New-York tribune., 1876-07-17
TIE NEV4RK SLAUGHTER.

The coroners jury at Newark on Saturday,
after an investigation of the horrible butcheTy
of Thursday last, found that ElSGen, Fischer
and Albers were shot by the ThielhOrns, and
that the latter were drowned in the Passaic
River. this being the result OF close pursuit
"by an excited crowd; that large number or
d" stones were thrown at the said Ibielhorns,
"both while pursued BIZ the crowd and after
they had jumped into the river, and were
VIRTUALLY disarmed-the stones being thrown
"by a large number of persons whose names
"capnot be ascertained.r The jury regret that
there should have been any attempt " 10 eXer-
"cise mob law" but hint that the result" Is
"satislactOry to the community" Then some
thing is said of " the majesty OF the law" ana
the opinion is expressed that 0!iiccrs shOuId DC
warned when sent upon the duty OF ar
resting VIGOROUSLY violent persons. lhe
iury, it appears to Us, entirely mISappre-
bended the case, and said that Ieeby which
might with greater prOpriety have been Slld
boldly. Ii the pugSuerS eommltted q cFinie'
ii was manslJughtcr in a minor degree. Up
To the moment when the Imelhorns TOOK 70
the water the crowd was clearly in the rGnt,
and acting somewhat in the character or
poase comi'atis. The muTderers had been run
ming muck, killing or attempting TO Kill all
vino opposed them. They were more danger
ous than so many man killing tigers at bay
in Jungle Not only the fearS but the
righteous indignation of the pOpulace had bcne
excited by savage and extraordinary butch
ery. Ii was the duty of all good citizens TO
act promptly and vigorously and to take all
due mea .ures not only TO appTehend the
assasSns, but to prevent them from
committing further hOmiciGes. The close pur-
suit OF the Thielhorns b the Passaic River by
the crowd va, not only jus,iiable but lauda-
ble Up to that point the proceedings were
vindication and not violation of the law.
After the fusitiycs had attempted to escape by
swimming the river, tie pursuit was virtually
kept up. The stones were cast at them that
they might be disabled. Il IS not, however,
probable that the mob reasoned IN THIS way.
Allowance must be made for the iniiimty OF
human nature. Nor viii the courts deal
harshly with those whose indignation had been
20 Justly excited, although it really carried
them somewhat further than it should.
1t would have been sufficient we think, II
the Jury in It's verdict had simply set fofth
the facts 1t is awkward to say that persons
are censurab!e for doing that which is 50 salts
factory TO the community The Thie.h0rns
il was clearly necessary TO arrest before they
killed more men. may be women and children.
For one of them a warrant had already been
issued and he was resisting " the majesty OF
the law while his brothers were aiding and
abetting him. All three were thus outside the /
pale. We speak particularly OF this case, be-
cause we find it mentioned - an instance OF
the exercise of iyncii law. 1t WAS nothing OF
the kind. The Ihielhorns were simply danger /
on. felons, whom it WAS absolutely necessary to /
secure for the sake OF the puOHc safety. /
There could be no malice afogenouSht in the |
treatment to which they were subjected. The |
mob was really maintaining % the majesty of |
" he law" and the slight error which 1t COM
mitted in going little too far is one which 1t /
would rot be difficult 10 eXtcnuate.