The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-04
THE LANDIs TRTAL ENDED.
A Charge that Made the Prisoners Friends
Sbrug their shoulders.

BRID0EToN, Feb. Glands looked wild
and haggard this morning appearances that
have grown upon him rapidly. His gray hair Is
matted aud uncombed, and his dress ia slovenly.
The Attornoy-General reviewed Landis's hatred
ofthe Independent party aud OF Carruth, and then
described Lands's crime "a being mean aud cow
ardy. There was something chivalrous In the
action OF n man who wrote polite note asking
his enemy to meet him face to face, but what
sentiment except contempt could be felt for
this hehtoned, elegant gentleman who hid
himself behind a screen to strike his opponent
when he knew he could not be struck back. II
murderers must TO turned loose upon the COM
munity, for Gods sake let them hc murderers
with the hearts Of men IN their breasts, aud not
cowardly Gssassius. Un Carruth, the counsel
sdd, lived under the guarantee Of liberty ac-
corded by the American Constitution to the
prese. II he amused that liberty to the preju-
dice Of Lands. the courts were open for redress,
and " he saw NJ to take the law into bis own
hands, he must bear the responsibility what
was the proyocation of which Lands complained
compared with tho attacks made daily
upon public men by the New York press
Read ITS daily onslaughts on the Prcsdent OF
the United States, the Secretary OF the Navy,
aud numerous other prominent officials " HON II
thought were deserving of censure. Why, Car
ruths article about Lindls, IN comparison with
such blows as these. was as a dtop Of water com
pared with cataract and yet no one would st-
tempt 80 Justify the man who would walk into
| Tur SrS Office and shnot the editor whn had as
| sul,d him. VINO could forget the thrill Of In
! dtguatiun that ran through the country when,
two years ago. an attempt was made to enforce
a law bv wntch offending editors could he
| dragged to Washington and tried In the District
| Of Columbia for articles pubiisht Il In New York
There had been no evidence u show thht Ian
| dis. when he shot Carruth, was 30 insane as TO
| renIer him irresponsible. II hs knew when he
! committed the homicide that the deed was con
trary to the laws OF God and the state " New
jersey, he was guilty Of murder. Landis's ~
sanity was ike Scannells. OF the invlsi le Kind
that seized him at the moment ne committed
the crime and disappeared the moment after
ward. with rich criminals, having political iu-
nuence, N was common; with poor aud irlend-
less ones II was very rare.
Judge Reed charged the jury that II the
wound In Carruths brain produced the ab-
scesses that resulted in his death the failure Of
the surgeons to treat those Assesses skilfully,
or the refusal Of the patient TO submit To- u nee
essary operation would not cxonerate Lands,
wac would bc responsible unless death Resulted
from the probing and from moth ng else.
With reference TO the alleged insanity OF the
| prisoner. the Judge said that to form "a defence
| II must he shown that his nind was diseased to
An extent preventing HIM from realizing that
| tho act he was about to commit WRONG.
| Tho Judge further charged tn It the deusion, N
true, uiust have been Of anature To JUSTIFY the
| prisoner in shooting hi- victim or II could form
no defence The article IN the Nineland Inde-
| pendent would not afford such justification.
| Tho charge was undrniably against the prison
| or. and I'ndis- friends and counsel listened to
| II with evident dissatistartion.