The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1884-06-05

Courier-Journal.

Judge Reid BY his own hand may
well shock people somewhat usedso
tragedies It has features so peculiar,
80 full of sorrow and affection; it 10
SO shocking in all its aspects, and
from public standpoint, it is at this
time so cAlamitious that to the people
Of Kentucky, it must have much
more than passing interest.
Judg Reid is the victim of the
cowardly assault of one man, and the
vitiated public sentiment Of the State.
His murderer is John Jay CorEeilson.
but in a community whore Law was
enforced, where CRIME was swiftly and
surely punished, where life WAS Pm
tected, whore prevailed an intelligent
appreciation of the obligations Of ell
citizens to obey and uphold tho laws
Judge Reid would not have died 90
he did.
Assaulted without warning ltunnea
by blow from behind, dazed and
stricken and then beaten with q cow
hide in the hands of an attorney dis
satisfied with his course as n Judge,
Mr. Reid did not succeed in defend.
ing himself at ALL This is matter
greatly to be regretted, and the re-
regret to-day is intensified many
times. -
Failing in this, it seems TO be the
duty of every man, according TO the
code which, most prevails In Ken.
lucky, that he pursue bis Hsssailent
and slay him wherever found. The
situation in which Judge Reid found
himself was, indeed, a trying one, full
OF difficulties, leading by any path TO
undying remorse. It was not death
he feared, as we see; it was disgraes
in any form. His own convictions Of
duty were not enough; he stood ia
public place, candidate for pubic
Office, and he was necessarily keenly
sensitive TO every change and shade
Of public opinion.
The path he had chosen was too
steep and rugged; the burden which
he had assumed was too heavy. The
sense Of shame and indignity, had he
been coarser man, more Of a bully
and blackguard, he would not have
felt, preyed on him. driving him to
madness. His actions were m;srep.
resentedi his motives were Questioned;
in state of brave men, few, men
were brave enough to staad with or
for him. He believed the best iudR.
ment OF the people was with him, a.
it is, but he could not wait for pas.
sion or Indignation to subside.
Much of the sympathy which went
out to him he felt rs rebuke; he
was acutely alive to any blame or
misunderstanding, and life lost all its
charm. Ambition died within him;
the support and kindness Of his
friends could not heal his wounds.
Even the love of those nearest to
hims thoughtful and considerato a.
it was, couli not sustain him, and he
dies wounded not only by Cornpilson,
but by all who make public sentiment
in this State. 81 te
How frequent are these sickeaing
calamities; how fas, they follow enc
another; how important are our laws:
how false are our verdicts; how warp.
ed our Judgments have beeome.
Here is conscientious, upright, hen.
orable man driven TO death BY che
miserable attacks Of one who uses
only the weapons of a ,blackyuard
and bully. Corneilson has friends
aud they have been quick in his de.
tense. His case, resting on his own
testimony and bis own pleadings. has
been decided against him.. The i'm.
preston has grown strong that his
attack was POLITICAL conspiracy. de-
signed to defeat Judge Reid in his
pending canvass. Whatever the mo.
tive, malice was there, premedisa,sd
malice, aud the death of Judge Reid
is the consequence. No man in Ken.
lucky would attack man with a cow
hide unless he was prepared 10 kali
him If it was necessary. AssailirR
his victim from behind, laying his
plans so as to take him unswares, is
was not necessary to kill him. Now
borne down with humiliation. feeling
inexpressibly the shame and the in
dignity, bearing grief which hs
must bear, alone, Judge Reid finds
relief in auicide.
Again we say, as 30 often we have
said in these columns, that from the
sin of blood outlines no citizen VI
Commonwealth is free. We do not
deal with crime as we ought. , We