The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-10-22
AN IMPRESSIVE CHARGE.
Judge Wickes Severity Rebukes
Violence and LaWiesSnesS

Tue CHCuiG SOuTL IoI hehI CouhGy ao
Chestertown on Monday, Judge Wickes
made a very timely and forcible charge
to the jury, the immediate suggestion of
the charge being the spirit of lawlessness
in that community which resulted in the
lynching of colored man in the streets
of that town, and the pending trial OF the
alleged murderers of DR.. Hill at Milling
ton. The Judge said:
Before you retire, gentlemen of the
grand jury, it is my duty to direct your
attention to those cases which you will
be called upon to investigate and in refer
ence to which you should receive the
advice and instruction of the court.
Ordinarily it is only necessary to direct
yonr attention to the rules which should
govern your deliberations, as the cases
before you are usually of a plain char.
acter and the law applicable to them
familiar TO you.
Since the last grand jury was in session
a most atrocious murder has been CON-
mitted in this county, which not only
shocked the community in which ii
occurred, but the circumstances were
such as to create a feeling OF uneasiness
and insecurity among the people of this
cornty and throughout the whole State.
Ga the night of the Esd of last April DR..
J. II. Hill, who resided in the town OF
Millington, in this county, was sent fol
to visit n person who had been taken
suddenly i'll, and who resided some dis
lance from that town. With prompt
obedience to the summons he started in
his carriage on his errand of mercy, but
had proceeded only a short distance
when he was attacked by band OF
ruffians, who had waylaid him on the
public road and brutally murdered him.
| am informed that eight or nine persons
were present when the terrible deed wax
committed. How many, and who, parti
cipated in committing the act either b
striking the blows which caused the
death of DR.. Hill, or who aided or assist
pu. VI III any thSs'
who assaulted him, you must determine
after careful and patient examination
of the witnesses who will be before
you.
To constitute tho crime of murder, i
is not necessary that the party charged
should strike the fatal blow; but all WHIT
in any manner aid or assist or counsel o.
encourage the one who strikes the blow
are equally guilty. There is reason tt
suppose that plot to murder DR.. Hill
had been entered iato by those, WHIT
assailed him, with others who were no
present, when the terrible deed was com
mltted. If such is the fact, if there ar,
others-no matter how many-who enter
ed into a plot or agreement to take hi
| life, or who advised or counselled those
who assaulted him, they are guilty o
murder, although not present when tn
fatal blow was struck. l charge yol
gentlemen, to probe this matter to thu
bottom. Calmly and patiently investi
gate the facts and bring to light ever.
circumstance connected with that bruta
murder. Let no guilty man escape
but let all who participated, directly o.
indirectly, in that terrible tragedy b
punished.
A few weeks after the murder of DR.
Hill another lawless act, to which
sm it my duty to call your attention
vas omffrtted in this county. L refe
to the mob of disguised men, which o
the night of the 1::s+hS Of last May broke
into the county jail and took Ss.le eas 9
from the custody of the sheriff, u pris-
oner, and hanged him short distance
from the prison. The man thus snm
marilys dealt with was charged witt
a heinous crime, and had he been triee
and convicted, would have deserved t
suffer the extreme p3nalsy OF the Law.
But that did nos justify band of law
less men, in setting at defiance the Law
of the land or in depriviug their victim
| of that protection to those rights which
| the constitution of the State guarantees
to the most humble citizen. Tie con
| stitution of the United States provides
IL 1t no person shall be held to answe
for Il capital or otherwise infamou
crime unless on a presentment or indict
ment of grand jury; nor be deprived o
life, liberty or property without dn'
process of law. The Bill of Rights o
this State declares, that the constitution
| of the United States shall be the supreme
law of the State; and that the judges O
this State and all the people thereof shall
be bound thereby. Our Bill of Right
also declares that no man ought to b
deprived of his life, liberty or property
but by the Judgment of his peers aud b.
the law of the land; and that in al
criminal prosecutions every man has
right to be informed of the accusation
against him, to have a copy of the indict
ment and due time to prepare for Ii
defense; to be confronted with the wit
nesses against him and to speedy tria
by an impartial jury, without who's
unanimous consent he ought not to b
found guilty. These, gentlemen, ar
the fundamental principles upon whic
al. free governments must rest, and with
out which there cannot be any securit
for life or liberty.
In defiance of these plain provisions c
the constitution, the mob to which
have referred assumed the right
punish, without indictment or trial,
prisoner who was at the time in the cns
tody of the law and under its protection
Such acts cannot be excused or tolerated
To do so, wonld overthrow all law an
substitute in It's place absolute anarch,
Lynchiug is a reproach to any con
, munity; it impeaches the adequacy {
> our institutions for the punishment
CRIME; it brutalizes those who participa
in it and brings shame and disgraC
upon our Christian civilization. 1t
= my duty to say to you, that all who pa
y ticipated in committing that act a
guilty of murder, aud it is your duty
A.. ascertain, if possible, who are the gull
parties and to indict them for the Grin
which they committed.
9 b Buckingham Dye for the Whiskers
2 the haat handiest safeet stIreat.s.. clao No