National Republican., 1886-08-23
Recent Lynohipr Mat,pees.

The Terre llaute Express, referring to the
disgraceful fact that the state Of Indiana
was the scene Of two hangings by mobs Inst
week, says:
Our state is making blaoker record than
Texas OF any other far western state. Within
the past year almost dozen criminals have
suffered death from the hands of the mob'.
This proves Que of two things-that the laws
are not strictly enforced or the people Of the
localities where these outraecs occur have not
reached n state of high civilization. The latter
will not be readily accepted as the cause. In
diana has boosted long of her free schools and
the enlightenment Of her people. Thoughtful
people will attribute 1t to failure TO enforce the
laws. In numerous instances great criminals
have escaped punishment or escaped with light
sentences. The courts are slow The trials OF
great criminals arc delayed until public inter-
est has almost died out or the principal wit
nessos have been spirited away.
"Failure to enforce the law' is, no doubt
the chief cause OF these mob murders In
Indiana. 1t Is next to impossible to con-
vict man Of any felonious crime in any OF
the state courts II the accused or his friends
can raise 5000. This is an ugly fact, but
fact II is nevertheless. 1t does not excuse
lynching, but II is the chief cause why mob
murders are so common.
OF the horribly cruel murder by mob that
disgraced Macon, Georgia, the other day,
the Augusta Chronicle says;
The true character of the woman about whom
Tim Moore was lynched last week in Macon Is
brought out fully In the article VIC print this
morning from the Millen BeusOn. In that
| nelgbOrhood her history Is we'll known, and
among those people was first felt that revul,ion
over the lyuohing which has since taken po 70
session Of every law abiding community in the
state. 1t is a terrible reflection that human
| lie should have been sacrificed for sucha a wan
ton. All this under the hot pressure of mob
rule whose impulse was in the name OF virtue,
but whose execution turns out to be a cruel
travesty. That such a hanging should have
happened in Georgia is terrible to think Of
| This should be lesson to vigilance move
| mcnts everywhere. All these facts about the
woman would have come out in the courts.
but before the charge of the mob nothing could
be established. The publication of the article
today closes most unseemly record.
"Jim Moore" was an ex.police officer
who had been locked up In Jail on the
charge Of outraging a young girl named
Littles, a stranger in Macon. The Mlllen
Beacon says:
Moore denied the outrage, but admitted TAX
ing n drive with the girl, who accosted him at
the depot after the manner of a prostitute
which he said he could prove her to be-
Moorc's stigma against the girls character
| had color lent II by telegram from Savannah
| to the Macon police, stating that the girls
reputation was highly questionable. AS will
| be seen later on other kilograms were received
| by the Macon authorities to the same end. But
TO no avail. Moore was dragged through the
streets by a rope fastened to his neck and
hanged TO n tree in front Of the house where
the alleged outrage took place. There wa
much excitement in Millen on receipt of le
| news that Moore would be lynched for the
Little girl is not unknown here. DR.. NJ. d.
| Lanier Immediately wired the mayor of
Macon as follows: "For humanity's sake pro-
tect Moore until you hear from me by mail"
| II was Dr. Laniers desire to make public such
of the following facts as were known at that
| time.
The Beacon then proceeds to give the
history of the girls life, proving her to be
one of the vilest Of the vile-a desperate
and reckless creature, expert in putting up
jobs and ready TO swear to anything that
promise to yield profit.
And yet, upon the unsupported word of
this creature, citizen Of Macon was mur-
dered by mob, meeting death more horrl-
BILE than would have been accorded to mad
dog.
sis our civilization failurePn