the body; had his face BACKED little,
and perhaps few bruises on the body,
which we're in themselves apparently
insignificant. If the deed was done
without malice or intention to take life,
which the testimony in the case goes to
prove, where is the bloody murder that
some of our contemporaries would make
out against Cosgroye2 We know the
man and have had dealings with him,
and state that, so far, he has ever been
honest and faithful in what he has under
taken. That he should have endeavored
to cover up his victim with the earth,
thinking to hide his offense, was natural,
but in bad judgment. That gave hue
to the killing that otherwise it would not
now have worn before the public eye.
He should have confessed at once that
he did the killing, and given himself into
the hands of the law and let it take its
course. Better informed men would
have done this; but, after all Cosgrove's
subsequent acts will not affect the posi-
tive proof OF those who were on the
ground or at the place where the man
came to his death. The evilto our city
its reputation-is beyond calculation,
when such a small crime as com
mitted by Cosgroye shall be heralded
forth to the world in great editorial
leaders from newspapers that claim to
be leading organs. What is wanted is
sensation, no doubt, and this as well as
anything else suits the vitiated taste Of
the public, that delights to have their
ears tickled with tales Of horror and
scenes of bloodshed Memphis has al
ready an unenviable reputation without
more being added, and which has oper-
ated greatly to retard her growth and
increase her wealth and population from
abroad. We viii venture to say that life
and property are as secure here in the
city of Memphis as any part Of the
habitable globe, Notwithstanding that
some one was killed on Poplar street
asst Saturday night.