The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-12-13
Facing the Music.


since he gave himself up, aud peud-
ing the hsbeas corpus trial, the Ex-
ANINER has studiously RETAINED
from any remarks which might tend
to INFLUENCE the courts in snr wnu in |
his case. He has applied for bail, and |
has been refused. In this case, such
action is tantamount to conviction; at |
least, IL indicates that Judge Hall Is
convinced of his guilt. Indeed, the
mass of evidence all points directly to
him as not only murderer but also the |
would-be seducer of the daughter of
his victim. All told, and in every
way, the crime is an unusually terri
BILE one. 1t can only be hoped.
for the honor of the race, that Tom
varnell was drunk when the terrible
deed was done. Nothing else could pos
sibly throw the glamour of even the
slightest excuse aboutit. 1t was the act
of fend to attempt the destruction
of the girl. The.sged fathers attempt
TO protect his child ought to have sp-
pealed to the spark of humanity some
times found in the breast, even Of a
Comanche Indian. 1t did not find
any answer in the breast of Tom VAR
nell. Far otherwise. 1t aroused his
anger, and Selling pistol from the
ready hand of Walker, he poured two
shots, in quick succession, into the
body of the parent of the girl whom
he considered elevated enough to
minister to his lusts. Ali such a
crime makes hardened men, even
on the frontier of Texas, veil
their faces in shame. The
shrieks of the sister and the
terrors Of the guests of the house had
no terrors for Tom. He enjoyed the
"shindy" Every man in all Taxas,
who has either wife, daughter or
a sister, must feel that ifTOm Var
nell gets clear of the consequences OF
this fatal act, these are wholly and al
together without that protection
which the law is supposed to Ruaran-
tee to all, high and low, rich and
poor. God knows how sincerely we
trust he may be able, in the final trial
for his life, to show Justification
prove an alibi, or produce some tes-
timouy which will lift irsm his young
shoulders, which, strong as they are
in the flush of his young manhood, are
still not strong enough to bear w
unbent and unbroken, the vast bur
den of such shame as is his.
He is now fairly in the tolls. Ill
is "fscing the music" Anindignsn
public stands an unit behind the steely
nerved judge who refuses bond 70
such a criminal. With Tom Varnel
stand few fearful, Borrowing friends
a devoted mother and his own accus
ing conscience. Which will win
Which ought to win We do no
know Tom yarnell, having spoke
only few words to him on the oC
casion ofhis presence in Waco fe'
weeks since. We know nothing o
him, save in the written and oral &C
counts we have had of hi
crime. We would do him
outside of this terrible al
raignment, nothing but good. Blu
we would raise our arm, feeble an
all as it y, to strike one blow in de
Tense of the women of Texas an
their fathers, who have the manhoo'
to attempt their defense, also.
A fair, impartial and exhaustiv
trial should be given him. Let a
the ingenuity of his illustrious cour
sci, all the pity of the law, and a
reasonable effort be exhausted in hi
defense; but II, after all that is don't
his guilt Is apparent, let him hans
This will be the verdict of every ma
Ia all the land who values life aud tn
honor Of his family, and who woul
see the law strong enough to pre-
tect them under any and all circun
stances.
Texans look over aud pardon man
of the indiscretions of youth, br
there are few who would fail to col
denim 20 death the man. who woul
tamper with the virtue of a chill
: aud then slay the father who came
protect.