Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-10

EDITOR LEDGER For some time /
have noticed articles on the above in
the different papers in the South, urg-
ing the courts to enforce strictly the
law against carrying concealed arms.
This is all right and proper, and | hail
with pleasure any attempt on the part
of the papers to prevent killing. But
no law against going armed will ever do
it, nor will it or eau it be enforced 50
as to prevent it, and the reason why is
simply because public opinion believes
it right and proper that every man
who wishes to do so has a perfect
right to arm himself whenever he has
reason to believe his life is in danger
from any of the many braves who in
infeSt the country both North and
South. The law as now enforced
gives no protection to the citizens of
the country, nor does anything pre-
vent any man from killing who he
may wish only his only conscience.
Now, if you really wish to stop this
thing. go to work and have the code
of practice so changed that a lawyer
shall not have the power to get his
jury all ready, packed and paid. All
that is necessary to get any juryman
off is to ask him If he has formed or
expressed an opinion. This question
will keep ninety-nine men out of every
one hundred summoned of a jury who
have intelligence and examine into
the current events of the day. | see
in an article written by Bishop Smith
of Kentucky, that he blames the
%iuries for not Furnishing criminals.
Now if the code of practice was so
changed that none but intelligent
househOlders should be summoned on
%juries, and then only swear the jurors
to try the case according to evidence
then let the witnesses tell their story
to the jury without interruption by
lawyers make it obligatory on judges
to try the case within thirty days and
allow no appeal upon teehnicalities
Then there would no longer be any
fault found with iuries for not con.
victing. The fact is that after 9
lawyer has cross questioned a witness
and bullied him till he scarce know,
his own name. | remember | once
was a witness for three times in the
same case, and although | tried hare
to tell the truth, | was not allowed tC
tell only what suited the lawyers on
each side, and what | said to the jury
was anything but the truth. At last
| asked the Judge to give me a chance
to tell the truth as | had worn to do.
and keep the lawyers away from me.
The fact is, my dear LEDGER, trial by
jury in this blessed country of ours j.
but a very poorly played farce, that
does not amuse any n nor fool any
sensible man. Had Currie and such
as he been hung within thirty days o.
his crime, it would have been worth
all the statutes against carrying PTS
tolls. | fully believe that no mar can
be convicted of wrong in going armed
before. an intelligent jury if he will
claim that it is necessary for his pro.
lection as the history of all trials fol
years viii prove that the law does not
protect him.
A good patent gallows, well run in
every county, will soon stop killing
That idea about It being better to lei
nincty-ninc guilty mcu escape than
that one innocent man should suffer
is about played out.
SO now, dear LEDGER, if it is really
your wish to stop killing, start at The
bottom. Let us have some justice
VIC have played the farce long enough
Truly yours, BARNEY LILLARD.