The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-11-24
The Removal of Rande TO This state,

It having been definitely settled that the
murderer Raude viii be taken to this state
for trial, it is to be hoped that Gov.
Phelpsof Missouri. has not consented to
this course without full and satisfactory
assurance that Gov. Cullom is prepared
and win provide such guard for this pris-
oner, as viii preyent,.a repetition of the
disgraceful proceedings which followed the
return Of the last Illinois murderer cap
tured in St. Louis-Strahl. the murderer
Of the Goethe family, at Franklin. How
ever much the crimes ofthis desperate
may have forfeited Of their sympathy and
compassion, they cannot afford to know
ingly contribute to such violations of law.
Lynching would not be undeserved by this
man, but it is more than dangerous to per
NIT these lawless practices to continue,
for, though lynch law is not without its
uses at times, the times are few when So
ciety does not suffer, if the sworn officers
of the law wink at its iufraetion. When
the law abiding become law breakers there
is an end to all law, and crime is bred iu-
stead of being stamped out. 1t would be
disgrace to the authorities of Missouri
for which they csuld offer no palliatiop. if
Rande should be taken from the hands of
the Illinois officials by mob, before his
trial. and il is therefore Of the utmost i'm
portance that he should only be surrend-
cred when there Is satisfactory reason to
believe that his punishment will come
through the forms of law. Theresis some
thing far more terrible in the unerring,
irresistible vengeance of the law, than any
thing in mob violence. and it is only when
legal technicalties interposa to avert the
assertion of justice that an offended ;com-
munity can be excused for taking the law
into their own hands, Fortunately there
is no reason to fear. however, that this
murderer will not be made to suffer all
that is due for his crimes, for there i.
scarcely doubt that he is the man who
committed the horrible murders at Gibson,
|
any rate, that the evidence Of his guilt are
stronger and clearer there than they are
any where else, and it is very plain that il
would be impossible to establish clear
case of murder against him for his share
in the death of the unfortunate Officer
White of St. Louis, although he
is beyond all question morally
guilty of the officers death. Despite the
verdict Of tine coroner's jury it is very un'
certain whether Whites wound came frou
the bullet fred from Rande's pistol OIL
from the pistol of the pawnbroker Wright
In the ellison case, however, the question
, of guilt is only one of identity, to establish
which there is not only the positive test
mony of several witnesses, but chain o.
circumstantial evidence that would o-diuar
, lily suffice to remove all doubt. 1t is barely
possible il may tnrn out that the law o
this state does not make the killing o.
Belden at Gibson, murder IN the frs
degree, because he did not have the
authority of warrant to make the ares
The was attempting, bat there is precisely
the same difficulty in the case of thu
, murder in the ST. Louis pawnbroker'
: shop, with the additional fact that tn
r murder of Belden was far more unprovok
! ed and cold blooGed There is no occasion
Y therefore, to question the entire prophet
e OF sending Rande to this state for trial. gu
It with all his crimes, the majesty of the la
n demands that he should have fair tria
|. Let Gov. Culiom see to it that the law
:. permitted to take its course without intcl
e ference.
+ The desperate at the hospital, has S
rapidly improved that Dr. Dean, III
physician in charge of his case, is 20
satisfied to have Eim removed at any tin
. the authorities from this state may ca
for him. He shows no disposition to gi1
= any information as to his Identity or pa
'e doings, but he indignantly denies that b
= boosted courage is oozing out at the pro
pect of trip to Knox county. All
- says now about that matter is, "Lct e
;" lynch and be ID. p"
al We request all mothers to stop usi,
IN laudanum for their Babies, but use D