The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-01-25
IHE ttoNE IovRNA1.
". y, SLATER, Editor and Proprietor.
Assassination.

feel, as humanity would suggest, like
our hearty consent to the efforts
have been made, though ineifi-
cient, to prevent the carrying Of con
cealed weapons. The development Of
assassination as one of the fine arts has
made q practical advance through the
recent tragedy IN New York, such as
DeQuincey never dreamed Of, Except
the unavoidable hustling which Stokes
must have received when first grappled
by the porters in the corridor Of the
Grand Central-and it is more than
probable that even in their excitement
they treated 80 well-drcssed an assassin
with all the tenderness possible-the
murderer has enjoyed the most dis
tinguished consideration from all the
officials with whom he has come in
contact. The Coroner's Jury hesitates
and finally refuses to shock his scnsi.
bilities by declaring that he "leleni'
ously" shot his victim. The Grand
Jury hastens through its investigation
in order that he may not be kept wait
ing and suffer annoyance in the ante
0 and. when Stokes is carried to
the "Tombs," the keeper comes with
bland apology and deprecatory man
ncr, to announce that it is the custom
of the institution to lock the doors at
night, and to request the compliance
of the distinguished guest with that
usage.
Now, let us come nearer home with
this mocking of justice. If u poor
fellow in Franklin county, minus mon,
ey, kills a fellow creature, and, may
hap, in self. defence, the chances are
ten to one that he will stretch the hemp
which he need not fear if he only had
enough money to fee talented lawyers
of ample influence. The talent of law
yers is purchasable, and Carlyle was
about half right when he said, with
true Scotch independence, that "cvcry
man has his price" Judges and juries
are bought, and witnesses can be
bought for a very small sum. AS
Shakespeare said. "Money buys out
the law" Justice seems to be only a
servant of money, and the moro money
a man las the greater justice he will
get, These facts ought to startle any
community. In New York it is a
common remark that " a $25O,O0O man
is never hung" There is too much
truth in this remark, and it might be
made as to other communities than
New York. TO suit the case in this
gilt-edged murder the astute lawyers
have invented kleptomania for theft,
and craziness is proven as q justitlca-
ton for men who roll in wealth and
and murder at will. Thus it is that
money will annul responsibility and
set aside every law. Now, the Home
journal, a little country newspaper,
would ask, lin the language of another, J
as to the killing of Fisk by Stokes: If
it was not murder, then all legal defni-
tons may as well b. blotted out of the
statute books, If such Il criminal can
escape on the plea of insanity, frenzy,
or any other controlling influence that
sufices to annul responsibility, all men
may with equal propriety be allowed
to set aside every law but that Of their
own desire for revenge.
The character of the victim cannot
be opened in such q case: the only
question is that of the killing, and kill
ing with malice prcpense. If every
conspirator, on finding himself baflled
by the interpos.tion of the law, is at
liberty to take the law into his own
hands, on what remaining munimcnts
is the safety of the community to be
rested The character of the murderer
is the one to be laid open now the
dead man has passed to his account,
and is voiceless forever before human
tribunals. No review of the assassin's
previous life r to lift ever a cor.
ner OF the pail Of infamy that lies so
heavily on it. There were no sacred
marital rights for him to defend. For
himself, he had shamefully trampied on
them all long ago, driving a young and
trusting wife from his presence by his
persistent brutality. 1t was from re-
venge because his vile relationship had
been fully exposed in court that he did
this deed, not in defence of any invaded
honor. There may possibly be inge-
nuity enough among the lawyers OF
New York to clear such a villain from
the extreme penalty of bis crime, bnt
Justice will hang her head with shame
and despair when such a result is
reached. and alarm may raise its clam
ors in the public ear when murder shall
thus expel the very judges from the
bench. The conduct of this case is
clearly to establish it for New York,
at the nrasant ~nritionl .a.;al .L.L-I