Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-02-02
C. l.. Hoffman,,
J. I'll. Hill, Jr.
The Execution Ct our Criminal Laws

our State is vitality concerned in the
faithful execution of laws enacted
for the safety of their lives and
property. This proposition is so
self-eyident that its mere statement
carries conviction of its truthful-
ness to every mind of average in
telligence. Every law for the sup
preston Of crime, IN all its forms,
has penalty attached for It's viola
ton. For our officers of law to fail
to execute or eaforc. the penalties is
to make our laws to this extent null
d void,
The enforcement of law again st
offenders is not SO much to express
on the part of the State revengeful
spirit against those offending as it is
to eter othe's from the commission
of like offenseS, and thus secure the
peace Of society anl the'safety Of her
cit Ems In their enjoyment OF slife
and prol e ty,
In this connection it may lie
asked; Are our criminal laws uows
a-days as faitl fully texeculed against
offenders as they were in the times
before our lac war? Inis writer
believes not. Is there not in the
minds of many Of our people an in
creasing liberation Of crime or. con-
sequent Indifference as to punish
ment Of criminals ? How often is
it the fact in the history of oar
courts that, after the taking Of the
life Of fellow mortal by another,
the guilty go unpunished through
The influence Of money or Influential
friends? Gu laws are just and
proper, but jarvis y ho ait in judg-
.reIft - euch cases are generally
Selected by the i, fendaut not So
much to mete out ust;c9 as to give
verdict Of cot guilty = Aud alas!
for the general Welfare" of our
State. public ST tinent receiy,s
either With iuGiffereitce o: with ap-
probation the verdict of the Jury,
and a murderer is turned loose upon
societ.. What is the result? Pub
lie sentiment is dc ebuuched and hu
man life is made cheaper.
We too easily forget the crime
committed, the menace to public
morals and pels onal saft ty, while
sickly and misplaced sympathy for
the maltfac or coEdoles the cffense,
and the i" living dog" becomes. of
more value in the pubic eye and
thought than the dead lion''
Is the taking Of human life
under the form of law for any
effease contrary to the trend
of public senti" ent in this
day and generation ? Is it now
considered relic Of karbaric times
aud customs to hang man for the
murder of another? If SO, let the
Law b. changed and stop the farce
of trial by jury in capita cases where
the result of conviction is death at
the gallows. True, now AID then
verdict is rendered against the pris
oner at the bar and the poor fellow
expiates his high crime against
the peace and diguity of the State
upon the gallow>; but with'rare ex-
crptiors it Is either negro or some
grsc less Anglo Saxon who has hut
few if auv friends at Court" This
writer believes he is nei her blood
thirsty mr. vindictive,nor does lie bes
liege tha any law, human or di-
vine, has or ever viii entirely sup-
press crime, YET he does believe that
the best means to resttai'r evil doers
a L.. H.
forcement of existing laws.
The frequent lynchiugs tn -ough-
out our country, SO dlsgraceful to
our boasttd civilization, aud sub
versive Of law and old.r, are the
legitimate results of failure on the
part of iuries to convict, or undue
iufu nee exercised to obtain Execu-
tiye clemency. In this connection
your correspondent is pleased to
note the bill before the Legislature
to grade the crime OF murder, and
presented by the able member. from
Wayne, Mr.. W, r Allen. In the
present state of public sentiment
there is no doubt but that this bill
will secure more convictions than
will the law now existing. 1t is
notorious fact that Jurors often re-
fl1se to convict because of the pen
atty annexed to the crime charged
against the prisoner. This bill will
relieve this difficulty, and while it
may never be truthfully said that
no guilty NAH will go UNPUBLISHED,
yet doubt1ess more criminals. will be
conyictitea and Executive clemency.