Smyrna times., 1873-11-05

be the SnadOWS OF cOnlug eNeHlS, anu oul
agriculturaists so regard 1t.
The WEST FARCE-The trial of Isaac c.
West is over. Never has there been a case in
this State like this One-one in which crime
was so shocking and justice SO betuddIed. 1t
was farce from the murder to the conviction,
except to the poor, drunken, helpless negro
whose life was taken. The farce commenced
with the burial Of the victim, when the elab-
crate and sympathetic preparations for the in-
terment of devotee Of science ended in ne
gro funeral, and it hasn't ended yet, perhaps
Let us look at the case. Here is man
charged with the tlcO highest crimes known to
the law, murder and arson, both of which are
punishable by death. And yet, alter all the
confession the prisoner could make OF his Own
guilt, and all the investigation that court of
Justice could make in five months, he was
barely convicted OF nltSdeneGnOr! lie was
put in jeopardy of his life Tor it was naturally
80 supposedly on two counts, either of which
was sufficient to hang him, and yet it is
questioned whether he will be permitted to
spend two years in a comfortable room in our
county jail-the ward of the county and the
pet of the prison.
Here, too, is an instance where prisoner
has decreed his own fate and dictated the ex-
tent of his own confessed crime. He stand:
indicted for murder, and he tells himself al
about how he killed and butchered his vistim
But he says he skinned said victim and dis
membered him and hid the pieces away il
Al. Al Ill Iocoa IL al
ligent" jury Of his countrymen makes a yer
dict to harmonize with him. He is next trie(
for arson. He has previously confessed hoy
he tried to blow his Office to atoms with gun
powder, and the other buildings in the row
with their sleeping inmates, but when he come
into court and confesses, in addition to all this
that he tried to set Mr.. Benn's house on fire
he tells the court that he committed misde
meanor. The court accepts his Interpretation
Of his crime and sentences him accordingly
We have all heard of the case of the Irishma
on trial fo7 theft When asked the usus
question by the court when the charge wa
read-''are you guilty or not guilty''-h
wittily replied, And how can | tell till hea
the ividence?" The difference between tn
lrishman 8 court and our court is this: in tn
one case the prisoner could not tell anythin
about it until instructed by the court; in th
other case the court could not tell anythin
about it until instructed by the prisoner.
1t is said that the States Attorney accepte
the misdenieanor plea on the principle that Ct
half loaf is better than no bread. That
were better to secure such punishment as th
plea would bring than to run the chance
another intelligent jury acquitting ii
culprit outright He thought it better
insure this modcum of punishment rather tina
see public sentiment and justice ignore
altogether.
Who pretends that the ends of justice we
met in this case? Not even the simp le-mindt
juryman empanneled to save the pri-oner's net
from the halter. We talk of the back-pi
btcalers Of the rascality Of the Cred
Mobiliers; of the enormity of the political wir
pu'lcrs, anil al that, yet there is quite as hea
ai"' ..tment in the way of machinatio
against courts of justice as from any 9th
quarter. One of the New York papers, 4
other day, in speaking Of the Stokes trial, sa
that both the prisoner and the jury syste
were on trial in that State, ard that if {
former were acquitted the latter would be &C
victed. So In this State. Many such verd
as the one rendered for West on his murd
trial will either criminate the system ii
acquits the criminal or disrupt the peace
society. Prejudice Of race cannot play its p
with impunity. Justice cannot be travistied
suit its whims without working mischief
the public safety. ~.
Thus euds the sequel to one OF the M
inhuman butcheries aud most threatening q
powder plots ever recorded. For two yea
tif not sooner dischsrged) this dapper crini
will merely have to occupy . comfortable spa
ment in the Jail, and CLINT through his e
glasses aud talk blandly 10 the visitors "
conversa- with him 40 ohsen ninrisly hevt