Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-10
Im1rArINa A aoop rxAnrLE.

As Judge of the Criminal Court Of this
county, the Hon. l.. B. Horrigan has inaugu-
rated a system OF retrenchment, economy and
general reform, which has worked a marvel
Gus revolution. II it has been death to few
officials, but it has been fun for the taxpaying
people and The friends OF law and order. So
soon as Judge Horrigan assembled to the
bench he set his face like flint against the
unlawful habit OF carrying concealed
weapons. He plainly saw that this custom
was one of the greatest evils that beset
society, that it was the cause OF quarrels,
murder, suffering, and a heavy drain upon
the taxpaying people, and he determined to
execute the law which prohibits practice
so detrimental 10 society. At first Judge
Horrigan was called Jefreys, a Draco,
who wrote his edicts in blood, and he was
otherwise traduced and viliied. But he had
the philosophy to bide his time. He knew
that "truth was omnipetent and public JUS
tice CERTAIN" and Influenced by the sanclity
of his oath and a consciousness that he was
right, he pursued the even tenor OF his way
by firmly administering The law. He has
been a benefactor 10 the community, for
DULLES are no longer walking arsenas in
Memphis, and instead of an average of two
murders a week, murder is OF rare occur
renee. 1t is safe to say that there are not
over dozen during the year resulting from
the old custom OF carrying concealed
weapons, when the average need 10 be from
80 to 100. The course pursued by Judge
Horrigan was at first regarded by other
judges as visionary and impracticable. But
his success in lessening and, in fact, nearly
exterminating the evil OF carrying concealed
weapons, has attracted the attention and the
commentator of the whole country. o her
Judges have signifed their determination to
initiate the example of Judge Horrigan in
his efforts to put down an unlawful practice,
and which is the darkest spot upon our
civilization. The Chattanooga Democrat says:
Judge Quarles says that he is going TO fine all
persons $50 and send them to jail for sixty days
who are convicted OF carrying pistols. Judge
Quarles is on the right track. IL our judges would
..eminentiy respectable men who make prac-
tice OF carrying concealed weapons the aspect OF
society for the future would present more agree
able appearance. Every man who habltually car
ries a concealed weapon, or who does SO for the
purpose of infiieting injury on his fellows is
that and all such should be punished to the
utmost severity of the law. As matter of fact
there are more Iutiians who carry these pistols
than there are gentlemen, and 1t very frequently
occurs that these cowardly roughs commit
violence simply because they know that the
persons whom they assail are u1armed. This ca,s
of law-bIeakers are usually your bully-the TEL
low who takes han in all the rows, and he Is
frequently an expert at elections. To this is otien
time owing the fact that influential friends iu-
terfere and have the hne elther maze Ign qr ~
torneysgeneral owe it as sacred duty 10 enforce
this law most dgidly, let who may come under It's
sentence. 1t is getting high time that the evil
political condition.
1t ia the high and imperious duty oil every
good citizen TO sustain Judges Horrigan,
Quarles and all other judges who propose to
execute the laws by putting down this per-
nicious habit of carrying concealed weapons.
The time has come when the public senti-
ment of the country must decide whether we
are 10 be a civilized community or bar
barous one. Heretofore the criminal code
only restrained those who were disposed to
be law-abiding and peaceable citizens; but
here in Memphis Judge Horrigan has forced
the desperadoes and cold blooded murderers
10 lay aside their implements OF death, and
good citizens are no longer at the mercy OF
the bad. The reaction has come, and It Is
hoped it will not be spa,modic. Public
sentiment must stand at the back o. all who
are disposed to enforce the law against car
rying concealed weapons.