Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-06-23
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. JUNE %. 1888.
LYNCH LAW.

LYNCH LAW.
On perusing the columns of our ex
changes for the past week we find more
or less comment, some favorable and 9
very few unfavorable, to the course taken
by our citizens in dealing with the rapt
fiend, Til Warner. We attempted in last
weeks issue to give detailed statement
of the horrible crime committed by War
ner, and the swift and effective course
taken by our citizens in dealing with
him, so that he should not again perpe'
trate the same or similar Ontrages on
this or other communities.
We did not attempt to uphold the
course taken by our citizens, but left il
to each reader to form his own cOnclu-
sions from the facts.
While we cannot say that we uphold
lynch law in this or any other case, and
sincerely deplOre the occasion that drove
our citizens in their frenzy to the CON-
mission of this act, yet we have no tears
to shed for Til Warner or those who
sympathize with such crimes as he COM
mitted. His punishment was much less
than his crime merited, and had he a
thousand lives, and could suffer thOus-
and deaths, the taking of them all, with
extreme torture, would not atone for
the crime he committed.
The Evening News seems to be much
exercised over the fate of Til Warner,
ank loudly calls on the Governor of the
state of Michigan to do something in re-
gard to it, but just what or how, we are
at loss to know; and in one issue says
the Governor, as they are reliably in
formed, is about to DO something" and
also that the people of ChebOygan are
much frightened thereat.
What power has the Governor over this
matter anyway? The only power that
we have been able to find that he could
by any possibility have possessed over
this case our citizens have deprived him
of, by placing this culprit, and wOuld-be
assassin, beyond his pardoning power.
1t is beyond the power of the Governor
of this state to suspend the civil, and
call on the military in this or perhaps
in any case. 1t is not within his power,
as we understand it, to employ persons
to hunt out and prosecute the parties
implicated on behalf of the state or as
Governor thereof. 1t is true that If the
officers have failed to do their duty they
may be removed by the Governor If the
proper charges are preferred against
them, and they given a chance to be
heard, but these proceedings cannot be
instituted by the Governor, neither can
he employ agents or attorneys to prose-
cute them. but in each case he is pre-
sumed to sit as judge, and not as a
partisan prosecutor of such officers.
What would the News have the Cover
nor dOp Come here as private citizen
and make complaints against each and
all of the people of this county? If this
is it why not the editor of the News try
it? We would be pleased to welcome
him, and he can again write up the COM
ments of the press on his course of med
ding with what is none of his business.
In what have the civil officers of this
county failed to do their dutyp We defy
any person to show such failure. The
Sheriff attempted by all reasonable
means in his power to protect his pris-
Dner, the Cheboygan correspondent of the
Detroit Free Press to the contrary not
To entertain the idea that the execu-
ton of the criminal could have been
prevented by any ordinary means is
merest folly. AS we'll might you talk
about Handwriting maelstrom, i'm
prisoning cyclone, or rolling back Nj
agara with an infants hand. The thing
was impossible. Til Warner had to hang
that night. Cur Sheriff did all he could
without sacrificing his own or some 9th
er valuable life in the futile attempt to
rescue this foul flend from an absolutely
certain, if not legal, retribution.
Our prosecuting attorney and all other
,iyil authorities still stand ready, on
roper complaint being made, to issue
warrants, arrest, and try all those who
participated in the hanging, and will
zee to it that the law is faithfully exc
,uted.
We in Cheboygan county have always
been taught to believe that the laws
we're made for the protection of the peo-
pie, both in their persons and property,
ind for the prevention of crime and law
assness in communities and that courfa |