The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-02-09
APoor CONSOLATION.

'.... a fOOr COpBOlatlOn. = ......
Our roudors arb Of cot,rso familiar
With the leading facts connected
with tho trial, escape, re' capture and
final rclense of Niles G. PARKER last
summer, 1t will be remembered
that he was brought before Judge
Afackey, under writ of hobeas cor
pes, and discharged from custody.
Tho state, through tho attorney
general appealed from Judge
Mackny's decision, and The supreme
court has sustained the appeal in
ovory Particular It is held that IL
Judge Of ono circuit cannot enter
another ahd perform therein judicial
functions, without authority from
HE chief Justice. 1t is also Hcld
that the orders passed by Judge
MnclScy arc void, because there was
not dito a.hotice given to tno party
adverse to Parker Hcnce all the
proceedings under which Parker wa.s
set at liberty aro absolute. void.
This decision will amount to very
little indeed, unless the proper
authorities tallo tho proper steps in
the promises. Wo believe that
with vigorous effort on the part OF
tho governor and tho attorney gene
raj, Parker can be brought back to
ColWfUia, and be ma,lu to answer
fully ahd finally for his crimes. If
tho governor and the attorney
general once realize the necessity of
enforcing the law against such
scouhdrels us Parker, and use the
means with which thoy arc supplied
by law, VIC arc almost sure that the
aH-trcasurer Can be caught and
punished. At Ill events, it NH not
do for tho executive and tho stato's
Attorney both of Whom have been
full of pledges aid promises, to let
pass an opportunity like tho present.
More especially does the duty Of
vigorous effort IN tho present case
dcvolvn upon Attorney General Mel
ton. No man has made louder protcs
tations of reform Than hc, mil, we
aro forced to add, no man enjoying
his facilities has done less service in
tho limo Of trlte reform. Governor
Chamberlain has done much, and he
has received full credit for it but
he owes 1t alike to himself and to
the people, to do something towards
bringing Parker to iliEsticc. He
must bo aware that there arc many
good and hottest min in South
Carolina who SUSPECT him Of n lack
OF ardor in tho matter Of prosecuting
men like Parker; Nothing would
60 further towards destroying that
suspicion than bold and encryctic
course ,tiid6r the present circrm:
stances: The legislature, too; might
take sotto actioii: It has been
doing niubh of lat0 iii the way of of
fering largo rewards for the capturd
Of alleged criminals: a reward Of
thrco thot.sltid dollars Mas offered
for tho approhcnsioR of tho parties
Who killed Joo Crews and several
other rewards, from five htindrcd
to one thousand each, have BEEN held
out in similar chsos. Parkcrs
crimes certainly deserve as much
attention. ut th', lahds of thu gene
rAl assembly as those committed by
tho unknown parties for whose ar
rest q very largo price is lioW offered:
1t may be, indeed; that Parker can
not DO reached ,flis does not re-
ticvc tho statt Authorities of the
responsibility under which thcy
now rost; to make proper effort.
1t will indeed be a poor consolation
to tho honest people who have boon
robbed by Parker and his associates
simply to know that tho highest
llldicaturo in tho state has docidod
that oil the proceedings by which
his release was brought about, wcro
extraordinary, illegal and void. They
have n right to look for something
decidedly moro practical, and do |
cidedly moro in Keeping with The
pledge, SO solomn!y..and repeatedly