Daily Republican., 1882-01-10
Mr., Bancroft speaks.


Let all the jurymen in the Neal case
speak out as William P. Bancroft has
done. 1t will do much to convince the
people that after all the verdictis a fail
one. From the public standpoint Neal
was adjudged guilty, but from judi,
cial standpoint, where men were sworn
to give a verdict in accordance with
the evidence, and to give the prisoner
the benefit of every doubt, he was al
j judged not guilty. The public made its
verdict from the printed report of the
evidence; the jury theirs from the
sworn testimony as came from the
witness box, some of which was not
heard only by the jury. Mr. Bancroft
says, if the question before him had
been "Do you think it probable that
William Neal is guilty." he would
have said yes. The public took the
probability and said yes the jury took
it and said no, because according to
their sworn oaths they were bound to
give the prisoner the benefit of all
probabilities and doubts. This seems
to be the difference between the general
public and the jury, and this when a
human life is at stake is a very impor.
tant difference.
Mr.. Bancroft says the fearful respon-
sibility of answering the question OF
probability was put upon him and
there it must rest, and he gives the
Bourbon organ, of which his brother is
largely an owner,a gentle hint, that no
attempt at printing the evidence can
put the pnblic in as favorable
a position tc answer the question
properly as we were" 1t will be no.
ticed that Mr.. Bancroft uses the plural
pronoun WE, and speaks not only for
himself but for the whole jury. He
arrogates nothing to himself he does
not accord to the remaining eleven on
the jury, and thereby treats them as
equals in intelligence and honesty of
purpose. We may be allowed to say,
even, that Mr.. Bancroft surely knows
that the Bourbon organ to hich be has
written is not anxious to elicit truth in
the threat to print the evidence and
spread it before the public. 1t is
neither justice nor truth that moves it,
but it means to make a political point
out of it by which, through the pceju-
dices of the people against black men,
the Democratic party may be- continued
in power in Delaware. We can tell Mr.. |
Bancroft that if he thinks he addressed
q sincere seeker after truth when he |
wrote his communication to the Bolr-
hon organ, he has made mistake. |
Truth is not wanted in the case. Dark
ness, ignorance and prejudice are the
principles to which the public appeal is |
to be made Light and knowledge has
nothing TO do with it. Virtue is to be
Obscured and the State Is to become a !
political rostrum from which appeals to !
the lower animal instincts of men are
70 be made for the sake of perpetuating
the reign of the Bayards aud Sauls-
burys.
The threatened appeal to the pubic,
however, has already lost its potency,
and we predict that there will be a long
pause before the real owners of the
Bourbon organ and masters of the rem
egade editor, will permit him to make
an onslaught upon the system of trial
by jury which has been in operation in
the State since The first adoption of the
Constitution. The threatened exposure
is not feared by law-abidipg men, but
it will be regretted by all true friends
of decency and morality. Elsewhere |
We publish Mr.. BancrOfts letter.