The Wilmingtonian., 1885-12-12
A Trayesty on Justice.

Its duty to demand that disturbers of the
oeace and yiolators of the law shall meet
the responsibility of their acts.
Andrew T. Peterson respected and
peaceable citizen, man of noble and gen.
erous impulses-nay, more a custodian OF
the peace and duly panoplied with the in-
sigma Of his office, was shot down like
dog, within shadow of his own home, while
shielding from danger and death the wife OF
his murderer.
II ia needless to state that this communi-
ty was indescribably Mortified at the afro
oious murder of officer Peterson, but that
horror was intensified when the report went
forth that the jury before whom the
murderer Davis was tried could not agree
upon verdict. Although this is conserva-
tive community yet had the action OF the
Jury been anticipated on the evening OF
Saturday the 81 of June 1t is safe to say that
Lewis e. Davis would have been saved the
formality of jury trial.
We have no disposition to encourage mob
violence yet such travesty on justice as
witnessed in the Davis case is direct
invitation for this community to be law
unto themselves
The only plea made for the murderer was
that he had been to picnic where
intoxicating drinks were sold and that he had
drank by actual count from eight to ten
glasses of beer. 1t was not shown, nay it
was not even attempted to be shown, that
Lewis j.. Davis was drunk at the time the
fatal shot was fired, but on the other hand
1t was developed by the State that If drunk
it was but slightly. His power of locomo-
tion when crossing the lots was not suffi'
ciently disturbed as to attract attention.
The prisoners counsel in pleading in be-
half of his client stated that after drinking
beer he (Davis) quarrelled with his wife,
lust SO, what is man half filled with beer
supposed to do, sing psalms and cite pray
ersP no! no! he is most naturally expected to
quarrel, to curse, to swear, to abuse, and to
villify some one, but pray is that condition
to be taken as an excuse for the crime OF
murder?
Lewis E, Davis committed an offense
against the statutes when he concealed about
him deadly weapon as he started forth
from his home on the 9th of June last.
Lewis E. Davis committed an offense
kainst the statutes as well as against dozen
cy when he attempted to make of himsei
an intinerant beer keg.
Lewis e. Davis committed the graves
offense known to the State of Delaware whei
he defied an officer Of the law and fired a
and killed Andrew Peterson whlle in tbs
discharge of his sworn obligations.
That Justice has been shorn of its jus
deserts is the almost unanimous opinion o
thepeople, and the universal comments of th
community upon the action of the jury wer
not in any sense flattering.
Among the incidents of the trial the testi
mony Of Senator George Gray bordered o
the marvellous. For the defense Senate
Gray stated that he looked in upon th
prisoner whilst in the cell and it was hi
(Gray's) opinion ''that the prisoner was in
stupor.
An opinion which amounts to the dignit
of an opinion must be sustained and support
ed by established facts. What are the fact
In this caseP Senator Gray did not ents
the cell and consequently he was several fee
from Davis. Furthermore the cell wa
SO dark and gloomy that Senator Gray, froi
the position he occupied, could scarcely tel
whether the prisoner was white or black, ian
yet the impression, that Senator Gray crei
ted, was in favor of the Irresponsible
of the murderer.
Furthermore, Que hour before SENATE
Gray saw the prisoner in the cell, he delibe
ately took off his coat and vest and wit
them made himself pillow and then |;
down upon them with the remark that
was going to get what little comfort the
might be for him before meeting his expe
ted doom. One half hour prior to the tin
when Senator Gray received the vagu
indefinite and illy-defined impression th
the prisoner in the cell was incapable
gathering in the situation, his Davis wi
came to the outer door of the cell, and t
moment he heard her voice he demanded wi
most horrid oaths that she should be adm
ted and to her predicted that he would
on his journey to hell within the space
three months.
Fifteen minutes after the time that Ser
tor Gray was supposed to have reached
remarkable conclusion concerning the me
tal and physical inertia Of the prisoner
the dismal and unlighted cell he (Dav
stealthily dealt John B. Moore, the turnk
at the City Hall, stunning blow.
The distinguished national position
Senator Gray caused his testimony to
taken without question, but his impressit
were too specifically garnered to have tn