The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-03
THE spARTANRURG GRAND JURY.

The Grand Jury OF Spartanburg Justify
the Enci,ihg Of Moore for the murder Of
Miss Heaton, anu if the reasoning only
had application to Moofc's case, we
would not take Issue with It, FOR we be-
lieve, Hike them, that he fully deserved the
speedy doom h, met; but the trouble Is,
that there il always tendency in human
| nature to take the law into ones own
hands which cannot be sanctioned or
permitted in a civilized and law-abidng
State. Where mob law teigns there is
most frequently large amount of prcju.
dice and passion, and always too much
haste for the action of sober judgment
In one case the ends Of justice may be
accomplished, but when this summary
mode of Furnishing wrong-toers prevails
innocent victims will frequently suffer
the penalty of other mems crimes. For
instance, had lyncliiha occurred in the
case of the murder Of Mrs. Hull in New
York, her innocent and grief stricken
husband is the man the populace would
have hung for the deed committed by
the negro Chastainc Cox. The detection
OF murdcrer5 very frequently requires the
coolest judgment and the most unbiased
minds, whit.: can never be secured in
the case Of mob. Except in the most
outrageous cases, as tho one in Spartan
burg, those who join mob are cndan-
gering the civilization Of the Rtate, the
safety of life and property, and are
teaching the masseo remedy for crime
which, in Tie hands of excited or mis-
guided crowds, is worse than the evils it
attempts to correct. Even in extreme
cases. as the Spartanbuig lynching,
there should be no exultation over the
matter; and while upholdng it under
its unparalleled and fearful provocation,
the principle Of lynchlaw rs n punish
mcnt for crime should be Enthusiastically
condemned. The fart that courts fire.
qucntly allow guilty men to escape is no
Justification whatever, for public opinion
is responsible for this laxity in judicial
tribunals. 1t is u verdict of twelve men
from different parts Of the County which
lets murderer escape, and when people
generally feel that the law should be
vindicatcd, and net up to their belief,
then the ovcr-leniency 70 criminals will
cease. If the courts do not perform their
duty properly, they should be remodeled
and made to accomplish the purpose for
which they have been organized. The
people control the courts, and where de-
fects are detected in their workings.
these defects should be properly reme-
died. The correction does not lie in
taking the redress Of grievances into
private hands The !act TINT guilty men
sometimes escape is no justification
whatever, for if there isnot proof enough
to justify twelve men upon their oaths to
find verdict Of guilty, the case does not
warrant private citizens in assuming to
sit in Judgment upon Il felIow-being, and
OF their own accord to take the RESPONSE
bility of his blood upon their hands.
There can only be excuse made for lynch
law where it is called in to inflict speedy
and condign punishment upon some
felon who has committed most fiendish
and atrocious outrage upon law and
society. Then where the guilt is clearly
established, rs the otIensc is unparal-
lelled in gravity and infnmy, speedy
and unusual punishment may be iusti.
fied-not as tho act Of an excited and
wild mob, but as the exhibition Of the
burning Indignation and fearful wrath OF
the peaceful and law abiding citizens of
the land In this view, and in no other,
can the Spartanburg lynching be iusti-
fled, according to our opinion; and from
its sanction no license should in future
be taken by those who have grievances
for which the law affords ample punish
ment to the guilty. Iynch-law has been
rare in South Carolina, and will not be
countenanced in any other than cases of
exceptional atrocity.