davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05

the weak, inefficient or corrupt ao-
ministration of the law has no such
cause and mob law no such excuse.
It is not infrequently, indeed, it is al
ways, the case that the leaders and
defenders of mob of lynchers cite
the failure of justice and the laws de-
lay as an excuse; and they are apt
and ready with instances to back
their assertions and justify their
actions. But it is singular fact that
the class of criminals who usually
escape legal punishment are rarely
made the victims of the mob's ven
geance, which uniformly spares
those whose wealth, position or
family connection save them from the
law and spend their wrath upon the
frit ndiess, mOneyless wretch who
mas no "pull" to save him from the
gaIlOws. The ordinary mob is Ill gil
Cal and dishonest in its arguments
ii d cowardly in its action. 1t cites
the cases of a wealthy and iutluen-
tial homicide who escapes punish
Iynching of a negro vagabopd who, as
it knows well enough, could not
escape. If mobbers really desired to
correct the evil of which they COM
plain and supply by mob vengeance
the failure of law, they would strike
where Justice is weak and not where
it is strong. They would lynch the
rich murderer, who is able to employ
the best counsel, Stubborn witnesses
and pack juries, and not the negro
pauper, who is not even able to fee a
lawyer. This Is what the New
Orleans mob did but it is not what
the ordinary mob does. The latter
never attacks y man who has money
or friends because is knows that it
would encounter resistance and dan
ger. 1t never follows after to corr rect
the failure of the courts, but hastens
in advance to do what would have
been done without its lawless inter
vention. tits well enough to inveigh
against the laws delay and the many
lOOphOles for the escape of criminals.
This is an evil which needs to be
remedIed; but it is an evil which has
little connection with the summary
and lawless punishment OF criminals,
and it is mistake on the part of some
OF our contemporaries to make this
excuse. The mob acts where legal
punishment would be swiftest and
surest, and fails in the very cases
where the law fails.-NashUjLIe
American
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05

his fortune at gambling at San Diego.
When his princely fortune was gone
he shot bar-keeper Gin the hotel
there, and fled to Colorado, where he
saw a young woman, Maggie Ryling,
who was the image of his dead wife.
She was an actress, and in his hours
IF infatuation Goblin wrote her a
note, telling her of himself, of her
resemblance of his former wife, and,
asking her to marry him, she re-
piled tersely, saying that he had
suuandered one fortune, and that
when he made another and retrieved
his past follIes to come TO her then,
and he would receive another aud
more favorable answer. Goblin, on
reading her letter, pressed her for an
interview, which was granted. What
pass ed between. the two will never be
kn.wn. yet she swore to wait for the
invalid to recover his fortune, and
then marry him. They parted sew
eral years ago, at Denver, and III I'll
last December Goblin has been pur-
suing his lost fortune, when he wrOt'
her that she must come to him at
New Orleans, as he was dying. She
went promptly to his bedside, and
finally promised to marry him when
he got well. There he lay until
April, when they thought him dying,
and to make his last hours happy she
married him. A burial lot was
bought and the vault built, but Goblin
did not die. He rallied and the two
went to Waukesha to spend the sum-
mer. There relapse set in, and he
died Friday. His wife, according to
his wishes, will bury him in New
Orleans"
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
His Strange Story Ended.

A special from Milan, Tenn, to the
Louisville COurier-JOurnaL, dated
Nav 3lst, says: "Charles Goblin was
carried through this city to-day
corpse to his home in New Orleans
An attendant aud his wife, from
Waukesha, Wis, where the man
died. were with him, aud in CONVEX
satiOn with the correspondent the at
tendant related one of the queerest
and most remarkable stories on re-
cord. The dead man was but thirty
years of age, and yet his history is
Stranger than fiction, for the events
crowded intojhis short life would seem
to come only to an old man. Born
in an obscure; Mississippi town, he
married q wealthy girl when he, was
fiffeen years Of age. She died three
wears later, leaving O son and her for
tune, amounting to nearly q hall
niilion Of dollars. He grleved over
his gIrl wife's death until he became
consumptive, when he cold his es-
tates. and with his infant son, went
to California. The boy died, and the
vounQ father, having nothing to live
Tor. became reckless and squaudered
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
The Kind of Reciprocity Farmers
NaaH

