The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-08-01
Ed. Holmes in the Pen,tsn.iary.

Go. hoimes In the Penttentlary.
On Friday morning last, the negro who COM
mittsd the terrible outrage on Mr.. Humphries'
infant daughter. was arrested on Mr.. G. W Hills
plantation, brought to town and formally COM
mitted to Jail. The Sheriff having received in.
formation frora reliable parties that raid would
probably be made upon the Jail at night and the
prisoner taken out and lynched, that officer, in
the faithful discharge of his duty, and fully up
preciating the grave responsibility of his posi-
ton in tho premises, not only rs the highest
peace officer Of the County, but as guardian
of the sauctity and dignity Of tho law. very
prudently decided to remove the prisoner from
the Jail and place him where the vengeance of
al excited people, very naturally aroused by
tn, enormity Of his crime, would not be likely
to reach him with summary revenge, without
the process of law. When the 2 o'clock train
arrived from Columbia arrangements were
made to quietly place the prisoner on board, in
charge of q trusty officer. OF the route taken
afterward we know nothing, ner is material in
formation to any one ; but the journey of officer
and prisoner ended safely on Saturday, ut the
State Penitentiary, where the latter was deposi
tedunder the care of Superintendent Lpscomb,
to await his trial at the October term of Court.
We have no words Of excuse or mercy for the
villain who could commit crime of such un-
parallolcd terpitude, and had the outraged COM
munity in which the foul deed was done taken
summary vengeance upon him, it would have
passed as the awful warning of an indignant peo-
pie to oil who shall hereafter dare to debase hu-
manity by such brutality; but when the prisoner
was lawfully committed to the keeping of the
officers of the law, and by relatives of the out
ragged chill, too, then the matter was in other
hands for final udicaion, and there it should be
allowed to rest until it becomes evident that JUS
tice is thwartcd by dishonest means or technical
eVasions; of which there is no danger. SO long
as virtue aud purity control the Courts of our
State.
The course of Sheriff Macbeth was cminently
proper. lie did his duty to the State, the Coun-
ty and himself, and every law abiding citizen
will commend him for it. When q Sheriff
shrnks from performing his duty, in the spirit
as we'll as the letter of tho law, winks at unlaw-
full acts, or connives with an excited populace,
by cvacing his duty, to supersedc or defy the
law, we care not what the popular feeling may
be, then will the people lose their confidence in
him and their respect for the high office he
holds. 1t is this stern, brave, conscientious
performance of duty, under the most trying cir
cumstances, which has made Col. Macbeth the
respected and trusted Sheriff of Union County
for so many years, and now in his honorable
old age, makes him par excellence model officer
and citizen.
We arc decidedly opposed to cool and deliberate C
Lynch law; but we fear the people generally are
beginning tolook upon acts committed in con-
formity to its dictates with too much indifer-
cnce aad complacency for the good order and
dignity of society, and all good people should
think very seriously of its demoralizing effects
before encouraging it.