The Morning herald., 1877-06-27

YSt .2 s A W - ~ -
speaks. inss)iigentIy when il says the mar
sacre was cemmi,ted 'hy men who # tie
reports ale true. pretend to be respectable
citizens 'ss s.
With very little effert9on the part o.
the authorities these offenders could long
since have been brought to justice. Who
coupselled, abetted ard committed the
Wiggans massacre has long been an open
secret.
II this be true, why have not the perpe-
traitors OF the Wiggans and other ou,rages,
whom Mr.. Gowen styles "any Others"
been brought To- justice? Has McPar'an
been sent among them, whose testimony,
when it comes will be conclusive? Is the
evidence against them considered INSULT
cient to overcome the suborned testimony
of "those who pretend to be respectable
citizens?' Since the community at large
has had so little denllncia.ion to spare on
that crime, does the District Attorney be-
lieye that there is net enough love Of JUS
tioe of even handed justice-left in Schuyl-
kill county to secure their conviction, no
matter how strong the evidence against
them?
To be consistent, these that condemn
Molly ou!rages must as vigorously decry,
and as severely punish the Wiggans mas
sacre, and other oulrases.
The failure to meet out prompt, imrar-
tial justice in Schuylkill county has. been
no small element Of bad feeling and DISC
der. Let a case in point betaken. For an
attempt 10 murder William NJ. Thonas
aud for conspiracy to murder the Majors
eight men were tried, convicted, and SEN
,cnced to an aggregate Imprisonment OF
seventy seven years; yet the record of their
proves that Wm. NJ. Thomas,
and the Majors, were the aggressors,
courted and provoked the attacks and con-
spiracy for which these eigA! men were
convicted.
Daniel Dougherty was, by change Of
venue, tried and scqai,ted at Lebanon.
The testimony of NcParlan subsequently
axonerated Dougherty from any participa.
ion whatever in the muIder.l William NJ.
Thomas, alias Bully Fill, anotorious rough
vas used by the respectable citizens OF
Nabony City to intimidate, by prodiga'
display and Use Of pistols, other ronghs.
Ihe Majors ard others did not acquiesce
Il the acqniual'of Dougherty. Several
attempts were made to as5as-
ira'e Dgug liberty, and as it was not the
MS ON to expect, mich les to lock 10 the
aw for protection, D uSherty took meas
ures to protect himself. Mcparian testl-
ied { He tDoughery) showed Us one or
wo bullet holes in his coat, near the
and stated he believed jesse Ma.
~ was The man that shot him, and stated !
nat he had come TO the conclusion lie
Majors were going 10 kill him anyhow,
and he Thought if the Majors, and Bully
Bill we're plt out Of tie way be would |
nave peace"
In this testimony McParlan may be said
o have made information against Wm. NJ.
Thomas, and Jesse Maj2r, in open cou.t,
)efure Judge Walker, Mr.. Nsrah, tie
District Attorney, AMI even before Mr..
jowen, lin,ef WIKI one-.eAth part Of
his Information iosinuated ag aiast aMoiIy, !
Nr. Gowen wou!I have had him in prison
n twenty-four hau,s. The nspiracy ana
attempt to kill, that were allowed to sol
lnuo.iced and unpunislcd, Were as wicket,
deliberate, cowafdiy as theone Mr.. Gowen
expended lis rhetoric upon, and which re-
ceivei a penalty Of seventy -seVcn years
In order 10 MAKE out cases
agaiaa! one class, immunity WIS granted
10 the very worst class Of criminals. Why
was not tie same system pursued in order
to panish criminals Of The ether class who
were gully Of similar oA-uces?
This Is not intended in any way IL
paIi4te the murders OF the Mol.es, but 10
Quicken public investigation into the cause
Of the murders, and TO aid in making the
country ring with the partially and iniu.-
lice Of the Syhuyikiil and Carbon county
Authorities. We remember defending as
asso..ia.eC eCuunselsi h 7 rankin B.Goweu, an
Iri,hm5n named Hrgbar: Riddle, ior lnur
S-r arI was amazed tiiat up3n the whole