The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-10
The Increase of Murders.
From the Shenandoah Valley

1t seems murders and murderers
are increasing. The newspapers daily
abound with Instances of murder. IN
view OF the facts, rs recorded, We are
rather forced 10. the conclusion, that
this henous crime is increasing to an
enormous extent. This seca!s to be
true, not only Us to certain sections:
but in nearly every State, whether
North, South, East or West. Some of
the cases are the most atrocious and
inhuman. The condition Of the coun-
try is surely lamentable in the minds
of all who read and think, and have
the good Of the human family at
heart.
There must be cause for this
condition of things; for every effect
must have cause, but there may be
some difficulty in determining the eX-
act cause or causes. Infidelity, skepti-
cism, and atheism may have much to
do in that direction; for where the SEN
timent prevails, that there is no power
back of the mere human tribunal or
throne, that will ultimately mete out
justice and wreak out vengeance in the
future, there is no check to prevent
the malicious from perpetrating his
wicked crimes, but the fear of being
caught, convicted, and punished &C
cording to the civil law. But this is
becoming so uncertain, there being so
many chances to escape the penalty,
and Of going ''scot free that many
wicked persons are induced to take
chances and run the risk of being
caught, convicted, and punished.
The utmost, that civil authority can
do to prevent the crime of murder, is to
infict the most effective penalty, which
is possibly that of death; for there is
nothing 50 dear to a person as life is;
for what will person not do or give to
save his life? The object of punish
ment is to prevent the commission of
crime, and not to mete out evil for evil,
or certain amount of pain and suffer-
ing for a certain amount of crime and
wrong.
Whether there is, in reality, any
sense, in which it can he said, that JUS
tice, so far as man is concerned, de-
mands the punishment Of offenders,
may be a question not so easily solved.
It is quite certain, however, that when
crime is perpetrated, it cannot be
completely rectified, by any human
power or force. But as the inlpunity Of
an offender would lead him or others to
repeat similar offence, civil rulers
have determined, that human laws
must inaict punishment as an sample,
and hence, penalties are ressrted to
with view of preventing the comInis-
sion of crime, by terrifying the evil
disposed.
Taking this view of the matter, the
best method of counteracting the ten
dencv to the increase OF murder, is the
prompt, certain execution OF the law
and its penalties, to allow no escapes
where the evidence is sufficient. There
has been too much loosenesS in that di-
rection, too many new trials and ap-
peals. Too many are allowed to law
out, and 60 "scot free a few swift,
earnest, certain examples, leaving no
hope for escape, if found guilty, would
exert decided influence in the pre-
vention of murder. Very often the
courts linger so long, and defer the trial
Of the cases, so often, that public
opinion reaches conclusions before the
case is really tried or decided. This
frequently controls the case. The courts
should be more prompt, and the people
less ready to decide the case without
hearing the evidence. The truth is, so
many have escaped the penalty that
the people are losing all confidence in
the trials. Let the people see that the
law will be executed promptly, with
out fear or favor We need something
more positive and certain.
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