The Reciprocity with the Southern
countries is advanced for the benefit
of our farmers to open more markets
for the breadstuff5 and provisions.
If its advocates are sincere in want
ing to find larger markets for agrlcul-
turaI produ is, why do they not move
for reciprocity with Europe instead
of with South America? Europe
takes from us more than 5000, 100000
in agricultural products yearly,
which is sixty times as much as the
southern countries take. If IeciplO-
city with South America would in
crease our exports so per cent.-and
it probably wOuld-it would open
market for So, 000,000 more of farm
products, and similar results, follow
ing from reciprocity with Europe,
would increase our exports OF farm
products by 5000, 900 600. Now, If the
farmer is the person to be benefited
we must look eastward, not south
ward, for markets. The best markets
for farm products are not to be found
among agricultural, but among man
ufacturing, mining, and mercantile
communities. a nation of farmers
offers the best market to manufacture
ers, and it is for that reason that re-
ciproc ty with the agricultural coun-
tries of the South is so earnest sought.
The "other products will get the
benefits, and the farmers, as usual,
will receive all the compliments of
the season.-ROger q. Mitts IN the
May Farm.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
Judge PattersOn's Charge.

Judge Patterson's charge to the
Grand Jury in Columbia, instructing
them TO make u close investigation
into the facts of the lynching of Green
Wells and return indictments against
the guilty parties. was liz the line of
his plain duty. 1t would, however,
be something marvellous should the
Grand Jury return any indictments
against the guilty parties. The de-
moralizatien of our judicial system
reacl es to the Grand Jury, and it is
frequently the case that the most
rigorous charge OF the court goes for
absolutely nothing. The Grand
Juries need reforming with the rest
OF the official machinery, which, by
it's want of action or wrong action,
encourages mob law. The ingenious
and successful methods by which the
average Grand Jury succeeds in not
discovering evidences of criminality
is one of the eleven wonders OF
modern times.-NashViILe Banner.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
The Reign of the Mob.

IAc 4hOOs
There are the fewest number of
eases where bold front and stern
purpose on the part of the officers to
defend and uphold the law at all
hazards will not quell mob, how
ever enraged and determined. There
were not enough men in Maury
County to have stOrmed and tai ken
the Columbia Jail if the Sheriff had
opposed force with force. Sheriff
Harlan is good man and brave
man, and we know that he sincerely
and deeply deplOres the terrible act
If mob. His fault vas not lack OF
courage, nor did he in any degree
yympathiZe with the spirit OF laWless
vengeance to which he yielded. he
lhrank with 4 natural horror from
shedding human blood in defense of a
iendish brute, and he reasoned that
she life of such a scOundrel was not
worth saving at the expense of the
ives of good men. The mob felt this
md acted upon it. They did not for
/ moment entertain the thought that
hey were ieopardizing their own
lives or that it would Unnecessary fol
hem to take the life OF or do bodily
harm TO any defender of the jail. Ii
they had once been made to under
stand that their exploit would be met
With armed resistance they would
nave recoiled from the thought OF
5h, d ding innocent blood as quickly
as Sheriff Harlan did. There wa snOt
| 4 man in that mob who for the sake
IF executing summary vengeance up
on a wretch whose death-doOm at the
hands f the law was surely sealed,
would have spilled drop of blood
either from his own veins or those oil
| the officers. We may as well talk
plainly about these matters. Unless
we are willing to patiently endure the
stain which these lawless proceed
ings put upon the good name of the
State, mob law must be put down. Ii
will never be put down so long a.
men understand that there is nothing
but a lock and q door to resist them
The Sheriff or jailOr who holds q
prisoner in his custody Is bound t.
defend, not the prisoner, but the law
| 1t Is q mistaken view of the case To
measure the life of worthless Vaga-
bond against that of a good man a.
excuse for surTendering him to mob.
| 1t is law and order, civilization and
government which the Sheriff l.
bound to defend. He has no right to
allow the dignity of the law to be
trampled lie leath the feet OF moi
without an effert to save aud defend
ne cannot yield peacefully to anarchy
Every mob is an insurrecJion against
government, rebellion against law
and as such il should be met and
resisted.
We know that our words will be
d 'spleasing to many, but we have
weighed them well; and we believe
that we speak in the interest of law
aud civilization when we say that a
Sheriff is bound to use whatever force
and resistance may be necessary to
protect any prisoner in his hands
Let 1t be known that he will do it and
no force will be necessary. We once
Jaw in this same town of Columbia o
band of determined citizens wreRt o
prisoner from the banda of mob aud
restore him to his cell aud we cav
them guard and defend the jail
against the widest, tieroest and most
determined mob that ever assembled
in this State. Wild as was the mob,
they paused, recoiled aud abandoned
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
Now Try This.

