The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-03-29
WHAT THE PaPERS SAY
HE Mode OF Melting oui Sus-
t.ce TO John wallace.
"TAKING THE LAW IN THEIR OWN
HANDS"

TAKING THE LAW IN THEIR o"N
HANDS
Baltimore Bulletin.
The parties who lynched John Wallace
were only shade less brutal than that
wretch. The quality OF their deed is An
argument of the most conclusive sort
against any men or set OF men being al
lowed to take the law into their own
hands. "Take the Ld10 III their own
handsp What euphemism Tor an stro
eious and coward y murder, done, indeed,
upon an strocious murderer, but none
the less murder for that.
JOHN WALLACE WAS IN A FAIR WAY To
BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
Washington Post.
The tenacIty with which the average
murderer clings TO life is really touching.
There was John Wallace, for instance.
Jonn, in n moment OF plsyfulncss, took n
hammer and killed two innocent women
and chlld. 1t didn't occur to hun that
their lives were OF the least consequence.
But when some of Johns neighbOrs
dropped in few evenings aiterward
with q rope in hand, for the purpose OF
sending him to join his VIC
tins, he suddenly discovered
that it was not sweet to die in Spring
time. Crest drops OF persplrstion stood
upon the corrugated brow OF John, and
he cried, don't murder me. Don't kill
me. For Gods sake give me time TO
pray. | want to seq minister" The
poor fellow WAS not permitted To pray.
He was mol allowed TO rest his eye upon
minister. lie WAS sent hence unhouse d
without the benefit OF clergy. In seems
to US that John would have become n
Christian gentleman if he had only lived
long enough. He was IN fair way TO
experience religion when interrupted by
his thoughtless neighbors.
A DlsCREpIT UPON REPUBLICAN INsTITU-
TONS.
Richmond State.
Another case Of lynching in West
Virginia, attended 6y the most barbsr-
GUS excuses, Is reported. |. is of man
named John Wallace, who under cir
cumstsnces of great cruelty, killed two
women and child near Llttleton In that
State. He was arrested and confessed
the crime. A mob assembled, took him
out of isil, and after dragging him
mile by the neck, breaking bis
back and il flicting other tortures,
finished the work by executing rude
Justice. 1t is true the crime was very
atrocious one, ard we'll calculated to ex-
cite the most violent passions OF the COM
muuity; and that be richly deserved
death there is no question. This much
may be SAID in Justification Of the lynch
ers; but how much better it would nave
been for them to have allowed the law
to take lis course. There is no complaint
in that section of the country that the
courts are not able and willing 10 enforce
the lsws, and why usurp their functions?
Is the example of such summary
proceeding more terrible in its
effects upen evil.doors than ths more
slow, equally sure, and certainly less
disgraceiul, proceedings OF regular
trial and execution by due process7 We
think no.; and therefore regret that in
the hest of passion these men should
have brought reprosch upon their COM
munity. We are not only doing vio-
lence to all our theories of law and JUS
tice, but bringing discredIt upon repub-
lean institutions, wheh We thus tske the
law into our own hands, and become in
turn the shedders OF blood. 1t will not
do to give way thus to our violent emo
tlons on occasions OF excitement The
people must learn or be taught TO control
themselves better, and to let justice in all
cases take its regular course