The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-04-14
WHITE MAN TO BE HANGED.
[Blackburn's Free South I

lblackpucn'S Free SOuth.1
1t would seem that they are to have
Il tirst-class hanging at Jacksonport,
Jackson county, on Friday, the I1th
of May next. 1t makes our heart
bleed and sickeu to read of such
events. Aud yet murder is terrible
crime. But docs the death penalty
mitigate such crime or make it Of less
occurrence? The history of the gal
lows hardly proves this, but rather to
the contrary; and then under this
harsh rule so many are hanged that
are really innocent. But the advo-
Gates of the gallows will quote tho
harsh old rule Of the lex talionis,
which says "blood for blood" and
close their eyes and steel their hearts
! to the later and safer Christian rule,
which tells us that it were better that
ninety and nine guilty should so clear
rather than that ono who is innocent
should be punished. And then again
human judgment and human Justice
are so uncertain. In this particular
case-that Of Jerry Blalock for tho
murder of Thos. Braudenburg-we
venture to say that If most deliberate
and premeditated murder had not
been committed in tho same county
while the trial was progressing he
would not have been convicted of
murder i'll the first degree; which we
say not ut all by way of inpugning the
jury, but it was composed only of
human beings--only Of men-and by
just such condolences and mishaps are
men often betrayed aud influenced
despite themselves, even In cases of
life and death, which is an additional
reason why we oppose capital punish
ment. IL hereafter 1t clearly transpires
that lies were sworn to against this
man, or that there was some honest
mistake in the case, which often hap
pens in similar eases, 1t will be bad
the jury and all the Court will feel
bad and be very sorry-but 1t will be
too late then; whereas, if the accused
had been sent to prison for life, ho
might then so free and vindicnted.
But tho world seems against us in this
thing, or ruling local sentiment Mt
least, end we suppose we must give IL
up; not however without tho free cx-
preston OF our views upon all such
proper occasions rs this. Were wc
Governor we would commute all such
sentences and penalties to imprison-
mcnt for life.
ElulOck, inc cOnuemncu man, Is WC
believe II native OF jackson county,
and looks to be n man well enough
raised--neat and cleanly looking,
though long in prison-and docs not
look like man that would commit
murder in the first degree, but precise
as though he might kill In an affray
and (cud, as seems to have existed be-
tween himself and brother-in-law Oh
the one side, and Brandenburg on the
other. We were present mt Jackson
port during the first days of tho trial,
and heard much of the testimony, and
there certainly seemed some ground at
least for doubt in tho prisoners
favor. We saw his mother and sister
lingering about tho courthouse; and
just think of the agony which they
have to endure! Innocent themselves,
and yet they must suffer far beyond
tho penalty of mere physical death.
liencc do we say and continue to re-
peat that this is Il sad, sad world, with
constant inequality and injustice In all
its appointments. 1t Is true, very
true, that men should not commit
murder; but neither should tho law.
And surely imprisonment for life is
punishment cnough-far more so as to
that than mere death-but then IL is so
much safer and so much less barbaric
and brutalizing to the public mind.
a Washington correspondent tells