The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-17
"As the Doomed Man 10 Well Con-
nected."

The Spartanbnrg Headlight, peoples pa
Der, which is fighting for the people OF SINAI
degree, as against people OF greater weaitn
education and influence, In speaking
George w. Turner, now under sentence
death at Spartanburg for the murder Oh nl
brother-in-law, among other things, has tnii
to say, presumably in palliation OF the crime
and in sympathy for the criminal:
"This is one Of the saddest cases In the Grim
inal annals OF our county, as tne ooomsu sn maI
IL we'll connected and has wife and seVera
children, who must keenly feel his iate.
This doomed man." We believe. shot an IN
offensive laborer, ruined his wife's sister, and
afterwards shot and killed his wifes brother
in.lsw.
Instead Of the respectable connection being
a cause for sympathy with the criminal, In
such instances, It should add TO his condem
nation. Surrounded and supported BY
wealth, position and respectab!lity he is the
more TO be condemned for his frequent dc
scent into the channels Of crime.
A poor, uneducated, friendless wretch com
mits crime and may be punished without re-
sret, but a rich and purse-proud fend may
give vent to his evil passions 10 the injury ol
his poor neighbor, while some newspapers
and their correspondents write or the respect
ability OF the criminal, or the social standing
of bis relatives, as Ii such respectability and
such social standing vouchSafes the right to
XIII and injure the poor at their own sweet
will.
II has been remarked that very large per
cent. of the crimes that are daily recorded In
tho newspapers are said TO be committed by
"prominent," or respectable" or "highly re-
spectacle" people. :, ~
may be pleaded in extenuation for murder
vice, ,!lawlessness, and shameful crimes.
; 4 II come friendless citizen, without money
and respectable connection, had committed
either OF the crimes with which Turner has
been charged no would no doubt have been
punished long ago. .t..
Would he not have been hanged
for the frat offence? and would not the news
papers in forcible language have spoken OF
the enormity OF the crime and in justifica-
tion OF the punishment
But here, q rich and presumptuous citizen
kills his neighbors and ruins his kinswoman
in the most shocking manner-and all this Is
spoken OF in bated breath. .-.
with the laboring man as against the edu'
Gated class-speaks Of sadness" "wife," and
..childrep," OF the "well connected" criminal,
who has shocked in the highest sense morali-
ty and decency, and slain innocent blood.
According TO the Headlight, man Of Tur-
ner's wealth and respectabiiity ought to be
excused, and in Difference to that respectable
ty somebody ought to suggest to the Cover
nor the propriety OF pardoning Spartanburg. !.
greatest offender against both the moral and
The statute laws.
The Headlights sympathy is not an excep.
ton to the general rule. 1t Is very much af.
ter the stel eleolyped style that has prevailed in
the newspapers for the last ten years, and It Is
only remarkable that Reform" newspaper
should fall into line with the regulation or.
thodox Democratic newspaper in smoothing
over the crimes OF respectable" people, while
the other class Of violators OF the law gener-
ally get q very different kind OF certificate OF
character. =!
In connection with this, we would say that
the newspapers are too ready TO give certih-
cate OF character to those whose name they
may mention with crime or incident II q
fire breaks ont in city. where is the necessi-
" Of giving the owner or occupant Of the
premises q certificate OF charscter-either
good or. bads II the occupants are Of ILL
fame, or II strict members Of the church, is Of
NO sort OF public concern. Why give criini-
mails certificates Of character-either for good
or Tor bad7 ~ -.
Character Is sacred. The public are not In.
tsres.ed in having writer say, in general
way, that such and such criminal is OF IN
savory character, or that he is "bad negro" {"
II deemed OF sufficient interest. 1t might be
stated that this is the first, or the second, or
the third offence; or 1t might be permissible
to state any other facts, but matters Of com.
ment or opinion or judgmentto favor or pref
udiee the Interests Of the criminal are out OF