The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-12-13


A distressing state Of affairs exists In
Birmingham, Alabama. Briefly stated,
q man answering to the name OF Hswes
il charged with the murder Of his
divorced wife and his two daughters.
The body Of one Of the daughters named
Mamie was found Tuesday, December
4th, floating in little lake on the out
skirts Of the city Of Birmingham, and in
the same body Of water on last Saturday
the dead body Of the wife was discovered
by a party who were searching tor the
body by dragging that body Of water.
Mrs. Halves had met her death by vio-
lence, the back part Of her head having
been crushed in by some blunt instru.
ment. The body was held down by
weights attached by cord fastened around
the neck and waist OF the murdered
woman. The cords were identified as
having belonged to the Hawes house
hold. Public indignation was aroused
to degree Of frenzy when the body Of
Mrs. Halves was discovered, and ven-
geance was proposed to be delt out to
Halves, who was confined in Jail. An
enraged crowd gathered and advanced
to the jail. They were met and their
demands resisted by the Sheriff, whose
name 10 Smith. Like all mobs intend
ing justice they would not be held back
by words OF advice. Reports are con.
fiicting as to which party fred first, but
firing had to be resorted to, and as re.
OF nine deaths are recorded, with
others seriously wounded. The State
troops had to be called and are preserv-
ing order. A citizens meeting was held
and an expression Of the leading men
advised the people to obey the authori-
ties and let the law take its course. 1t
is not the intention to discuss the right
or wrong OF the authorities or the mob
at Birmingham, but we have been i'm.
pressed with the disregard for law that
report brings to us from the Southern
States. The foolish notion that mans
honor must be maintained at the point
of pistol seems to be inbred in that
people. The notion that the proper
course for the relatives of a woman who
has been seduced is TO find the offender
and redress the wrong without law or
process. The rapist is hunted by the
whole community and mob law takes
the province of courts of justice. As a
result reports OF murders and lynching
are distressingly common. Now as re-
suit OF this spirit Of disregard for the
proper channels Of law, the distressing
condition of the city OF Birmingham is a
natural result. The harvest is to be
reached sooner or later. Disregard for
law is sure to work injury, nu matter
what our opinion OF the efficiency or in.
justice OF the law may be.
We are not Of the opinion that Hills
boro is slumbcring on volcano, but the
people Of Hilisboro are not as earnest AZ
they should be in enforcing their laws.
Now that the Council has refused to re.
peal the ordinance prohibiting the sale
of liquors to be drank on the premises,
there can be no doubt as to the duty Of
every citizen, no matter what his opn-
ion is or has been in reference to the
justice or to the injustice Of the Dow
law, it is the law, and every true citizen
should not only obey 1t, but should use
his influence in its favor. The strength
of this position is easily shown by the
condition Of things in the city Of Bir.
mingham. 1t was not sufficient that
the Mayor act as an official; that the
Council of the city meet and assert their
authority; that the Sheriff plead and
advise the recognition OF the authorities,
but the citizens meet and in the name
of law and order counseled every other
law.abiding citizen to preserve the peace
by obeying the law. We are not in a
state Of excitement and confusion, but
we are in condition in which the law
is not observed, and just so surely as
effect follows cause, SO surely will the
people of Hillsboro reap the fruits of
their negligence. The sovereign will Of
the people must not be disregarded. and
sooner or later the sovereign people will
make themselves to be heard, and the
offenders and law breakers will feel the
strong arm OF the law teaching them
lesson by force which they should have
learned by precept. No sentiment need
be urged in advocating the propriety
and duty Of observing the law, since it
is the law and the law is the expressed
wish OF the people; therefore it must be
obeyed. If we would preserve the true
foundation Of our form of government,
that the sovereign will of the people
shall be the rule for every individual,
then will every true citizen see to it that
his influence shall be in favor OF perfect
obedience to every statute on the part
q