Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-02

murderous guilt of the highwayman or the
assassin. There have been three lynchings
of negroes in the state since Governor
Hogg's Inauguration. and in each case he
has offered rewards for the apprehension
and conviction of the lynchers. In one case
rs many as thirty lynchers now stand in
dicted for murder, and will soon be tried
under that charge. The burning at the
stake of the negro Lee Green at Linden
was the last case that excited the govern
or's wrath against lynch law, as the follow
ing letter will show.
THE GOVERNORS LETTER.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
AUSTIN, TEX, Oct. 30, 1891.
1. H. Lanier, ESQ., Sheriff, Linden, Tex.
DEAR SIR-Herewith l hand you my
proclamation offering $1,000 reward for the
arrest and conviction of each of the leaders,
and 800 each for the arrest and conviction
of the principals, accessories and accom-
pliceS in the mob who, on the 26th day of
this month, OVERRIDE the law, took the ne
gro prisoner, Lee Green, from your Jail and
murdered him.
If this is not enough to stimulate the de-
lection, arrest and conviction OF those GRIM
inals, or if you find any obstruction in your
way to the full performance of your duties
in the premises, please so inform me, that
all needful measures may be taken within
my power to maintain the dignity of the
constitution and laws. Every citizen
charged with felony in this state is guar
anteed by the constitution a speedy, public
trial before an impartial jury; the right to
demand the nature and cause of the accusa
ton against him and to have acopy thereof;
the privilege of being heard by himself or
counsel, or by both; to be confronted with
the witnesses against him; to have compul-
sorry process for obtaining witnesses in his
favor; that he shall not be held to answer
20, ~ Nffa on ind atr mont Of n
grand jury, and that cruel or unusual pun
ishment 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 custody of the law in
jail, he was taken by a mob, burned at
stake and murdered. If he was guilty of
the foulest murder, each member of the
mob is none the less guilty of like offense.
Their crime is deepened by the insult to
the constitution and the shame reflected by
the atrociOuS, barbarOus act on the name of
their county and state. If he was guilty
the mob's action is an indignity to and re-
Election on every law abiding juror and Off
cial in Cass county, for it proclaims to the
world that they would not enforce the law.
If he was innocent, hen the mob has COM
mitted a crime so often inflicted on the weak
by the bloodthirsty, brutal, strong mo citi-
zen who loves his own life or appreciates
his state can have any respect for muir
derer. His contempt must Intensity when
he sees the mob return from lifeless vic
tim whose blood has been shed While
shackled prisoner.
There is no room for mobs in Texas, and
they must cease their criminal raids if any
virtue clings to established government.
They are a menace to the life and liberty of
every unprotected citizen; they are enemies
to the bill of rights: they are incubators
and propagators of crime, visiting VEN
= l,1El off %IN
cent, striking down the bulwarks of liberty
and laying waste to civilization.
In these days of organized society," their
fendish work is without excuse and can
not be tolerated. The prevalence OF mob
ocracy means the subversion of law and
order. The two cannot remain in har-
mony. AS rule the men who join mobS
against the helpless to take their lives
stand ready to serve on jury to acquit an
influential criminal and 10 pirate about the
miscarriage of justice. 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 l shall
cheerfully perform mine in it and all
others of like brutality and disregard of
our constitution and laws
Awaiting your action and reply, l have
the honor to be, your obedient servant,
j.. S. HoGG, Governor.
There have been two train robberieS
since the governors Inauguration, and in
each instance the robbers have been run
down and caught. These results, with 9TH
ers that might be mentioned, show that law
lessness and crime will find Jordan hard
road to ira vel under his administration.
SOME DISSATISFACTION.
There was so me dissatisfaction here, or
surprise at least, when it became known
that the captain of the ranger force, which
ran down and caught them, and killed one
of the train robbers in Southern Texas, had
turned them over to the Federal authorities
at El Paso. 1t was thought that they would
be surrendered to state authorities, to be
dealt with under the state law. But a let
ter from the captain of the rangers states
that his reason for putting the prisoners in
the hands of the Federal authorities, was
that they were arrested under warrant
sent him by the United States marshal at
Ell Paso, the only legal authority in his
possession when the capture was made. As
he had killed one of the robbers, he felt
that safety to himself could be assured only
by the protection of the Federal warrant, q
view Of the case that is considered here
proper and sensible enough.
It is understood that the robbers have
been indicted by the Federal grand jury for
robbing the mails, and will doubtless be
convicted and sent to the penitentiary, in
which event full justice will have been
meted out to the prisoners. 1t was at first
thought that they would be held only for
OBTAINING the mail, which is not peniten-
tiary offense. e But, If that were the case,
the state could afterwards take them in
hand and punish them for train robbery.
COTTON COMPRISING.
The question of cotton COMPRISING, or
rather an adjustment of the rates on cotton
with reference to COMPRISING, has given
the commission more or less trouble tor
some. time and is still doing so. Two or
three different circulars have been issued
from time to time making plain to the roads
the intention Of the commission, which,
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