The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-09
AFTER THE TRAGEDY
PARIS SETTLES DOWN TO THINK OVER
THE DAYS WORK.
A Feeling Of Satisfaction Pervades the Com.
munity-No Fear of Prosecution-The
Governors Efforts Considered
Horse Play or Political
Clap Trap.
special to The Statesman.

PARIS, Tex, FEB. 2.-It is just one
week tonight since Henry Smith COM
mitted his crime, and there is scarcely
a thing to be seen or noticed by one
unaware of past incidents to indicate
the scene of which this place was so
recently the theater. Today the only
thing that has been much discussed
has been the Geographic communica.
| ton between Governor HOgg and the
| local officials. The comments are as
many and various as there are ways
OF human thought. With the sober
thoughted and considerable it is re-
garded that Hogg felt that some notice
must be aiken of the events that were
30 rapidly sweeping across the stage,
and yet felt too thai, 81 far as efficient
interference was concerned, he was
was powerless; that no move of his
but would meet checkTate, and
and hence he confined himself to the
usua' formal Proclamation, and there
exists little serious belief that any
step will be taken to bring the people
to the bar of the courts.
The reaction fir I'M the calm delibera.
ton and set purpose that preceded
the act is beginning to show Itself,
and any interference now by the au.
thorities would only tend to- renew the
spirit. That its thirst is satisfied is
becoming quiescent and disastrous rs-
suits would ensue, aud there is a time
for speech, fol action and for silence
Now is the time for silence, and was
expressed by one representative citi
zen: gall Lamar county pleads guilty,
if any guilt there be, in meeting justice
to so fiendish an act" and he might
as well have added that when Lamar
county stood in the dock many from
her sister counties would bear hel
company.
Others say that if the governor
really cared to interfere he could have
done so by securing such instructions
from Governor Fiahback of Arkansas
as would have prevented Smiths de,
livery by the Arkansas officers to the
citizens posse, as they were without
warrant, extradition or other process
of law, or that with early notice, even
proceeding Smiths capture, given
through the press, of the fate that
awaited him, he could have massed 8
force on the ground and have prevent
Ell the eab rate preparations and de
liberate execution, if not secured hin
to the hands of the law.
Others say, "Oh, well, the governor
il just making a play; don't ses how
he can do anything else" and 80 il
goes. AS to the event itself there il
no dissent. AS Hon. j. G. Hodge;
id tonight: Like all men of my
profession, [ have the deepest rever
ence for the law, ano have II my lie
been a steadtast opponent of lynch
law, aud am yet, but this matter wa,
one that rose higher than the law
The punishment may have been ter
rible, but so was the crime, and whel
thought of pity comes for the wretch
who suffered yesterday there arige:
the vision OF the torn and mangIeC
form of that baby The act was the
act of the people, and Lamar county
, must and will back il "
50 said others. If it il said that the
torture was extreme and equalled the
days religious persecution in The
middle ages or the New England
witch branding and of later day
, they answer, so was the crime great
er than ever was knOwnu-to the
burned and blfstered form of Smith
they plead the rent and maugleC
d child. Ii is impossible to put in print
what Smith did to tina: child. Hel
limbs were pulled apart till The
hips were broken aud with his hand.
! she was torn asundsr. When he wa.
arrested and examined on his under
wear was the compress of hel
little body and limbs printed in hel
| own blood.
, 1t has been stated that Smith wal