Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-25

which is very poor justice. And there
are some things lawless that are right and
expedient.
A few days ago mob at Waverly,
Iowa. hanged two brethren by the name
of Barber. These brethren had shot
sheriff and otherwise conducted themselves
in an offensive and dangerous manner.
The hanging did not cost the State of
Iowa one cent. The mob even took
their prisoners out Of town little ways
and hanged them in the woods. They
thoughtlessly hanged them in a grove de-
voted to picnics, but this was an error of
judgment for which the mob should aPol-
ogize to the teachers of public and Sab
bath schools who will now be compelled
10 seek other and less historic spots
where their little ones may fall out of
swings and eat the awful cake and hor-
ror-laden pie Of the picnic. Doubtless
the hanging Of the Barber brothers was
a lawless act, and doubtless, also, II was
an act of Justice. Had these brethren
lived in Missouri they might have lived
many years, killing and plundering the
innocent, the law abiding, the respecta-
bel people until some brute Of their kind
could be hired BY the State to slay them.
But in Iowa their career was cut short
by dose Of their own medicine. The
murderers were murdered and no man in
Iowa has now any fear Of being shot by
the Barber brothers.
In the abstract Lynch law IS disgrace
ful and wicked. But II somebody must
be killed, by all means let US kill the fell
lows who are fond Of killing. There are
things tar worse and more disgraceful
than Lynch courts. A party of gentle
men who ''black up" and escort some
wretched cut-throat out to a moonlight,
neck-tie party are honorable and respect
able gentlemen when compared with the
jury that indicated the late and very I'M
Iamented Dukes and declared him an in
nocent man. Had Lawyer Dukes CON-
mitted his crimes in Iowa, I think be
would have had the same difficulty in
keeping his feet upon the ground that
was experienced by the recent Messrs.
Barber. Possibly some Of the jury that
declared Lawyer Dukes worthy Of the
protection and respect Of the community
ne had disgraced and outraged would al
so have 10 dance udon the thin. impslpable
air to the mortiferous pleasing of rope.
The people Of Iowa appear to have
habit Of killing of the right men. Hence
the superior attractions of that State as
a place Of abode for honest, law-abiding
men, because il is out Of debt. very tenn
perate. with leaning toward total alb
etinence, has no trsin-robbers. nor any
regularly organized banditti. and leg
islasure that only meets once in two
years
OF course, all lawyers condemn Lynch
law. They have in the first place.
profound respect for their profession and
a reverence for the majesty of the law.
And, in the second place, the mob on its
way to hang some people does not en-
ploy counsel. nor does it ever consent to
put of until the December term. A. D.
1899, the hanging that it can attend TO
in fifteen minutes. The man at the
loose end Of the rope is also opposed to
taking the law out Of the hands of the
regularly constituted courts.
There was plenty of law in California
IN the old times. Il had governor and
legislature and plenty of courts. judges
and lawyers. But in 1851 a vigilance
committee was found TO be necessity in
San Francisco. The famous vigilance
committee Of 1856 was q ''lawless" or
sanization. quiet, orderly, digniAed, COM
posed Of honest and influential citizens
who administered good justice in most
unlawful and salutary way. The State
government endeavored to suppress this
committee, so the vigilants had to fight
the lawyers and the outlaws, holding the
State BY the throat with one hand while
with the other it hanged four men who ,
needed hanging, and would have throt- {
tied fifth had he not saved them the S
trouble BY suicide, and banished from the '
State twenty-five blacklegs and other
dangerous characters. Having thus, in .
one year. unlawfully restored order and b
confidence and secured protection and re- t
spect for the lives and property of good :
citizens, the vigilance committee surren-
iered its useful powers to the State and
iisbanded.
You see, when court of justice be- a
ZONES farce, the court of Judge Lynch 7
'ecomes a necessity. +
The people are greater than the laws :,