Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-03
me Rreker VeraAcs.

DLCEMBER ., 1855
The Becker Verdict. IL
Prior TO and during the Becker trial 4
the REPUBLIcAS carefully abstained !
from saying anything that might
tend TO influence public opinion for or
agsinst him. We recognized the fact
that 1t was an awful thing for o man to
be put upon trial for his life, and though
by his hand . human life had been
taken, the taking of another would not
b justified except upon the most uni
prejudiced and fair trial, even
though Jewish law demands blood for
blood.
But now that the trial is over and
Becker 10 convicted, We are at full
liberty TO refer 10 the case exactly ~ 1t
ocours to rs, and without the fear Of
doing injustice to any one. While
thsre may be regrets for the conviction
Of Becker there are more sincere re-
grsta that there were just causes for
his conviction. Whistler the convic'
tion WAS right OF wrong and whether
his sentence will be long or . short
one, he is the author of his own trou.
bles and cannot reasonably complain.
The Law WAS openly defied and broken
ON both sides. The unfortunate victim
and his companion who was fortunate
enough to escape, were breakers Of NOR
nj as we'll as State laws when the un-
fortunate affair happened. Men who
cAronse around all night, going from
one disreputable place to another, I'M
til they become inebriated and ready
for any kind of crime, must expect
trouble. We're this IN exceptions
case Of Saturday night and Sunday
morning carousAl, 1t might be over
looked, but 10 1t SO? Who that has oc'
cAsion to be out ct late hour does DO
know that often his way Ii almos
bloekaded and he is denied peaceabl
passage by men Just In the eonditio,
Of those men on that Sunday morniD
which ended the last carousal OF one Q
them in death? We would, II 1t wer
possible, cast no imputation upon th
dead. He had o mother to whom
was dear and we would not wound nc
lacerate her feelings. But We mui
speak plainly upon this subject, Il
the good of others. Young men ha,
o'clock on Sunday morning going frol
tavern to saloon until they become
intoxicated that even IL they comm
no crime themselves, they provol
others 10 commit crime.
Let other young men take warniI
by this sad ending Of Q young man
life. But for this infraction Of &
law, Mr.. Becker's life would not hs
been put in jeopardy and saving it
be placed in O prison cell for o term
years.
Neither are we the apologists Of n
Becker. This bitter sorrow of his Il
was caused by his own voluntary o
He was too ready with his gun. The
Ii entirely too much freedom with gu
and pistols for the safety Of hum
life and the peace Of society. Maxi
all due allowances for the exciteme
under which Mr.. Becker labored tn,
was no excuse whatever for him to
. sho gun. The talk he heard abb
burning down" was but the sen
less gable Of couple Of inebriai
men. His property was not endangel
much Less his life. He should have
collected that his business was such
to call around him Just such custom
as he feared.
II there was anybody that sho
bear with insults and injuries 1t I
Mr.. Becker. He had no business VIII
ever with his gun in his hand on tina
him eventtul Sunday morning. Pee
as q general rule are too ready TO
guns and pistols in these latter ds
Mr.. Becker had no BUSINESS witt
gun in his hands at that time.
life was not endangered, and tho'
those he considered his assailants
the disposition 70 torment and an
him, they were otherwise harml
The Cniet Justice throws import
light upon the subject OF defense aga
intr1ders He shows that tres
upon property is different from
pass BY entering a persons ht
against the protest Of the person
lawful possession Of 1t.
While there can be many M
made use Of TO eject an invader Of
estate premises before resortinj
violence, there is very little left
force to use in ejecting an intrl
from residence. Mr.. Becker Z
the fatal mistake OF using such
to eject the intruders from his real
tate premises that he was hardly ]
fed in using had they come into
house with threats to burn and
der
1t is hoped hereafter that there
be better understanding upon
question, and the verdict rend
though IL consigns Mr.. Becker to p
for term Of years, will prove to
the interests OF good order and
duoe to the good Of society at larg