The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-31
PUBLIC OPINION.
Comments of the Press Upon the Riot and
Its Causes.

Cincinnati News Jorrnsl
The attack on the county jail last night was
nothing more than what might have been-ln-
deed, was-expected. There is limit to the
forbearance of any community, and, although
the law of the land, the best interests of society
and good morals are not in sympathy with mob
violence. it must be admitted that the people of
this community have every reason to doubt the
ability of existing methods for Furnishing crime
to cope with the army Of evil doors which seems
to have taken possession of our city, and are, IN
a large degree, if not altogether, justitiable in
their efforts to forcibly impress upon the minds
of law breakers that when it becomes necessary
IN the interest Of law, and order. and life, and
property the people can, and will, take the law
in their own hands and mete out such punish
ment as the good of society shall demand, and
mete it out, too in the most complete and thor
ough manner No community was ever more
outraged and ov@Iln by murderers, thieves,
bunko steerers, and other kinds of law breakers
than this has been, and so long as iuries and
lawyers can be secured who will undertake to
shield such characters as are now IN our jail
awaiting to go through the form OF a trial, moth
ing better than such verdict as we secured III the
Berner case need be expected The whole com
munity feels outraged over the way the criminal
laws have been administered of late in this city,
and while every good citizen deplores the neces-
sity for mob law. no one can help but admit that
the written laws of the land seemed to have be
come imperative in this community through the
power and influence of what are called the Grim
inal classes and that the temporary elevation of
Judge Lynch to the bench seems necessary, and
therefore, justifable.
THE FURIEs LOosED.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
The indignation meeting called at Music Hall,
last night, in relation to criminal affairs in the
city, was the occasion of the assemblage of an
enormous crowd, and resulted in All uncontrolla-
Bile excitement. Substantially the meeting ad-
iourned to the Jail. and it was soon apparent
of inf lie ma
teral that most serious demonstration could
not be avoided
An attack upon the jail followed, and the de
structiveness of men wild with rage was speedily
manifested. The hOarse shouting of thousands
the clatter Of stones against the walls the break
age of windows and the omlnOus sound of ham
nrers were soon heard, and at this writing it Is
impossible to tell to what extent violence will be
done 1t is only certain that the innocent will
suffer with the guilty, and that those who have
thoughtlessly promoted the dreadful resort to
Iawlessness because the administration of the
law has been abused, will regret their action
when 1t is too late.
We were very anxious for the passage of the
Pruden Jaw, reforming the jury system, in the
hope that it would so far restore the confidence
of the people that Justice might be done accord
ing to law and this community escape the exc
cution Of the alarmingly distinct threats Of mob
violence.
The mockery of the Berner trial, following
closely the horrors of the Avondale murder kin
died the flame, and the organized force that
seemed to have been disbanded when Judge Pru-
den's bill became a law gathered sudden strength
and purpose when the outrageous verdict Of the
Berner jury was declared.
The news of the escape of Berner from the
officers was diffused through the mob at the
courthouse, and deepened the evaporation.
The fuIies seemed loOsed and in the bewilder-
ment of passion and panic blood was shed that
was not that Of the murderers nor of the mob,
but of men trying to do their duty.
We are deeply sensible of the abundant rea-
sons for public excitement concerning the out
rage in the criminal business in this city but we
have to say. upon the solemn responsibility OF
citizenship, that the mob is a mistake, and ter
rible oue that all good citizens should discoun
tenance it; that the awakened anxiety of the
people for the reform so sorely needed might
have found fit and effective expression within
the forms Of the law