The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-11-05


sherifof Cass county in regard 10 the
late lynehpg of Lee Green
ALoADED LETTER.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
AUSTIN, Tex, Oct -, S9l.
]. IT, i7".ar ESQ. sheriff Linden, Tea
Dear Sir Herewith | hand YOU my
proclamation Offering $1,000 reward for
me ar--. and conviction " each u'
tho leaders, and SO each fox ,Ao u
rest and conviction of the principals,
accessories and accomplices, in the
mob who, on the Goth Of this month,
OVERRIDE the law, took the negro
prisoner, Lee Green, from your Jail
and murdered him.
II this is not enough to stimilatethe
detection, arrest and conviction of
those criminals, or if you find any OBJ
structlon in your way to the full per-
torrance Of your duties in the
premises, please so inform me, that
all neediul measures may be
taken in my power to maintain
the dignity Of the constitution
and law. Every citizen charged
with felony in this state is guaran-
teed by the constitution speedy
public trial before an impartial Jury,
the right to demand the nature and
cause Of the accusation against him
and to have copy thereof, the privi-
Iege Of being heard by himself or
counsel or by both; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him, to
have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in his favor; that he shall
not be held to answer for the ofIense
unless on indictment of a grand jury;
and that cruel or unusual punishment
shall not be inflicted on him.
The prisoner was denied each and
all of these sacred rights, so solemnly
pledged TO him; for, while in the Gus
tOdy of the law, in Jail, he was taken
by a mob, burned at a stake and
murdered. If he was guilty Of the
foulest murder, each member Of the
mob is none the less guilty of like
oitense. Their crime is deepened by
the insult to the constitution and
the shame reflected by the atroci-
Gus barbarOus act on the
name of their county and ate. If he
was guilty, the m0b's action is an in
dignity to and reflection on every law
abiding juror and official in Cass
county, for it proclaims to the world
that they would not enfore the law.
If he was innocent, then the mob has
committed a crime so often inflicted
on the weak by the blood-thirsty,
brutal, strong. No citizen who loves
his life or appreciates his state can
have any respect for murderer. His
contempt must intensity when he sees
the mob return from lifeless victim
whose life has been shed while a
shackled prisoner.
There is no room for mObs in Texas,
and they must cease their criminal
raj if any virtue clings to establish
ed government. They are menace
to the life and liberty to every unpro-
tected citizen; they are enemies to the
bill of rights; they are incubators and
propagators of crime, visiting ven
geance on the defenseless. often the in
nocent, striking down the bulwarks
Of liberty and laying waste civiliza-
ton.
In these days of organized society
their fiendish work is without excuse,
and cannot be tOlera ed. The preva-
lence of mobocracy means the sub
version of law and order. The two
cannot remain in harmony. AS q
rule, the men who join mobs against
the helpless to take their lives stanc
ready to serve on the jury to acqui
an influential criminal and to pirate
about the miscarriage ofiustice. 1t is
time some of them were being brought
to trial for their crimes before honest
juries.
hope you will do your part in this
case, as I shall cheerfully perform
mine in it, and all others Of like bru-
tally and disregard Of our constitu-
ton and laws.
Awaiting your action and reply,
have the honor to be
Your obodient servant,
J. S. HoGG, Governor.