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Trya am le bottle at our expense
and lea. n FOR yourself just how good
Il thing il is. Trial bottle free at w.
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Large size SOC. and $1.00
[3l may % 1y
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
COMMENTS ON THE MOB.
How it is Looked Upon by
Other People.
Inlee Pnfterso,n Charge.

The plain, sensible and timely
charge Of Judge Patterson at Column
bia to the grand jury regarding the
recent lynching in that city is worthy
of thu thoughtful consideration of all
of those who think that they can live
by the la Y but that others cannot.
Think of what this able and upright
Judge says, and see how easy it is for
a second lynching to follow first and
how much easier it Is for third to
follow a second. All praise to Judge
Patterson for the bold an open stand
he has taken for the maintenance of
Jaw aud order. II we propose as
civilized white men tn live by the
law we must sI stain the law, and up
nnld the hards OF its officers. Nash
rifle Herald.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
Bucklen'S Arnica SalVe,

The best salve in the world for Cuts,
bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rhenln,
Fever Sores, letter Chapped Hands,
ChiIblaIns, Corns, and all Skin Erup-
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paw required. 1t is guaranteed to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.
Price 25 cents per box. For sale by w.
Z. WOODBRIDGE Il Co. ma&-ly.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05

their purpose rather than do violence
to men clothed with the majesty of
the law, aud not one drop of blood
was spilled.
We have not sought to single out
the Columbia tragedy as an eXcep-
tiOnal case-we wish it were. Sheriff
Harlan did as others do and have
done before him, and the fault is not
so much with him as it is with the
false idea so widely prevalent, that 1t
is better to yield TO a mob than to
meet armed force with armed force.
When men come armed with shot
guns and rifles, thereby proclaiming
their readiness to murder the officers
of the law if they dare resist, it is
time for the latter to put aside their
excessive tenderness for the physical
health of their assailants. Certain 1t
is, that If we cannot teach our officers
to act upon this view of their duty
and responsibility We may as well
fold our hands, cIose our mouths and
how our heads to the absolute despOt-
ism of King Lynch "A meFicdn.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
Voluntary Observer. u 5. Signal Service.
To DispeI Colds,

Headaches and Fevers, to clense the
costive or bilious, or when the blood il
impure or sluggish, to permanently
cure habitual constipation, to awaken
the kidneys and liver to healty ac7
tivity, without irritating or weakening
them, us,Syrup of Figs.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
Law or Lynching?

