The daily gazette., 1881-12-12
RIGHTEOUS CONDEMNATION.
How the Peninsula Papers Com.
ment upon the N cal Verdict.

ment upon the cal Verdict.
No act of any Delaware jury ever re-
ceived such popular condemnation as Is
showered upon the Neal verdict. or all
the Peninsula papers, but one-the
Dover Sentinel excuses it any way. Tho
following editorial extracts will show
the drift Of public sentiment throughout
the state:
ElktoD, Nd, Observation-Disclosures
soil did not long after the verdict's rem
dition support the lusty form of William
Neal, for the people who have wives and
sisters and daughters, instinctively
caught the purport and the probable
ELECTS of 1t. Republican politics has
won victory in the sanctuary of the
law that unbridles lust and outrage, but
not the least lamentable result of it is
the direct Invitation to try such crimes
In the future at the forum of Judge
Lynch.
Middletown Transcript:-The verdict
is disgrace to the fair name of the
State 10 which IL has been rendered ,and
the jury that rendered 1t deserve even
more than the wide and general con
domination they are receiving at the
hands Of the public.
Dover SentineI:-Unlike the West
case, party prejudice and political senti-
ment seem to be thrown out of the issue
in Wilmington, and whether the verdict
be proper or unjust we cannot deter
mine, since We neither heard the testi-
mony or were sworn as juror. We do
not believe that twelve men of op posite
political opinions would deliberately
peijurs themselves to save felon, and
the systematic cry In The Democratic
IN uths only goes to show to what base
uses they have come.
Seaford Inder:--The verdict of the
jury in the Neal case has aroused the
Indignation of the well thinking people
OF our State, and caused men to shud-
der for the safety OF their wives, sisters
and mothers. 1t has shaken their faith
In the efficiency of the jury system, and
10 the eyes of many, has clothed Lynch
Law with justice and respectability.
All this comes of carrying politics into
the jury box.
Newark Ledger:-What will be the
consequence? When the indignant and
suffering people find by sad experience
that the tribunals of justice no longer
afford any protection, they willstake the
law In their own hands, and apply a
swift and sure remedy. This will be an
inevitable consequence, but it is de-
plorable alternative which all law abid-
ing citizens must deprecate, for 1t will
sap the foundations of government and
tend to destroy the very fabric society.
Georgetown Inquirer:-From the evil
dence adduced at the second trial as
we'll as that brought out at the first,
there seemed but little if any room to
doubt that Neal was guilty, and the fail
ure of justice In this case will hardly in
spire tie people with any very large
amount Of respect for the twelve men
who fathered the verdict.
Dover Deiaparean:-Had the crime
been committed by white man the jury
which acquitted Neal would, we belive,
have found the white man guilty with
out dissenting voice. But Neal was q
negro and political considerations have
prevented the judgment and controlled
the action of the jury that tried him. If
the example set In this case is to be fol-
lowed hereafter, there is no protection
for the white women of the State, and
no restraint upon the vile passions of
worthless negroes save such as is secured
by the avsnging hands of fathers. hus.
bands and brothers.
Middletown Transcript: Judge Lynch
is almost an.unknown party in Delaware,
and "packed" juries have not
been known until now. But
with the acquittal of Neal change has
come. A Delaware jury declares by
their verdict that the crime of rape upon
a white woman by a negro is no crime
worthy of punishment. Such verdict
can only have one effect. Public faith
will be shaken In the "jury system" and
the power of our courts to punish for
similar outrages, even where the evi.
dence of guilt is overwhelming. Judge
Lynch's court will be opened in Della
ware.