The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-09
Tho Lands Verdict.


Lands on the ground OF his insanity at
the time of shooting CARRuTH was brought
about by prayer In the jury room, Is one
of the strangest incidents OF this strange
trial. II had been supposed by those who
studied the testimony that the acquttal,
n the accused should be aoq uitted, would
turn on doubt respecting the cause OF
death, and the probability that without
the probing of the surgeons who attended
CARRUTH the wound would have healed,
leaving him as well as before. But this
does not seem 70 have weighed with the
jury. They were so utterly divided In
opinion. some Of them desiring % render
a verdict OF manslaughter and others to
acquit, that, as they stated 70 the Court, IL
was utterly impossible for their antag
onism to be reconoiled; aud yet prayer
brought them all 10 agree that lands was
crazy.
There lie no reason 70 doubt that although
Lands has always been keen, shrewd,
and grasping man of business, he has yet
exhibited an Unbalanced mind, seeming at
times to verge upon lunacy; and the real
question was whether at the time of the
killing OF CARRUTH he had really been car
ried beyond the verge. Mr.. JAY GoULD's
Tribune, however, views the matter differ
emily, and thinks that the killer OF CAR
RUTH was justified, not because he was
insane, but because CARRUrH had attacked
HIM in his newspaper; The people who
sustain wnnton, brutal. and perpetual def
amation Of private character" says the
Tribune, land support the editor who
seeks to stab man he dislikes through the
quivering form OF his half insane wife,
must expect an occasional hunted victim
20 take matters in his own hands. 1t is a
relapse into barbarism. cannot be justified,
and cannot be concealed by any transpar-
ent pleas of insanity. But how much
better is that state OF society and of law
which seems TO leave the man no other
mode of protecting himself and his fam
ilyP
Now this view OF the case, though per-
haps natural to the Powerful Mind, dwell
ing on its own shameful position. will not
do at ALL II CARRUrH had really hbelled
and injured lands in such q way, the law
OF New Jersey contains ample provision
for the stoppage of such injury and the
punishment OF the offender. II 10 true
that large portion OF the people OF Vine
land had been brought into a feeling of
exceeding hostility toward Lands. and
that squibs and more serious articles oon-
tanned In CARRUTH's paper may have been
more aggravating 10 their object on that
account; yet the law of the State Is alto
gether sufficient TO work justice In any
such emergency. II lands had been a
x( I'D ~ In.
tellect, he would never have become in
volved in such controversies with the peo-
pie about him, nor would he have regarded
such attacks as of consequence. All that
gave them their importance and led to q
tragical conclusion was the fact that he
was 30 intensely excited about the dim =
oulties OF his money-making schemes as to
be half crazy, and that the people disliked
him not without reason.
The verdict OF the jury that lands,
while sane enough TO prove himself won
derfully sharp in business transactions
was an irresponsible iunatic when he de-
sired TO kill an editor who had displeased
him. and that by pointless paragraph,
leaves a question yet TO be settled. by
the statute OF Now Jersey. when any per-
son hcouseu oi oiltne 10 hcqultJeu on the
ground OF insanity, the court has the
power 20 order such person to be kept in
strict custody at the expense of the county
so long as he shall continue OF unsound
mind though II his friends give security
in satisfactory amount, with condition
that the lunatic shall, by seclusion or
otherwise, be restrained from the commits
sion of any offence, the court is empow-
cred TO make al order for his enlargement
and delivery to them. The Judge who
tried this case therefore. has the power TO
enforce the seolusion Of the man who
killed Mr.. CARRUrH; and as few will
doubt that II not as crazy now as ever he
was he is liable to become so At any
moment, II would be well for the court TO
exercise its authority for the protection Of
the community.