Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-15

ntolligcutly hut the man Who assaults
another with pistol or knife expects no
return ~ kind Unlike him who strikes
with FIST or such weapon and who may
confidently expect TO receive return,
the fellow who pulls the trigger means
To put II out Of the power Of his adVer-
sQry TO do him any harm Ia return.
Hence Texan hsthghts or Quarrcls take
the form Of shootings or stabbings and
awful crimes multiplied are the result
But so far as we Gun judge from re-
suits OF trials or of failures 60 bring TO
trial the criminals vicious aud violent,
who are giving such a character to our
fair state, the assured freedom from
amy serious penalty OF the murderer or
man slayer, seems 10 be- the most prcg-
nant cause Of the present condition Of
things
Let man be- assured that he can so
easily and nc so little risk of loss on
suffering vent his rage ON his victim
ana finding Il easier TO shoot than TO
restrain his wrath homicide or murder
follows. And every unpublished murderer
every acquitted man-slayer. brings into
activity others OF their kind.
You ask. why are the not pun
ishcdE' How many care I'm thrce months
after % murder Is committed whether or
not themurdercr pays the penalty for
| bis crimct
Who takes any interest IN the enforce
J ment of the existing lawsy Who viii
! turn aside FROM his own pursuits ana
bear the obloquy Of looking after the
! prosecuting attorney or even encourage
ing such II one in his duties and stand
| ing by him through the hghti
| Is there not deep down In the soul Of
| the mass of the people an opposition 10
| capital punishment the thought. why
/ two dead men instead Of oncY that
| dcters prosecutors from pressing their
| uuI an att kftl ms
executing verdict which means death
! 10 another man.
FINALLY you ask: "what IL the
rcmcdyW We feel that in solving so
great q problem we can ouly humbly
! suggest:
is there law upon our stntute books
| against the carrying of deadly wcnpOnsf
Have il enforced at any cost Let every
good citizen comply with IL himself and
! never hesitate for moment by com
| plant against any known transgressOr,
10y moral aud actual support OF prosccu-
ton, uphold the hands Of the authori-
ties In the enforcement of such laws.
And SO of the laws on our statute
books against murder or acts OF violence.
Let no guilty man escape. In the Jury
box. nj the court room, In socinl inter
course with the guardians of the peace
and the eXpoundcrS and executors OF
law use every influence for the enforce
mCnt of law existing.
Socinlly Osuucse every shyster law
yer and Danish into exile ever attorney
who prostitutes his Office for the defenc,
Of notorious criminals.
Finally lot the press of The state fol
low the lead of The Gazette and thunder
against violence and disregard TO law
plead for the fur fnme Of our common
wealth until under the mighty inilucnc,
of the press and the agency of the pulpit
aud Ia the family circle the poOpl,
stertcd by the week day nud SahhHtl
appeals of these two mighty agents Shnl
arise In their might and cry as one man
Tho laws shall aud must Dee enforced.
With regard to crimes other than muir
der and aggravated assault, our answe
TO your queries Is contained IN TN
above article minus the portion refer
ring TO carrying dangerous or concealed
REV. w. f. LLOYD
You request me 10 answer these ques
tons: Why the continuance of the grea
crimes that have recently married IN
record Of our statei Why are they no
punished? What IL the remedy T
answer those fully would, perhaps, r.
quirc moro OF your space than Is nc M
command. | venture briefly few sul
gcstiOns.
The prevalence and continuance O
grave crimes Is due TO variety Q
/ causes.
I. All crime of course finds its origl
In the nntiye depynyity of the huma
, heart.
I 2. There seems to be periods whe
. crime assumes an epidemic type AN
without any known adequate reaso
affects large numbers Of people. TIL
country is surely suffering from "A
epidemic ut this time.
O. The shocking crimes that have bee
NJ lat tt
j., stances TO causes, which, though seen
, inely remote, are really close nc ham
. and are entirely within the ensy cOutr
, Of the people. ! mention three or four
. The sale of Intoxicating liquor
(, This Is universally admitted TO be q
! most crime-proyoking agency on eurth.
4 The attempt 10 meet out Justice
4 criminals by mob.law. Mob-lnw Is itse
! % criIae. One hundred men hnye no mo-
I right 10 take the life Of fellow bein
j. without due process Of law, than one mD
d has II two men ororpoWer and N
4 another man II Is murder. II one Ian
4 dred men do the same thing IN the saii
way Il Is only murder Mob-lnw new
Increases, but always decreases the =
spect OF the masses for law. Tho loa
cal inference Is, II one hundred men "a
= break tie law, one man eau DO Il lik
y wise, aud thus the majesty OF the M
Is degraded ln the eyes Of the people
"a The publication 10y one daily ana Wee
y ~ paper of the minute details Of Grim
= and all mrnishod with flaming hci
! lines and slckening' phrases Is one
the most fruitful methods Of increasil
!, crime, BY this process, q gltiated tas
= Is cultivated crime " seen TO be nj
\ sbie, and the public Is educated M
y the horrible details Of how 10 cOnm
z crime. Many poor fellow comedy,
I the Idea % committing crime. m
u learned how 10 do II, by reading Il
= account Of some other crime In a new
paper.
y The failure 10 enforce the laws for d
= punishment Of criminals, leaves 9th
y men free 20 commit the same crms
q The law has lost its deterrent pow
~ because II iH 70 rarely enforced. Tile
y are probably defects Inherent ~ our g
u listing laws concerning murder, and tri
y by juIg, etc., that need correcting. IN
q I leave for oar legal friends 70 w0
Y out A healthy sentiment. howoy,
le concerning the importance OF piliiishl
criminals would sOon work a wonieri
y change in ihe way Of enforcing cxisu
~ laws
" Now IS 70 The rcmedyi
Let every pulpit Ia the land alta
le sin IN ~ its forms especially the
IA ~ aof puforfinQ atiaiinR lava