Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-25
EFFECT or SCREENING CRIMINALS

EFFECT or SCREENING CRIMINALS.
The effect Of allowing criminals to es-
cape through the meshes Of the law and
punishment for their crimes, is seen in
the public demonstrations of dissatisiac-
ton, threatening to take from the courts
their functions and apply the rules and
practices of Judge Lynch. There are
some states, New York notably for one,
where punishment for murder has become
the exception instead Of the rule, particu-
laily il there is Jealousy, adultery, OF lille
il love of any kind in the case, and the
murderer is well supplied with money.
The result is that in New York there is 4
deep feeling that life is insecure, the
courts farce, and the only remedy is for
the mob to take the execution of the law
into their own hands 1t is terrible to
think an enlightened community seri-
ously contemplating such 4 course, but
judges and ijuries are responsible for this
state Of things. There is no power under
the sun that can prevent such 4 lapse
towards barbarism but the better and
more honest enforcement of the statutes
against crime by the proper authorities.
A late instance in New York has opened
the eyes Of the community to the TACT that
they are standing upon the very brink Of
the pit into which mob law leads. 1t
was in the case OF the shooting of O'Neill
by King. The Journal Of Commerce
speaking of the murder, says
''The fact Of Kings shooting ONeill, and
the circumstances that led to the murder,
soon became known. Then it was that an
omen appeared, which it is well for murder
ers and for judges and jures to heed. The
ordinarily peaceful denizens of the street
were seized by powerful impulse TO hang
the assassin, then and there, TO a lamppost
They reasoned swiftly, and this was their
conclusion: the murderer would be tried af
ter long delays, and the jury would fail to
agree, or if they agreed, would probably nc.
quit him on the ground of insanity; but if
for a wonder! > they convicted him of MUIR
der in the first degree he would never be
hanged. Some fimsy technically of law, or
some occult influence, If the murderer was
rich, would save him from the gallows. The
most cain anu uec0rOus OF our business men
may be excused if for the moment they felt
an irrepressible rage at the recent miscarriage
oil all the murder cases, and their painful APP
prehension that the trial of King would prove
farce like the rest. Then it was that out of
the surging crowd arose the alarming cries.
Lynch him Lynch hm! These were not
the EXPLANATIONS of boys or idlers, but of
grave and earnest men, pausing in the busiest
hour of the day to see the murderer brought
out of the building and venting their natural
feelings as he came in sight. is hanging
played out in New York; Is. this to be an.
other insanity dodge? 'Wnl We wait for
another jury to disagree! Such were some
of the remarks banded about. 1t is a note
worthy fact that King was perfectly calm and
collected when the officer arrested him. lie
10 said to have shown no emotion as he was
led down stairs to the street. Doubtless he
felt confident of acquittal; he knew he was
safe, between lawyers, judges and juries
Why should he exhibit signs of fear? Blu,
when this tranquil man reached the open
doer, and saw the excited and swaying mass
of men before him, and heard the cries Lynch
him Lynch him. his whole aspect changed.
His face turned livid; his frame shook with
tear. Those were not the judges and Jures
that he had prepared to meet. Fortunately
for law and order and the peace and dignity