The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-23
Is Han glng Played Out7


A number Of years ago notorious rough
Of New Y ork said that hanging was played
OUT in that city. It might be asked with a
good deal OF reason il hanging is played
outn in this and some of the other states.
In our dispatches yesterday there were &C
counts Of two homicides Of a particularly
outrageous character. One occurred at
Americas and the other near Athens. At
Americas prominent citizen was shot 70
death without justiisble excuse, and the
killing near Athens was, according to the
published account Of it, deliberate murder.
Within the last week or two a number Of
men have been killed ID Mississippi
Georgia, North Carolina and South Caro-
lima. In each instance the principals in
those fatal encounters were white men and
Of considerable prominence in their re-
spective communities.
The question arises, who is responsible for
this condition of sffairsl Are the people or
the COURTS One thing is certain. Il is that it
is very seldom that a white man is hanged,
however clearly 1t may be made to appear
that he is guilty of murder. 1t would be
difficult to find clearer clase of murder
than the killing OF David Poston by
H Clay King at Memphis. In
that case the jury did its
duty and King was sentenced to be hanged.
A sott-hearted governor. however, com
muted bis sentence to imprisonment for
life, and now it is thought there is proba-
bility that be will grant him a full pardon.
Who can say that the action of the gov
ernor of Tennessee has not led to other
murdersl It is quite certain that the failure
to punish murderers as the law directs, and
as they deserve, encourages murder. Men
of evil passions, seeing how few murderers
are punished, and, therefore. having Htsle
fear Of the law do not hesitate to crafty
their hate by taking human life.
Clearly something has got to be done to
put a stop to murders. Unless murder Is
promptly punished 1t will become as com.
mon as stealing. Human life will be held
so cheaDly that 1t will be taken on slight
provccations.
Many Of the homicides are due to the
reprehensible practice OF carrying concealed
weapons. Judge Haskell. a member of the
South Carolina legislature, said in a speech
in the lower branch of that body a few
days ago that the carrying of concealed
weapons is oowardly practice, and he is
right, The whole force of public senti-
meat should be directed against it. Those
who do not condemn it fail to do their duty
as citizens. The press and the pulpit
should make continual war upon it. In
time they might succeed in arousing such a
feeling against it that no self-respectiug
man would habitually carry a pistol in his
pocket,
In the meantime the courts should enforce
the law more vigorously, not only against
the practice of carrying concealed weapons,
but against murderers. No man guilty Of
murder should be permitted to escape the
punishment the law prescribes for that
crime.
The public is altogether too willing to let
murderers and other criminals that have in
fluence escape. Friendless criminals are
sent to the gallows or the penitentiary with
remarkable haste, but those who have in
fiuentlal friends are dealt with gently and
they often succeed in escaping punishment
altogether. There should Oe, and must be,
a change of sentiment in respect 60 this
matter. Unless there is, the standard of
morals will become so low that murderer
or thief will be able to hold up his head
among honest people.