Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1879-07-18
"RespeCtable MurdcScls."

We Ah"uC sohiS lcillti Ms Oh lHc
above subject at the time of the kill
ing Of Col. Aston by Cox in Atlanta.
Our attention is again directed to
the matter by the recent ncquittal in
Macon Georgia Of Abncr Gibson, n
so-called gentleman Of high circles,
for the murder Of Coleman, m ali of
obscure family.
The circumstances OF the case are
briefly rs follows:
Gibson was on spree in Macon,
crazed With liquor He came to
restaurant door in which Coleman was
standing, and Immediately without
any rrorocation, lcvelled his pis-
tol at Coleman. At first he tried to
get out OF the way, and then rcmon-
STATED mildly with him for trying to
shoot an innocent man. But all was
70 no avail Gibson fired and shot
the unoiiending man in tic breast.
Coleman mt first doubled over from
the pain Of the wound, and then ran
up the street, with Gibson still firing
rlon him, until finally he died
Gils then went over the streets
running and soaring everybody in
town, the policemen although present,
rot interfering. After Will May
or Huff went i'll person i'll charge of Il
rcsse TO take him, but lie could not
be found.
The next day he was found by the
police asleep upon the cars, and in
this state his pistols and knives were
taken from him, and he was arrested,
and put i'll Jail. Soon his friends
rallied around him, and his ell in
Jail was carpetcd, and furnished with
books and o.hcr luxeries suitable for
such gentry.
Being a Lcol- keeper for a firm in
Macon, the books we're even sent to
the jail to him to be posted up.
Finally his trial took place. His
counsel set up the two pleas of in
sanity frrm liquor, and self defence,
and the result has been in his favor,
either mistrial or acquittal.
In common parlance it may be said
it is MI right. He was tried by Jury,
and is entitled to the result.
But We would ask, would the re,
suit have been the same if the tables
had cen changed and this friendlcss
and obscure stranger Coleman ha d
killed this pet Of Macon society Glib
son. When money and family posi-
tion can thus influence jury, free
government can hardly be counted a
success.
The fact Of Gibson being drunk is
an aggravation instead of a pallati on
of the ofensc, for 10 man has right
to let go the reins ofsclf govcrnm ent,
and thus lay himself liable to the
breaking of every commandment in
The dccaiogue. If n man is to be ex-
cused for crime when he is drunk, he
can then get drunk and do what he
plrases.
We want 20 privileged gentry in
this country wl.o can get drunk and
20 about shooting obscure men with
impunily, md when the jurics ofthe
Land help 70 create such class, t he
prospect is dcplorable.
Cox it is true IL in Jail for Killing
Aston, but how long will lie be
,here1
The case Of Col Bufold, who re
Gently went out birding, and killed a
Kentucky Judge, is still hanging
fire. Such peryersions ofjustice beg et
feeling of public insecurity, aud
tend to destroy the true spirit o.
patriotism.
In the rcctiiication of these owls to
society the press has an important
Office to perform, and we are glad tc
note that in many cases it is fearless
and fair.
The Railroad Problem.