Inv VI Ay hOhAhS
The current Century, under the
title of Claw or Lynching," discusses
with special reference to the action of
the New Orleans mob the state OF
society in which such things are not
only tolerated, but justified and de-
Tended. With respect to the New
Orleans lynching, the disposition to
Justify aud even applaud the act OF
the mob was surprisingly general
Even in quarters where every act OF
violence upon Southern soil is most
unfairly stated and harshly judged
the old spirit of sectional rancor seems
to have given way to other considera-
lions; aud even the London Times
commended it as the brave act OF a
people who had not yet become etfete
a, d spiritleSs from the effects OF the
luxurious civilization OF the nine
Ieenth century.
A riot very similar to the New
Orleans massacre i'll its inception, but
unlife it in the stern, deliberate and
orderly manner in which the former
carried its purposes into execution,
Occurredsin Cincinnati in 1884. This
was precipitated by the acquittai OF
man charged with a murder almost
unparalleled in its brutality and
whose guilt was established beyond
question: aud at this time there were
4eVenty-one murderers in the county
who in the short space of two years
| nad either altogether escaped or re-
;eived very light punishment. In
aamed by this state OF affairs, the
mob attacked the jail, burned the
court house, and filled the street with
| lighting and bloodshed for two days,
at the end of which time fifty limo
cent persons had been killed, large
amount of publ and private property
destroyed, and not hair of any
murderer harmed. Never was the
folly and danger of a mob violence SC
clearly demonstrated. In regard tC
Doth these mobs it may be said In
| justification or excuse that the legal
machinery for the punishment OF
criminals had broken down complete
| ", and that the action OF the mot
! might be defended on the same prin.
ciple that the right of rebellion and
| revolution is justified when the eX'
| sting government becomes IN
rolerably tyrannicaI or corrupt. The
Century writer thinks that much OF
the failure of justice in our large
cities is due to the political power ol
the criminal classes, composed large
" of foreigners, and the pull they
| have with the powers that be, and
LAYS the b.ame for this upon the
native indifference or cowardice
which permits or encourages Ignorant
Or Vicious immigrants to be put tC
base uses for political ends. There Ii
little doubt that this Is true to very
large extent in most of the large cities
Of the North and few in the South.
and it presents in its most serious and
formidable aspect the evil OF foreign
i'm Migration. These foreigners make
very large proportion of our crimin'
ala. but unfortunately they have be-
come an Important factor also in the
making Of our laws aud In choosing
the instrumentalities for the punish
ment crime.
nut there are other communities
where the failure of justice through
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05

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For sale by all druggists.
lang 6nl-maV9-!m.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05

The malarious summer will soonbe
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less Chill Tonic and fortify yourself
against chilIs and fever, 1t is absolute
take. For sale by all druggists.
e.,.- OIL m.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
,ueut the Indignation Meeting

A public meeting was called in Co
lumbia for the purpose OF taking ac-
ton condemnatOry of the horrible
lynching which occurred there a few
LAYS ago. This is wise course aud
we trust that the effect will be to 40
impress upon the public mind the
an0rmitv Of such lawl,.sI proceedings
as to make like occurrences impossi-
nle in the future. We cannot begin
too soon to stamp out this growing
and dreadful evil, for already il
threatens to become more powerful
than public opinion or the law, and
il it be INDUCED with IMMUNITY for n
few wears more we shall drift into a
state of social Decentralization, little
better than barbarism and anarchy
1ao9Y.jcn1
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
Mob Law in Tennessee.

