Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-04
Lynch I.nW-OrIEIn ol lhe Nnms.

Lynch Iaw-Orlgin OF the Name.
Bdltor st. Paul MiDn,l Dispatch,
The Plsinviewa horror recently re-
ported is one Of those Zone step forward
and two back incidents 10 progression,
q sad and fatal blow to- our young State,
Miunesota csa lily afford many such
I'strokes, indicative aud proper only 20 q
demoralizsd frontier, moral shock uhi
dermining society and paralyzing all
Aw-aBiding citizens. the practice Of
punishing men for alleged crimes and
otfenses by private aud unauthorized
persons without trial according to due
forms Of law or, in other words muir
der, brand thst properly belongs TO
every psrticipstor. Popular excitement
can be no excuse, especially where the
power Of the civil government has been
established. judicial executions is an
extreme measure Of itself, against which
many good and sound arguments may
be said. We quote from your columns:
"Thers could be no stronger argument
| sgainst. we take it, it should have been.
as it proves, but the sad and unfortunate
state Of society in the vicinity Of such
scenes, the demorslized Ignorance Of the
people. Such occurrences never take
place where true civilization and refine
ment exists, where education lifts men
up sbove the brute state,
Yousg Hathaway's case presents 4
chancs for an exercise OF the inquisi-
torial powers Of the Judiciary All com
cerned are murderers in the eye Of the
law and nov let the Law stretch forth
with iron grasp and 'let no guilty man
escape" Public policy with us demands
this as an example to deter sther would
be wrong-dosrs in the future. We want
no more New Ulm trappsr murders.
The Blue Earth county mob executions,
and the Indian lynching at Brainerd,
are scenes that leave an Rccursed blood
stain that dumbs community, taking
years to ohliterste and forget.
OF the origin of the term given to the
fieudish and wicked practice the Ameri-
can Cyclopedia, among others. says: In
ll493 James Fitzstephens Lynch was
mayor and warden of Galway (Irelsnd) J.
He traded largely in Spain. and sent his
son thither to purchase cargo Of wine.
The young man fqusndered the money
iptrusted to him tor that purpose, but
succeeded in running in debt for cargo
10 spaniard, by whose nephew heswas
accompanied on the return voyage to Ire
land, where the money was to be paid
Young Lynch, to conceal his defalcation,
caused the Spaniard 10 be thrown over
board, and was received at home With
great honor, az having conducted most
successful business operation"
But q sailor on his death-bed revealed
to the Mayor OF Galway the crime that
his son had committed The young man
was tried before his own father, convicted
and sentenced to be henged. His family
and others undertook to prevent the ex-
ecution; aud the father, finding that the
sentence could be carried into effect in
the usual way, conducted his son up a
winding stairway to window overlook
| ing tie public street. with his own hands
fastened the halter attached to hisneck
to stspls ia the wall and acted as OK.
ecuuoner,
And in The Council books Of Galway
there is said toabe sminute that James
Lynch, Mayor Of Galway, hanged his
own son out of the window for deiraud-
ing sna Billings stranger, without mar
tial or CON mon law, 20 show 8 good eX-
ample to posteEity. RoLFkT.
81. PAUL, Jan. q, 1876,