The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-09-10
LET JUSTICE BE DONE.
A Homicide UnpunisheCl, If Not
Forgotten.


Forgotten.
The activity displayed by the authori-
ties here in endeavoring to solve the mys-
teries of murders supposed to have been
committed in this county respectively
eight and fifteen years ago, suggests the
application of the same energy and inter
est in bringing to justice the perpetrator
of homicide about which there is no
doubt, and one committed within the
past two and half years. About that
homicide, there was at the time seem
ingly unaccountable indifference, and
since, an apathy in vindicating the law
which might bring discredit upon the au-
thorities, if we did not know, personally,
that the apathy was only apparent, the
result of prudent caution. But the eau
ton has extended over such space of
time that it seems probable that the Of
fender may safely Y indulge himself in the
hope ofpcrmanent immunity; and thus
it happen that the law be insulted and
defed, and a stranger be killed with the
assurance that no person or authority
be at the trouble to prosecute his
slayer.
The circumstances of the homicide NAV
be briefly stated. They are without
doubt fresh in the minds of a number OF
our citizens.
At date and time we cannot recall,
but certainly within the past three years,
Il quarrel and ARRAY took place between
two employees of the Asheville Furniture
Factory, in the factory, during the work
ing hours. One of them was of German
extraction or birth, coming here from
Cincinnati. The other was from East
Tennessee. In the fight the latter had
the best of it, and the German, starting
to run, was struck on the right side of
the head, behind the ear, with stone
thrown with great violence by the other.
He fell to the ground in an inscnsible
condition, and was taken to the Mission
Hospital. The other Immediately or
soon after fled. The injured man never
recovered his intelligence. The skull was
fractured, and a piece of it more
than an inch in diameter was removed,
exposing the brain. After lingering in
comatose state for eight or ten days, he
died, unquestionably from the blow, the
brain constantly oozing out through the
ghastly orifce. The date ofthe patients S
entry to the hospital and that of his
death are no doubt exactly recorded on the
books of the hospital.
We called upon leading magistrate
and put him in possession of all such
facts of which he was not previously pos
sessed. We also waited upon Solicitor
Moody for the same purpose. We know
that both of these gentlemen at the time
took active, yet cautious steps, to bring
the assailant of the dead man to justice.
Nothing came of it then. Two years
have passed, and the whole matter
seems to be passing into oblivion. This
is inadmissble. 1t isnot the habit of the
law, it is not the policy of public justice,
it is not for the security of the people,
that a man shall he knocked in the head
like a dog and be forgotten; and that his
slayer, whether with or without provo
cation, shall escape all inquiry and re-
sponsibility, and boast perhaps that he
is above the law.
In the name of public justice, we ask
that steps be instituted at once to vindi-
cate the law in this case, still fresh in gen.
eral memory.