The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-12
POPULAR TRIBUNALS.

In new countries before regular courts
are established rude justice sometimes has
to be wrought, but even then it should
never be executed as it was in New Orleans
and Omaha. The so-called popular
tribunals of California, Montana, Idaho,
and other states of the Northwest, were
really courts In the spirit, deliberation,
gravity and fairness Of their methods.
These popular tribunals did not whoop q
bowling pack of human mongrels and
ours Of low degree upon helpless prisoner
to worry him to death; they respected
Justice by enforcing all its forms; the
prisoner had counsel, witnesses, and his
execution was performed without needless
horrors and vindictive indecencies The
passion for such brutal administration of
lynch law as has disgraced New Orleans
and Omaha grows fat on what feeds, and
it is clearly increasing in places where
once it was not rampant. In the South
lynch law has so long been practiced with
impunity that the most inhuman acts of
the days of slavery continue to be re-
peated. Recently colored man in
Louisiana charged with criminal assault
upon young white woman employed as a
school teacher, was bound to tree and
tortured to death. The New York World
correspondent says: "He was first skinned,
and then cut up bit by bit. He suffered
excruciating agony, but his captors were
hardened at the thought of the brute's
crime, and continued their work. The
negro lived under this horrible torture
about forty minutes. No arrests in con-
nection with the murder have been re-
ported or are anticipated"
No savage ever committed a more horri-
BILE act. Recently three colored men were
tied to stake and burned to death, and
the burning of colored men and women in
their homes is by no means infrequent.
Nor is this cowardly thirst for cruel ven-
geance exhibited only in the lynching and
torturing to death of negroes. Recently
in Mercer county, Kentucky. old man
Beasley and one of his sons held Derwood
Jordan while another son cut him to death.
Pieces of flesh as large as a mans hand
were cut from his sides and arms, and
knife thrusts entered his abdomen in six
or seven places. Constable Granmelle
Curren succeeded In arresting the three
Beasleys, John, owen and Bill, when the
other brothers and relatives, five in num-
Der, with shotguns and pistols leveled at
the constable, took his prisoners from him.
The Jordan family, six or seven in num-
Der, have also armed themselves, and say
they will be revenged or the law shall be
enforced for the cowardly ASSASSINATION of
their brother. No arrests have been made.
however
Jim Sims, Southern ''moonshiner. re-
Gently shot one of his captors and escaped.
| He was pursued and shot down. A doc
tor was sent for and found five wounds.
none OF which were fatal Jim's arm was
broken, his cheek was pierced, and large
wound had been made in his right breast
by three bullets. The crowd would not
allow the doctor to set his arm or dress
his wounds. By their orders he was left
alone, grooming and praying for water.
The deputy marshals, deputy sheriffs and
citizens organized themselves into a vigil
lance committee. The vigilance commit
tee decided at their midnight meeting to
wreak vengeance on the wounded prisoner
AT daybreak two-wheeled OK cart was
driven to the hotel door. Jim Sims was
placed In it so roughly that he tainted
from pain, and driven to an oak tree
where he was executed by hanging.