The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-11-08


the increase in our country, is an
incontroyertible fact. We read daily
of murders being committed, and
each, as they occur, appears to ex-
coed in atrocity its predecessor
Murder-the highest crime known
to the American calender--is now
an everyday occurrence. Itappears
that no one is safe to call his life his
own, and why is this? Is it be.
cause our penal code is not sufi.
GENTLY stringent, or is it because
there is no effort made by the people
to render crime odious? We think
there is too much sympathy for the
criminal. There are people, and
plenty of them, who extend the hand
of sympathy to the murderer; and
in the minds of many of these Grim.
inals this amounts to an endorse.
ment of their act.
Take, for instance, the case of
VIM. j. Northcutt, who murdered
A. L. Oneal on the 9th of last MAY
in the store of J. B. Oneal, in Bos-
sier Point, this parish. His trial
and acquittal by jury last week was
indeed surprise to the public. 1t
was thought that the man who had
so wantonly robbed another of his
life would not be allowed to escape
punishment entirely. But not so.
We have no words of censure for
the jury who acquitted Northcutt.
They are gentlemen and good citi-
zens, and we believe that they acted
honestly and conscientiously, to the
best of their knowledge and belief,
in the discharge of their duties as
jurymen in this case. We have no
fault to find with the presiding
Judge or prosecuting Attorney
These officers we'll and faithfully
discharged their respective duties.
The prosecution and defence was
vigorously and ably conducted
But we do protest against that mis-
taken sympathy which turns loose
upon society its worst enemies. Let
there be less sympathy among jurors.
Let murderers find that the faces of
their fellow.men are turned from
them, and that il they expect SYM
patty or forgiveness they must look
to their God; that on earth there is
no feeling of humanity for the man
who wantonly takes that gift which
came directly from the CREATOR
This might, and we think it would,
have such an influence upon men
as would, in many cases, deter them
when about to commit an act which
they would be we'll satisfied would
meet the condemnation of their fell
low-beings. Then would murder be
made odious, and much good would
spring from such a course.
There are many excuses for mob
law in our country, yet it is always
to be deplored. Justice is in many
cases tardy in oyertaking criminals,
and men feel that there is no secur.
ity for them or their families, and
hence the step is taken, which should
be only at the end of the law. Men
who are awaiting trial often, by de
lay, secure the sympathy Of the pub
lie; and after long time, when the
circumstances surrounding the com
mission of the crime have almost
passed from mind, they are arraign
ed, tried, and turned loose upon the
community, to prey upon the lives
| of their fellow beings. Such is often
the case, and when such scenes are
enacted, oftentimes the people are
10th TO endorse it; yet they are sat
isfied the party was guilty, and he
is allowed to go, and thus the gal
| lows are cheated of their due.
/ 70 The enterprising s1Domestit
Monthly.'' recently enlarged. came