The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-05-28
Thursday, May 2S. 1856.
The Straitsvillc Tragedy

The Straitsvillc Tragedy
We present very full repor
ofthe double murder and lynch
ing at New Straitsville last week
This community has beer
startled so often by like affair
that strange as it may seem, ther'
is nothing to show 10 the strange
that might come among us tha
within less than week one o
the most horrible affairs ever re
corded in the history ofthe coun
try, actually occurred almost il
sight of our town.
We have had SO much crime
1t has come with such frequency
that the people seem no longer
capable of appreciatiDg the enor
nifty of such horrors.
All ever the civilized world
the Hooking Valley is getting to
be known as the stronghold .of
murderers. It is becomingto be
considered no longer as great
industrial center. one of the
largest coal fields in tho world.
but as a seat of crime. where the
lives of men are of no more mo-
ment than the beast of the fields
or birds of the air.
After weighing the evidence
carefully. after looking back over
the history Of dozen years, We
are forced TO admit that this is
largely true. 1t is therefore time
to call a halt; it is time for the
strong arm of the Law to assert
itself; it is time for the people to
demand that the country be
purged of the murderous ele-
ment that has brought it into dis
repute; it is time that the people
demand the Courts save them
from the odium of conflicting
with the fundamental principles
of good government.
The law of delay, the clemency
shown some of the noted crimi-
nails in this valley, has become
80 notorious, that the hanging of
Hickey at Corning and Guess at
Straitsville must be accepted as
indignant protests against tho ac-
tion of the Courts.
The killing of Mrs. Terrell by
Morgan Richards was a cold
blooded murder and the people
of tins county was about unit
in condeming the Courts in not
hanging him. He deserved il
and the good of the country and
safety of the people demanded
it.
What has followed this milk
and water business and what will
continue to follow it, was fore
shadowed by a correspondent Of
this paper in 1882, writing from
the mining region:
.sThese hills have been baptiz-
ed with innocent blood too often.
Crime has too long desecrated
this seat of civilization. The
furnace fires light up a grand bi
vioac; they light up an encamp
ment that sickens at the thought
of tie Guiteaus in the land, and
If the strong arm Of the law does
not deal out summary vengance
on their offenders, the pent up
torrents will sweep away all bar
riers. 1t is gathering with fear
full head; it has washed over in
places!'
His Valley hasyet many ruff
fans that can be spared. They
parade the streets of our towns
and make night and day hideous
with their drunken brawls. Par
aiding revolvers, to the provoca-
tion of the peaceful, and horrify-
ing with blasphemy and obscen-
i'y the parents promoting reli-
gion and teaching dece,cy to
their families. They make it un-
safe for our wives and little ones
to travel on the streets, and if the
officers of the law persist in ignor-
ing these facts, just so long can
We expect the people to sit in
jud dgment. When the people no
longer believe that money will
tighten the sentence of murder,
when the law has become a ter
rOr- to. all evil doers, then shall
we consider the signs hopeful
We urge all good citizens to de-
mand the enforcement of tIle law,
that our Valley may forever es
cape such unwholesom. noio-
riety.
Let the Law, through its multi
piled and well paid agencies 81
lence the drunken buffoons par
aiding befose the public. disarm
the outlaws that terrorize our
peaceful citizens. and hide away
from incessant sight the Harlois
who are making d Goniorral OF
our city.
Let the Law have an actual,
acting operating force i'll pro-
tecting the people who keep it
alive, and then Judge Lynch,
who is only the clirystalizsd Gre
alton Of honest Indignation, will
have no longer amy mission in
our midst.
The frequent Iynchings should
be wholesome suggestions to the