The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-08-23
The Recent Disturbances in
Lawrence.

county in connection with the noted
convict Joe Loitin should not cause
the people of that usually conserva-
tive and law-abiding county to be
hastily or harshly judged. To any
one acquainted with the history of the
Loftin case, the action Of the citizens
of that county in at last becoming
thoroughly aroused on the subject is
most natural.
To begin with, Loftin murdered his
elder brother in 1884, in most brutal
manner, and after being tried and
sentenced to hang, his case was ap-
pealcd and reversed by the Supreme
Court on a technicality, a change of
venue obtained to Copiah, and on the
next trial he was convicted and sem
fenced to the Penitentiary for life
all at heavy cost to the Lawrence
county taxpayers. He remained in
the penitentiary but a short while,
however, before he made his escape
from the camps of the Gulf & Ship
Island Railroad Co., and for more
than year has roamed at will his
old haunts in Lawrence county, heav-
lily armed and defying arrest. He
boldly declared that Lawrence coun-
ty owed himself and family n living
and that he intended to have it, and
at times went to the houses of per-
sons, white and black, where he was
not likely 20 meet with resistance,
and demanded what he wanted. The
lives of number citizens who were
witnesses against him or known to be
uDfriendly. were threatened, and they
were in constant dread of being muir
dered from ambush, as he had muir
dered his brother, TO add to the un-
easiness of the situation, Loftin had
cOterie of warm sympathizers and
friends-just as the meanest Grimm
ais, no matter how bad, always have
and these helped to harbor him and
it is believed, aided him in certain
acts of lawlessness, thus furnishing a
constant menace to the peace and
quiet of the community. Some time
ago one mans barn was fired in the
night, and when he rushed out to ex-
tfhguish the flames, he was filled with
buck shot.
SO far as is known, the Penitentiary
Lessees, though appraised of Loftin's
whereabouts, made no effort
to recapture him, and it is
said the Sheriff of the county,
though acquainted with the facts, and
though Loftin actually visited Month
cello during the late term of Court,
s~likewise indifferent, and made no
effort whatever to capture him until
after Loftin's movements led to the
killing of Sauls few weeks ago, and
then not until he had been earnestly
importuned to do so.
Iswas no wonder, therefore, that
the best citizens of the county should
have finally become thoroughly ex-
asperated and resolved on visiting
summary justice upon Loftin when
he was captured. At the same time
we think the sheriff should not be CEN
sured for doing what he could to pro
teet Loftin after lie was caught. 1t is
a sheriff7s sworn duty to faithfully
protect a prisoner in his custody, and
in doing this, Sheriff Lee was but fol-
lowing in the line of his official duty.
What be should be blamed for is what
he failed to do before being sent for
by Loftin.
AS to the burning of the Sheriff's
house, that cannot be justified or con-
doned Oh any ground, and we feel
warranted in saying it is not looked
upon with the least allowance by the
great mass of the people of the coun-
ty, without regard to their opinion of
the sheriff's course in reference to
LOftin.
On the whole, it is to be hoped that
what has occurred will serve as an eff
fectual warning to criminals and lax
officials in our sister county, and that
the one will be deferred from further
acts of lawlessness and the other to
be more Jealous in the discharge of all
their official duties. And first in the
latter's line of duty will come a dill
gent effort to apprehend and convict
the sneak who burned the sheritf7s
house.
p. S.-After the above was put in
type we received the letter from Mr..
B. B. Stringer which is published in
another column, giving some inter
estiHg particulars as to how the cap
ture of LOftin was brought about.