Richland beacon., 1888-12-15
TIE RIRMINGH.4N SHOOTING.
Tin,es-ncuircr7r

Times-ncmccr7r
The killing by a sheriff. posse Of
ten or more persons in Birmingham
yesterday morning, including several
prominent citizens, las naturally
aroused the widest excitement there.
aud threatens to become The source OF
morc trouble.
= he whole HAYES affair, from begin
ming TO end, has been a tragic one.
We can appreciate the Indignation OF
The people Of Birmingham when the
dead bodies Of Mrs. ilawes and her
two murdered children were found,
and can understand The feelings of
racG aroused against the monster who
killed them. Fortuiiatcly, Justice is
certain and prompt in Alabama. If
Halves is guilty Of these crimes, no one
need have doubted that he would pay
the penalty.
The people Of Birmingham could
safely await the trial, certain that
full justice would be meted out.
In civilized community, where JUS
tice is certain, there is no excuse or
ralliation for mob violence or Lynch
law. 1t was the duty Of Sheriff Smith,
of Jefferson county lin which Birming-
ham is situated), to protect the priso-
ner until he was tried, no matter what
the charges or how strong the evidence
was against him. Popular sentiment
always spplauds in the end the sheriff
who stands to his post to perform his
duty and protect the prisoner in his
charge as brave and faithful officer.
Something more than courage, how
ever, is needed in dealing with mob.
The greatest possible discretion is
absolutely necessary. The sheriff
must be firm, but not precipitate. He
must keep the mob out of the Jail at
all hazards, but without loss Of life, if
ii is possible He must be determined.
yet cool and free from excitement.
1t is charged in Birmingham that
Sheriff Smith and his deputies acted
precipitatelv, fired prematurely, and
thus caused loss of life that might
easily have been avoided. 1.-THE mob
actually attacked the Jail and opened
fire on it, a defense was necessary; if
the posse fired prematurely, and kept
on shooting at the fleeing mob after it
had dispersed, it was blunder that
amounted to crime.
This is the story as told by many in
Birmingham. The public mind is
somewhat inhamed and excited there
yet, it is true, and it may be some
little time before all the facts of the
shooting are known. The evidence
just now seems to indicate that the
shooting might have been avoided and
the mob dispersed without the use of
Winchesters. If this be shown upon
a final hearing, more than blunder
was committed there, for every pos
sible resource should have been ex-
hausted before rifles were called into
use. We prefer, however, to wait
until all the facts are in before con-
demning Sheriff Smith.
The above from the Times Demo-
crat has the right ring, except that it
intimates that the shooting was pre-
mature. We do not think so if it
was understood that the sheriff would
vindicate the law, and they were
warned not to enter the approach.
The sheriff had higher duty to
perform than simply to protect the
prisoner under his charge. 1t was
his sworn duty TO maintain the law.
In extreme cases, lynching is excusa-
Die if not justifable, but those who
engage in such things take the law in
their own hands, and consequently |
are not entitled, morally, to its pro-
lection. Sheriff Smith shows himself
to be the right man in the right
place.
1t is a deplorable affair and more
so on account OF the killing of several
who were along to restrain the mob.
While we deplore the loss of several
good men, we admire the chivalry of
Sheriff Smith.
Since the above was in type we see
the Governor of Alabama sustains
Sheriff Smith.
Sheriff Smith a; bonded for $685.
900. Since then, two more affidavits
have been found and he is in Jail again.
Verdict of coroners jury, that Mrs.
Halves and children came to their
death at the hands of Halves aided
by Others.
1t is the duty Of journalists to