The ChriStiOn AdVOcate, the con-
nectional organ of the Methodist Epis-
copaI Church, South, speaks editori-
ally in this weeks issue, under the
caption mob Law in Tennessee" as
follows:
The spirit of the mob law seems to
have had q revival in this State.
Twice or thrice within the last few
weeks men have been publicly hung
without the pretense OF trial. The
last case is that of the negro, Green
Wells, who was taken from the Jail
in Columbia in broad daylight and
swung up to one of the girders Of the
Duck River bridge. That he had
been guilty OF the awful crime of as
sassinating Mr.. John Fly is beyond
doubt. He himself confessed the
fact without qualification Ofany sort.
That he deserved hanging no one will
be disposed to question. III he hau
been brought before jury, he would
have been convicted and sentenced
without the least delay. And this is
what ought to have been done. The
courts were open. Judge Patterson
promised to proceed with the inves-
tigation at once. There was not the
slightes- reason for supposing that
Justice would be defrauded. Under
all these circumstances, the action OF
the mob, taken in the face OF Ie
earnest protest OF many excellent
citizens, among whom we are glad to
see the name of Mr.. E. w. CErmack,
editor of the Nashville american,
| was particularly reprehensible. 1n
the ewes of the law the hanging of the
negro was murder, and every man
! that assisted in it has blood upon his
soul.
Mob law is anarchy. If it is tOlera
ted, society goes to pieces. The only
thing that enables US to lie down at
| night and go to sleep in peace is the
| knowledge that we are living in a
community in which there Is respect
for courts and juries. If these time
houOred institutions are set aside III
one instance, they will come to be
ignored in other instances also. II
they are dispensed with in dealing
with recognized criminals, they will
sooner or later be OVerridden al
trampled down in matters with
which upright citizens are concerned
We do not feel that we are going al
all beyond our legitimate sphere as
the editor OF religious journal IL
pleading thus earnestly tor the law
and in calling upon all good men tC
rally to It's support. 1t is, in fact
one of the cardinal points of christian
morals that civil institutions are tC
be respected, and Legislative enact
ments Obeyed, and this not merely
for wrath, but also for con cience
sake Every consideration OF per
5onal interest, of patriotism, and o
religion is an argument In 0ehalI O.
the view that we have taken.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
meteorological Record mt AshWOOd for
Nav

Highest temperature on 3lst.
Lowest temperature on 7th.-.......- 4O'
Average temperature for month oG'
Ram fall in inches So. .:....-..........6 S
No. of days on which rain fell................3
No. of days clear. II
No. of days fair.
No. OF days cloudy u
Very smoky weather 9, TO- IL, IL, 10, IA, Is, IL.
Frost on 6, 7, Sth.
Month remarkable for entire absence OF
lightning and cool nights.
Not rain enough to lay the dust since April
G.. FOSTER WILLIAMS.
Voluntary Observer. u. 3. Signal Service.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-06-05
The Columbia Lynching.

The lynching of the nrgHo, Green
Wells, at Columbia yesterday was
another utterly MUS liable deli
ance of law and order. There was
absolutely no need of mob violence
and no justification OF 1t. 1t is true
the negro had confessed that he had
committed murder, but that was no
reason why he should be murdered.
The law stood ready to punish and
execute him for the crime he had
committed. Organized society, which
has constituted courts and legal
methods of procedure, protested
against the lynching. LiwabidIng
citizens plead with the men Who were
.ublicly declaring that they intended
% break open the Jail and take the
life of the prisoner. More than this,
the Judge of the court and the prose-
cutting attorney personally assured
the people that the criminal would
be speedily brought to trial. They
wen went so far as to promise to Set
aside the regular business Of the court
and bring the prisoner to trial the
next day. But there were men there
who were determined to take ven
geance in their own n Ind5 and who
said by their ac ions, I'VE Will not
have any law over u i'm this matter
we thrust dSluc IuC y - WIN CCii
tempt. We will not wait for trial
and a legal execution. We will kill
him now and let his blood be upon
our hands" Then they battered
down the doors of the Jail, anC
dragged the trembling wretch from
his cell and put him to death.
Meanwhile the law, dishOnOred and
ieserted-her officers standing nerve
less and afraid-and with none to take
Ter Dart of all who had sworn to aiC
| md support her, stretched out he
rrms imploringly and said: "Oh
| men! 1 beg of you not to cOmmi
| his crime. Leave this wretch to MT
o Judge and punish. Make not thu
| adj mistake of believing that because
| You are many there is divided re
| possibility in this deed. Each one
| II you particip ating in this homicld
becomes personally responsible
| Upnn each one of you rests the sill
| and the guilt of the taking of human
| ire IawleseIy and needlessly and re
vengeful'y."
| And the law, UNDECIDED and dis
| houored, with none to vindicate her
| has vet to bear another burden O
contempt and ridicule. When tn
Coroner, an officer of the law, Ia
finished his mock investigation OF
killing done by unma @ked men /
| Jroad daylight in the presence OF hun
lreds of people, he and his jury WI
render the same old sham verdict
THE deceased came to his death
the hands of men unknown"
And thus it goes.-NGshUtIte Ban