New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-19
IMMArBRfAL AND EvAs1vE.

| freeSt, his illness unknown-lf he suffers
from any-to his nearest relatives in this
city,"
This narrative merely states that the
illness of DR.. Saunders, if it exists, was
unknown to his nearest relatives in this
CITY," The doubt which was expressed
about the condition of Dr. Saunders is dis
PEELED by the statement of two attendant
physicians, who allege that "on Monday,
eleventh October, he was poisoned by
taking arsenic, is still suffering from the
effects of it, and we do not consider him
yet out of danger We cheerfully re-
publish this statement, and might concur
that no patient should be considered tout
1 of danger" so long as he finds medical at
tention necessary. With much respect,
however, for Messrs. Physicians, We find
nothing in their affidavit which refutes
any statement in the REPUBLICAN. We
have not said that DR.. Saunders was not
poisoned, nor that he was not i'll. We for
the first time learn that he is ill. Whether
his near relatives in this city were aware of
his continued indisposition before the bull
letin of the attendant physicians, we know
not So far as the columns of the REpuB-
LIcAN are authority, TO any persons con-
cerned, they will know, as we for the
first time have been informed, of the
certified facts in regard to the health of
Dr. Saunders. We add, in all sincerity,
that we are as much shocked at any such
crime as has been alleged, and shall be as
much grati6ed by the recovery of the
subject of that alleged attempt as any.
As selfish evidence of our sincerity, we
may mention the damage always inflicted
upon the Republican party, when the
dark lantern and shotgun fever breaks
out in the country parishes. 1t will be
seen, then, that the REPUBLICAN and the
public have been informed as to the con-
dition of DR.. Saunders, and that no state
ment of the REPUBLICAN has been cor
rected.
This is, however, immaterial to the
the main issue which is of far more i'm
portance than the health of DR.. Saunders,
or even the conviction or acquittal of the
alleged criminal charged with an attempt
upon his life.
We have seen the statement extracted
from the Patriot Democrat, published on
the day succeeding the murder of John
Gair and of the imprisoned woman
Matthews. We have no comments to
make upon the alleged confession of
woman who is said to have fixed charge
Of crime against an accessory upon ver-
bal message transmitted through third
party. Why this alleged confession was
made, whether extracted under fear of
death or hope Of life, we do not inquire.
We regard but the violation of law in
volved in the whole transaction These
two persons, alleged to have attempted a
crime, were killed without judicial investi-
CATION. In this lies the legal, social and
political significance of the deed.
We will cite facts as we understand
undisputed. John Gair fled through fear
of his life from the parish of East
Feliciana to New Orleans. He returned
to the town of Baton Rouge. During his
absence an attempt was alleged against the
life of citizen of East Feliciana by poison
ing. The alleged offender was arrested
on warrant and lodged in jail at Clinton,
the courthouse village, some thirty or
more miles from Baton Rouge. Upon the
reported confession of the alleged principal
in the attempted crime, Cair, the alleged
accessory, is arrested and taken toward
Clinton When upon the road the officers
and prisoner are met by force Of masked
and armed men, who shoot the alleged
accessory "fulI of bullets" and the body
is left on the roadside" At nine or ten
o'clock the same night the alleged prin.
cipal in the attempted crime is taken from
the guard in the sheriff's Office in Clinton,
and "the unfortunate criminal is hanged
to tree in the court yard. We add the
further fact that the person whose life is
alleged to have been attempted is not
dead, though not, in the opinion of the
attendant physician, out OF danger.
We wish all impartial minds to regard
this summary and citation of facts:
l. A citizen is arrested as principal
upon criminal charge.
2. An alleged accessory is arrested upon
the alleged confession Of the principal.
8. The principal, who has turned States
evidence, is put to death.
4. The accessory is put to death upon
the alleged testimony of witness who
can never be confronted with him" in
the world.
We mean no ''bloody shirt" sensation in
thus calmly placing before the eyes OF the
American public these, facts, undisputed
end without comment. There are law
less miners with blackened faces in Penn
sylvania; there have been vigilance COM
mittees in California; but how would the
people Of any county in the United States
be astonished if seventy armed men could
violate the safe conduct of the law, and
an alleged criminal should before trial be
taken from the custody of the law, and
hung at the county seat of justice and in
the very court yard.