The daily gazette., 1882-01-05
THURSDAY JANUARY d rsss.


jury on the case of VIM. Neal, negro,
for rape upon the person of Mrs.
GosseF, a young married white woman
living in a secluded part of this
county, by saying that the testi,
mony which influenced the jury was
too vulgar for publication, and only
those who heard it were competent to
form judgment of the guilt or ius
nocence of the negro. This is taking
refuge behind what may be thought
by those who raise it secure ram
part. But it will not save the jury
from the indignant judgment of the
people. 1t is filthy pool to meddle
with no doubt. We had hoped the
whole affair had been gotten rid of.
But Mr.. Higgins has chosen to rake it
up afresh in order to gather some
laurels from his triumph at the bar
whether his efforts really secured the
verdict or not. The facts are that the
evidence was not more vulgar than
such trials usually produce. There
were no unnecessary questions asked
either by the Attorney General Mr..
Higgins, or the Court and therefore
this refuge behind which contem-
porary desires to place the jury for
the double purpose of lessening the
infamy that attaches to the verdict
and to shield the negro and his coun-
sci and party friends; for really the
verdict was party verdict emanating
from a jury whole of one party senti-
ment, and of those of that party that
have uniformly shown preference for
negro influence to overbalance the
influence of the white people. As a
matter of fact Mr.. Higgins did not
make his line of defense so utterly
filthy as our contemporary would have
its readers believe. In this it does
even Mr.. Higgins injustice. lie did
not put so many questions in the line
it indicates as to purposely make the
case so vulgar as it would make its
readers believe, and, therefore, this
will not secure the jury from the
censure that has been passed up n
their action in this case,
But why was it that the jury only
was convinced of the innocence of
the negro by this filthy testimony !?
The Court consisting Of four Judges
and the usual complement of officers
were not convinced of the innocence
of the negro. These gentlemen heard
the testimony twice. No one would
dare to accuse Chief Justice Comegvs
of silently listening to testimony in
such case where a mans life was at
stake, aud suffering ii to 60 to the
jury, if he were convinced it wefe
false, to take away his life. No one
would mako such an accusation
against Judge Wales, nor would auy
one attack such unmindful negligence
to Judge Houston. Neither Of these
gentlemen will allow themselves 10 be
considered as prejudiced against the
colored race. Nor would Judge
Wootten. They all sit upon the case,
and yet not one of them were con-
vinced that the negro was mot
guilty." by the "6lLby testimony"
given on the second trial of the case
The same testimony was elected or
the first trial, and the jury composed
of men of both parties-seven of
whom were Republicans-were out on
the case about two hours and re>
turned with verdict of "guilty, I"
There were no negro jurymen sum-
moned on the panel, and the trial was
held to be illegal.
But on the last trial, in November
last, the jury was composed of tho
most radical men of one party. al,
white and they did not take long To
decide that the negro who, it was not
denied, was stranger to his victim
was mot guilty" 1t was not at.
tempted 10 prove that the negro had
been acquainted with the woman. or
had frequented her house, or that
there had been any advances by the
woman. While it was proved that he
was a stranger to her-that he entered
her house, and finding her white
woman, alone, her husband being alb.
sent at his work, did take The Iibert,
charged. Threw her to the floor
choked and beat her and accomplished
his purpose. The whole neighbor.
b BOD where the woman resided CAV,
credit to her story while they a.
uniformly proclaimed the negro baC
man, and even asserted that he baf
been accused of an attempt at ran,
befoIe.
Will This case render a poor whit,
mans home, whose business is to %
away from his house, like Mr.. Gosser
to make living for his children, les,
secure ? Had this humble DWELLING
which Wm. Neal entered and defilee
been colored mans home, and th,
woman one of his own race, and q
clloled man been on the jury, he could