Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-03-27
ApiVOt i'm Capital Grimes.

AptSOt I'm tapital crimes.
Its hoped that hereafter there will
be an equalization of justice in Della
ware so far as capital crimes are con-
cerued, and SO far as they apply to the
white and black races. 1t has not been
so long that about half the people
remember the execution of Jones and
CARPENTER, two colored men, for the
crime of rape. We have no sympathy
with them nor with any Others who are
guilty of that dastardly crime, and If
legally convicted and their guilt clearly
proven there is no other crime for which
capital punishment needs less apologies.
The guilt of Jones was clearly proven.
Carpenters not so clearly but even had
he been guilty it was generally con-
ceied that he was not sane. This plea
which would have availed for white
man was not listened to in Carpenter
case, and he was hung with the more
guilty Jones, sane or insane, guilty or
not guilty. Then followed the execu-
ton of Rhodes, colored, for the murder
of Temple, also colored. This was a
diabolical murder without the least en-
tenuating circumstances and though
the murderer and his victim were both
black, Rhodes deserved his fate. The
trial of certain DR.. West, at Dover,
for the murder of poor black Cooch
Turner, which was one of the most dia-
bolical murders in the annals of crime,
and his escaping the gallows through
the ingenuity of the now Chancellor
Salisbury, happened along about this
time, and this strengthened the pre-.
vailing cry that no white men were
convicted for murder. The trial of
Taylor, at New Castle, Chester county
white man, and his escape from the
gallows after cruelty numbering his
Chester County friend, which happened
also along about this time, still further
strengthened the assertion made that
only black men were convicted and
executed for capital crimes. TIE exc.
cution of the two colored men, Collins
and Cham bers, towards the last of Gov.
ernor Cochran's administration did
more than other executions to bring our
criminal laws into disrepute, and to de-
feat the ends of justice. One of these
men was also silly, stupid fellow, not
half witted, but though there were
grave doubts of their real guilt, and not
withstanding the fact that urgent APP.
peals were made to Governor Cochran
even by the tramp that was said to be
outraged, both the negroes were hung.
Hardly any unprecedented person will
say that either of them would have
been hung had they been white men.
There were no more black nor white
victims for the gallows until Neal came
within its shadows, and would have
been hung had not an appeal to the
Supreme Court saved him, and before
his case was tried Carherry, a white
man, was tried for the murder of
colored man, and was convicted of man
slaughter, when there is 20 doubt that
if the parties had been reversed tie
colored man would have been hung
With these things before the eyes of
the public, Neal was tried second
time and that time cleared. The case
is still fresh in the minds of every body,
and we need not revert to it at large.
We do not accuse the juror in that case
of acting in any other way than in all
honest, conscientious manner, but the
verdict as it came from The jury box
seemed to say that this thing of hang
ing all negroes accused of capital
crimes and clearing all white men &C.
cused of the same had to stop, and it
looked as if the admonition was appar-
uCCtCtI w bLC uCAU WHO Ill III
tried for capital crime was Harrigan,
and as we all know, he was convicted
and sentenced to be hung last Friday,
but through the Interpolation of Cover
nor Hall his execution has been put off
until November. We are not opposed |
TO Governor Halls action. Jerry Har-
rigan should not be made the pivot |
upon which the course of Justice should |
be revolved back into the proper chan
mel again, especially when that turning
point led direct to the gallows. If an
equilibrium OF the scales of justice can |
now be attained, even if Harrigan |
should 90 free after all that has been |
done and said, then some good will
come out of the discussion.
After this lot Justice be dealt out to
black and white alike, aid as long az
capital punishment is to he the law of
the state for rape, arson aDd murder,
let the eyes OF justice be blindfolded TO
everything except the equal execution
of the laws.
IHE FUNERAL or the uOet Long |