Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-01
Knife and PistoI Tragedies.

Knife and Pistol Tragedies.
Murders and murderous assaults are
not uncommon in this city nowadays
I They are altogether too frequent. Peace
ably disposed people are beginning &c
ask each other whether something ought
not to be done to put an end 20 these knife
and pistol tragedies. They want to know
/ why it is that more OF the principals IN
shooting and cutting ARRAYS are not
caught and punished.
Within a little more taan month there
have been four murders within the city
limits, and good many more than four
murderous assaults. Some Of the MUIR
ders were particularly atrOciOus. one
white man shot another white man TO
death without any pretext or excuse.
The murderer was drunk, and the MUIR
dered man WAS an old and inCtfensive clti-
zen. In two other cases the murderers
and their victims were negroes, and in
the fourth case a negro killed white man.
1t is useless TO particularize the murder
GUS assaults. They are constantly occur
ring. There have been several within the
last few days.
OF the four murderers only two are in
custody. 1t is probable that they would
not be, however, If they had made special
efforts to escape. Two Of the murderers
are at large, and, as far as we are in
formed, no efforts are being made for their
arrest. With respect to those who are
guilty Of murderOus assaults, how many
Of them are in Jail? 1t is fact worthy
Of particular attention that it is
easier for man who commits murder, or
attempts to commit murder, to escape
than it is for thief to escape. Is that
because in this community a mans
property is Of more Importance than his
life?
1t may not be the duty Of the police or
the sherifrs or the constables to devote
their time to hunting murderers. All Of
these guardians OF the public peace may
be doing their duty as defined by the law
If they are, however, it is time that Off
GERS were appointed to hunt down MUIR
derers and those guilty of murderous as
saults. If something is not done to bring
this class OF criminals to justice the time
is near at hand when men who assert
their rights or resist imposition will do so
at the risk of their lives. The refusal to
submit to the abuse OF a drunken man or
a rebuke administered to a saucy and i'm
pertinent servant will be the occasion for
the use OF the knife or the pistol. The
murders and murderous assaults will not
be confined to the neighborhoods of the
low-dram shops. If the fear of punish
ment is removed they will occur when
ever and wherever men who have little
respect for human life feel that they have
been offended.
The principals in most of the cutting
and shooting ARRAYS are negroes. They
are becoming wonderfully free in the use
of deadly weapons. The pistol and knife
are resorted to on very slight provoca-
tiOns. This is not to be wondered at.
About the only thing that restraints the
negroes is the fear of punishment, and in
proportion as this fear is removed, the
murders and shooting and stabbing ARRAYS
will increase.
1t is evident that the fear OF punishment
for murders and murderous assault in this
city is not very great. 1t has been a long
while since a white man was hung tor
murder in this county, and the number OF
negro murderers who have suffered the
full penalty OF the law is small. There
have been plenty of murders, however.
In many of the counties OF this State
the efforts to apprehend a murderer some
times extends over days and weeks. In
this city the search generally ends a few
hours after the crime is committed. A
murderer who escapes arrest for a day is
justified in feeling that he will escape al
together. There doesn't appear to be any
body in the city or county whose duty It is
TO continue the search as long as there is
any hope OF arresting the criminal. On
account OF the failure to hunt down GRIM
inals, and the failure of juries to convict
those who are arrested and tried, the per-
centage of those who ought TO be pun
ished is remarkably small.
What wonder is it then that murders
and murderous assaults are so frequent
in our city? And will it be strange If
these crimes become more frequent
People may talk Of lynch law, and when
the spirit OF lawlessness becomes so bold
and defiant as to be unbearable may even
resort to it, but that will not cure the
trouble. Lynch law may cheek crime for
awhile. but will not put a stop to it. The
law must be enforced firmly and vigor.
ously. 1t must be enforced continuously.
not spasmodically. To ensure such an
enforcement there must be a healthy
public sentiment, so that the law officers
and juries Will do their duty. IL there
are no officers now in the city or county
whose duty it is to hunt down and arrest
murderers, let such officers be ap.
pointed. The good citizens cannot afford
to permit the lawless element TO get the
upper hand. The fair fame OF the city is
at stake. and if it is stained too often in
human blood 1t will cease to be fair.
A Much Needed Connection.
The agitation in behalf of railroad e