National Republican., 1882-09-18
Governor Cobb, of Alabama, De

SONeTnOr SObD, VI htaDuIiit, De-
nounces the Choctaw Outrage.
The following letter from the Governor
of Alabama, by his private secretary, is a
sufficient answer to the efforts of North
ern Democratic editors to make light of
the hanging of Jack Turner, at Butler,
Choctaw County, Ala, on the 10Th ult.
1t is addressed to the States attorney for
the circuit:
MONTGOMERY, Aug. 30 1882.
Hon..George w. Taylor, Butler, Ala:
DEAR SIR: The death of the negro Jack Turner
at the hands of mob in Choctaw County, the
circumstances under which the lawlcss act was
perperatcd, and the use that is being made of the
affair." constitute event of such gravity that the
governor deems it important to have from the
officers Of the county charged therein with the
enforcement of the law and the maintenance Of
the peace full report of all the facts in the case.
No other recent event in the State has occasioned
so much regret at home or has elsewhere excited
so profound feeling The peace and dignity of
the State are offended, the good name of the Com
monwealth suffers abroad, and the county Is re-
preached wherever the story is told The law pro-
| vides adequate punishment for every criminal act
and establishes all the necessary agencies for the
| administration of justice. Mob violence is law
lessness to be deplored by every good citizen and
| The act under consideration, notwithstanding the
provocation uncffcially reported, appears TO be an
aggravated one, for the victim was in the hands
of the officers of justice, and In Jail would have
been as powerless for the prosecution of the plans
attributed to him as he is in the grave. He was
murdered, and under circumstances that afford
| mendacous enemies of our people and section d
pretext for attributing his death TO political or
race antipathies. The governor understands, of
course, that your official duties in such begin
with the grand jury and end with tie petit jury,
and he knows you will fearlessly and faithfully
discharge them; but he hopes in the meantime,
and promptly, you will take il upon yourself, ask
ing the assistance of the county officers, to make
a full investigation of the tragedy and report the
facts TO him. Very respectfully,
ROBERT MCKEE,
Private Secretary
The reply to this is addressed to the
governor, and makes more than column
in the Montgomery Advertiser. 1t is ad-
dressed to the governor and begins with
the words: In response to your letter"
1t is signed by George w. Taylor, solicit
tor first judicial circuit L. L. Belsher
county superintendent education; John
A. Harmon, sheriff Choctaw County B
ii. Warren, judge of probate; r. A
Moody, tax assessor; Joseph Breitling
county commissioner; ]. G. Chapman
clerk circuit court; and S. P. Smith
county treasurer. 1t is defense Of the
sickening atrocity, and merely claims
that the murdered man was dangerous
We quote the following:
| Under the firm belief of imperious and i'm
pending necessity, they tthe people, took the law
into their own hands, and, as they believed. to
save the lives of many, they sacrificed one.
They disdain to answer the governors
argument that the victim Turner, being
IN jail, was as powerless for harm "as he
is in the Craze )" but they show how deep
his rebuke cuts into their sensibilities in
the words with which they close. They
say:
| With the highest respect for your Excellency,
| We feel constrained to say that Judgment which
results in such bitter condemnation your letter
contains might very well have been reserved until
the facts had been presented
Just for decency's sake, and in order
to seem to be divided on the subject
some of the Democratic papers ought tc
take sides with Alabama's Democratic
governor against the Choctaw County
mob murderers.