The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-19
HUMAN LIFE TOO CHEAP.

According W TIE selleuee VI eHo
law two white persons, man and
woman, were to have been hanged in
Chesterfield last Friday, and judging
from the history of the crime as pub
ished, the degraded ana immoral
condition of the parties concerned,
and the opinion of the Judge and So
hvitor as expressed to the governor,
we think they both deserved hanging.
The woman was charged with having
poisoned her husband, and the man
with aiding her in it, the object being
to get the woman's husband out Of
the way, so that these two degraded
beings could continue unmolested
their lustful practices. The details OF
the crime are disgusting and re-
voting in immortality and brutal
ity. The jury found them guilty, and
the Judge and solicitor declined to
recommend them to mercy. A petl-
ton, however, was gotte1. up by some
citizens, and numerously signed, ask
ing for pardon. The governor was
moved to tenderness, and wanted to
show mercy, but hesitated. He final
ly bethought him to put them to
final and fearful test, and in case they
stood out to the last, to respite them.
The condemned criminals were car
r;ed to the scafold, had their arms
bound, the rope placed around their
necks, and all ready for the fatal
drop, when, they still stoutly protest
ing their innocence and claiming a
speedy welcome into the heavenly
home, were granted reprieve by the
governor, his private secretary having
been present all the time with the re-
prieve in his pocket. Had they con-
fessed to the murder, of course no re-
prieve would have been made public,
and the hanging would have taken
place, but they, having stood the test,
and no confession having been made,
>were reprieyed, and have since had
their sentences commuted to impris-
onment for life.
Thirteen years ago, in Hampton's
administration, similar test is said
to have been made with an Abbeville
regro.
Such things to sensitive mind, IN
free American State, make revolt
ing impression. 1t savors too much
of the practices of the olden times
when might made right. Human life
is too sacred thing to be trifed
with. 1t is too far below the dignity
OF a governor. 1t encourages deceit
and lying, for hereafter the hope will
always be held out to the condemned
criminal that if he will only protest
his innocence to the last he will not
be hanged. We doubt the advisable
ity of capital punishment, but either
let the law be repealed or else its
judgments carried out. Our govern
ors have become a law unto them
selves, and if by accident jury does
rendera verdict OF guilty, the chances
are in their favor that they will be
pardoned, unless perchance it be some
poor wretch who can get no friends
to help him.
r It seems to US that when in due
process of law, after the accused has
had every opportunity to make his
defense, and the jury has found a ver-
dict of guilty, that, except in cases of
undonbted proof that the prisoner IS
not guilty Of the crime charged, the
governor should not interfere. The
paraonipg power vested in the gov
:ornor was never intended simply to
show mercy, but to assist in maintain
ing justice, and unless strong and un-
deniable evidence is brought out, that
was not or could not be brought out
ON the trial, then the governor should
never interfere, and in all cases where
interference is made, it should be
done by the advice of the jury, So
lieitor and Judge who heard the case,
and they should be put on their
oaths before the par1oniug is done.
Either our laws must be respected
and the verdicts of the juries sustain
ed, or else let us abandon the law and
evidence in the case, and be governed
altogether by the wealth and influence
of the accused. Then we shall have
justice and cruelty for the poor, mer-
cy and licentiousness for the rich.