New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-08
LYNCH Law IN INDIANA.

The recent execution or MOD FenPetiicc uIoH
three negroes confined in the jail of Clark
County, Indiana, on suspicion of the murder
of the Park family, was the subject Of vigor-
Gus charge to the Grand Jury of that county
the other day by Judge Durham of the Grim
inal Court. The Judge remarked that within
four years there had been sixteen cases of
lynching in his judicial circuit, more
than the whole nuEber of legal ex-
ecutions in the entire State since its adj
mission to the Union; and he congratulated
himself that the hanging of these three
negroes had cat last brought to his Executive
"Excelency sense of duty, and for the first
"time, after the murder of thirteen white
"men this mobbing of three negroes had
called out an Executive protest against these
"transactions." 1t is pretty clear that Judge
Durham has prcjudiccs on the subject of color,
and is no fattcrcr of Gov. Baker; but to ac-
count for the severity with which he at
tacks tho Governor in this strangely inoppOr-
tune manner, we must remember the unfortu-
nate condition of affairs which for several years
has prevailed in parts of Indiana. When four
men of the Reno gang of express robbers were
taken from the iail at New-Albany, in the
next county to Clark, three years ago, and
hanged by a mob, q great deal of attention
was directed to the condition of Indiana JUS
ticc but the excitement was barren of results.
We then learned that in certain counties of the
State there was no security for life or prop
erty, and no confidence in the courts. Pros
porous rogucs owned judges and manipulated
iuries. The law was used for the protection of
crime, and the machinery of Justice became an
engine of oppression. A sort of BAN
ipIi cd
with many reputable families, held the
communities in terror, and grew bold
enough to threaten the bench and intimidate
the Grand Jury. We have proof now that
there has been little change for the better.
Judge Durham states that he had been ed
"monishcd to speak with caution on this sub
eject" and mentions report that some of
the Grand Jurors themselves had been con-
cerned in the lynching of the negroes. A
correspondent, whose letter VIC publish this
morning, draws nm awful picture OF the con-
ditOn of affairs. where private vengeance
takes the form of murdcrous vendetta, and
the officers of the law have yielded their
functions to irresponsible vigilance commit
tees. 1t seems now that the negroes who
suffered for the Park murders were probably
innocent, and the tragedy of which their exc
cution furnished the closing scene was only
one of long series of outrages chargeable to
an organization 10 better than the ku-Klux
Khan. 1t has fourished in Southern Indiana
for several years, and it is fOurishing still.
Here we have a lesson for New-YOrk.
When lynching becomes fashionable, it
is fair to assume that the laws are not
honestly executed, and the courts are
not pure. 1t is because judges were
believed to be corrupt and timid. prose-
cutors unfaithful, or juries in completely with
the criminals, that Indiana mObs took the
privilege of punishment into their own hands !;
and whenever and wherever justice Is SINH
larly prostituted we shall have murder
usurping the functions of the law. We
have been in imminent danger OF some
such return to barbarism in this city,
where the expressions Of certain of the courts
have been notorious for several years. How
far the political publication of last month has
averted the peril by abating the abuses, it is
| too soon to tell; but we may rest assured that
reform of the Judiciary is now one of tho
most pressing of our public duties. and if we
postpone it we may dread the most serious
consequences. The Bar Association is believed
| to be at work in earnest; If it perscvere, it
| can effect an entire renovation. We urge I'LL
who can to aid it's Committee in the collection
of facts wherein O movement for the impeach-
ment of our unjust judges may be based. OF
the entire success such q movement may win
we entertain no manner of doubt. The facts
are abundant and accessible let them be once
fairly presented, and the poisonous influence
of our Barnards and CardOzos is ut an end.
The inccssant warfare upon our Tariffs waged