The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-04-25
The Press and Banner.
Wednesday. April Is, 1877.
The Lowndesville Prisoners. 1.-The
Insane Proposition to Lynch
Them.

The fate of these men has been very
generally discussed in this community
during the past week and the scntl-
ment has undergone considerable
change in favor of a majority of them.
As far as we have heard there are only
three men in the town of Able
Vile who desire the execution of
the whole number. There are per-
haps a dozen who for prudential rea-
SONS express no decided opinion one
way or the other, but express them
selves as willing to accept the Govern
or's action in the premises as for the
best. About One-half of the balance
favor the communication of the sentence
of a majority of the condemned men,
while the remaining portion of our
citizens prefer to see the sentence or
the whole committed. What will be
done by the Governor is not known,
but it is almost universally conceded
that he will not allow the whole num-
Der to be executed. AS We have m
plicit confidence in his wisdom and IN
the Justice of his probable action we
shall support him in whatever he may
do.
Various inSinuations or reports,
which cannot be traced to any reiia-
ble source have been circulated that
certain Edgefield idiots, together with
q number Of similarly afflicted Geor-
gians, are contemplating the iynchlng
of a Of these prisoners whom the
Governor, after a careful examination
of all the evidence, may think should
not be hung. .
We refer to this matter out OF kind
ness to any Of our own misguided
Youths who might possibly be so far
misled as to join any such an eNpedl-
tion. There will be a fearful reckon-
ing for any who shall be foolish
enough 70 do anything of the kind.
The Abbeville Jail cannot be entered
rs easily as might be supposed. be,
sides the various locks that would
have to be broken before an entrance
could be effected. the Sheriff hes
guards every night, and perfect ar
Engagements for giving the alarm.
No Jail as strongly fortified as ours
is, can be broken into by a lawless
mob, except by the connivance OF the
Sheriff and the citizens of the town In
which it is located, and it is well
known that the Sheriff ana the citl-
ZeQS OF THIS pace Will NV o'iN" 49,"
Jail to be broken into under any CIR
cumstances. All are agreed on TINS
voint. Whatever execution Is done
here has TO be done under the forms
of law.
We fear there is now too great q
disposition OF the part of some pco'
' pie to disregard the law and TO take
the life and liberty of others in their
own hands. This spirit must be sub
dued. Whenever a number OF ln-
.censed men can take life with impu-
nifty for u fancied or an actual griev-
ance, the liberty of the people is gone,
and the right to trial by jury is over,
thrown. This must not be aud shall
not be. There are yet enough OF law
abiding people in Abbeville county TO
prevent such q damniEg outrage, ana
the outlaws of the adjoining coun,
ties might just as well understand
st now as later. No set of If
responsible reckless men who repre-
sent nobody but themselves shall
override the law and set justice at de-
fiance at Abbeville Court House. III
the Governor shall, in his wisdom. re-
fuse to commute the sentence OF these
men they shall hang, but if he shall
in his judgment order otherwise, they
shall not be hung, any foolish twaudle
to the contrary Notwithstanding.