The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-20

Editor Of The Times:-Your editorial
article in Sundays issue headed THE
Amelia Lynching" is we'll as far as it
goas, but why do you not turn your
batteries upon the law which counte-
ma ICES the ineXcusable dellys which
| characterize this case?
jesse Mitchell, a burly brutal look
ing negro Of twenty-five years, was ar
| rested more than twelve months aSo for
the crime committed upon the person Of a
frail and delicate looking little white
girl Of twelve years of age He was
twics tried by jury Of his countrymen.
composed OF men Of both races. and
twice convicted and condemned TO death.
The evidence against him was conclusive,
being only opposed by his own state
ments. The first time thu case was
taken to the Court OF Appeals, not on
a certificate of the evidence. but solely
upon technicalities, and that Court set
aside the verdict on the ground that
the clerk had failed to certify properly
the record from the County TO the Cir
cult Court and that the deputy sheriff
had failed TO sign the name OF his
principal 20 his return Of the writ OF
venire faeias.
The second time the Circuit Court set
aside the verdict on the ground that the
clerk who is clerk Of the county as we'll
as the Circuit Court signed his name to
the writ as clerk Of the County instead
of the Circuit Court. The case was set
for trial again at a future day of the
same term, but the night before the
day set for trial the last act I'm the hor-
ribe tragedy was played by actors who
appeared unannounced and disappeared
as mysterlorsly as they came.
The writer OF this rode into the viii
lage from his home about one mile out,
passed entirely through TO the blacksmith
shop, TO have his horse shod. and just
before reaching the shop raised his eyes
TO find the corpse Of the negro dangling
from the limb of a pine tree Immediately
in front OF the shop. This was o'clock
I'm the morning and yet this shocking
sight was the first intimaton he had
Of it. our people are known far and
wide as peaceable, law abb ling citizens.
Never before did such a thing occur I'm
this county What produced the change?
/ will tell you what in my opinion
caused It, This wretch had been accord
ed two trials and was each time con-
victed. The first time he denied the
whole thing. The second time he changed
his story and alleged the consent Of
this poor little child and her submits
sion 10 his lust. and II was understood
that the third time ne proposed 20 bring
witnesses to prove negro witnesses. mark
YOU that they had been intimate with
her. Twice had this little white girl Of
respectable lineage been brought into
court and exposed 10 the fearful ordeal
Of cross-examination on such a subject
as that. The last time the brute himself
confronted her with the charge Of pros
titution. and the third time she was to
have other negroes add their foul SLAM
ders In co Irt Of justice 10 sustain the
statement Of the wretch on trial.
Now ] do not Justify the terrible viola
ton Of law Of which you complain. All
good citizens must deplore the increasing
tendency Of the people 10 take upon them
selves the punishment Of crime. It's
unreasonable tendency IS 10 the perver-
sion Of all law, but there must be some
thing radically wrong in the law itself,
or In its administration. 1t was not I'm
the administration Of the law in this In
stance. We have an able prosecuting
attorney. who always does his duty With
out fear or favor. Our clerk is one Of
the best in the State and his errors,
If errors they were. might have been
committed by any one. and We're trivial
I'm the extreme. The same may be said
Of the sheriff and his deputies. and yet
this revolving trial was prolonged beyond
all reason cruelty narrowing and wound
ing the child herself, outraging and
shaming her kindred. and shocking the
moral sense and arousng the race senti-
ment OF q people who feel that come
what may. their wives and daughters
must and shall be protected against the
lust OF brutes in human shape. who
know no law and acknowledge no re-
straint. and lie In wait for the innocent
child mt play or the unprotected wife I'm
her home. Let our law makers enact
such laws as will prevent any new trial
from being granted save for matters
touching the merits Of the case, and
provide for a speedy and fair trial Of all
rape cases. and that will 20 far TO remedy
the evil II II does not cure II. Turn your
batteries on the law and on the law
makers. Mr.. Editor Our people have
been long suffering. They did not strike
until two fair trials had been had. nor
until all fair minded men were satisfied
81 the mans guilt They were wrong
They violated law. They should have
waited yet longer and indeed. never
should have taken the law into their own
hands. but let us not deny the great
provocation. and confess that I'm such
cases the average citizen Is AT least ex-
cusable for losing faith I'm legal process.
Let us amend our criminal laws and wipe
out all hooks and corners Of the noble
edifice where such miserable bubbles and
cohwebs and farcical technicaliues may
be hung. TO the disgrace Of our jurispru-
dence and the Generalization Of our
people. CITIZEN.