The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-26

That the findings Of the iuries of the
Hastings Court in the last three i'm
portant cases brought before them have
been travesties upon justice is very evil
dent TO those who know the circum-
stances OF the affairs and, aside from the
considerations of technicalities of the
law, have formed their own opinions
upon the matters. 1t will be very diff
cult to convey to the outside world
whose eyes have been critically fastened
upon Roanoke since September 90 last
an absolute apology for these findings.
They will prove another blow to blacken
the eye already badly bruised by those
acts OF lawlessness.
In the first instance, men who were
by the evidence proven to be leaders of
the mob or active participants therein,
found guilty to be sure, but such a
punishment was imposed as will convey
the impression that the jury or the
citizens OF the city 80 sanctioned those
acts Of lawlessness that aim ost the least
possible punishment-a punishment
which in itself is almost vindicstion-
is imposed
Punishment is inflicted primarily
upon criminals to prevent the repetition
of acts Of lawlessness. OF what weight
as examples will the penalty inflicted
upon those found guilty as rioters be
in preventing future occurrency of a
similar nature under Incentives OF the
slightest or most pronounced degree.
The change in feeling among the greater
of the citizens it would seem has not
been SO pronounced against the acts of
lawlessness as there was reason, after
the first heat Of passion sd passed, to
suppose.
Wherein lies the trouble in this find
ing and in the subsequent verdicts in
the cases of Loving, on trial for
larceny from the bank in which hs was
paying teller, and in those of Terry
and Griffin, who were indicted as &C.
cessories before the fact to the lynch
ing OF the negro? We're these men
guilty? The jury rendered a verdict
that they were not and the matter is
settled.
An indictment does not prove that a
man is guilty 1t often assumes that
there are strong grounds for thinking
tnat those against whom bills are found
are guilty but it is not proof positive
ana those men stand acquitted by law
OF the crimes charged against them.
Wherein lies the trouble? The com.
monwealth's attorney has not really
won case. The TIMES belieyes that
the prosecutor for the State should not
be judged by the number of cases ne
loses. He is there to further the enda
OF justice, and, IL the State has the
wrong end of the argument in securing
Justice, then it is far better that it lose
every case rather than to urge conyic.
tion and punishment upon an innocans
man.
In the cases which have been before
him in the past week the common
"ealth's attorney has been handicapped
by the inability to obtain witnesses to
prosecute the cases turned over to him
py the grand jury, the Indie tments OF
which may have been founded upon
nearsay' and handicapped by the testi.
mony OF the witnesses upon whom he
depended for his important evidence
The following are some of the press
comments upon the verdict.
Frsm the Petersburg Index-Appeal.
The jury which rendered the absurd
verdict in the case of the men tried At
Roanoke for participation in the dis
graceful and bloody riot in that city has
by no means rendered service to the
cause flaw and order. or three men
who were among the leaders in thar
riot, one has been sentenced TO thirtv
days in jail and fined one hundred dol.
1are; two others TO one day in Jail, and
the fourth acquitted. This is prepos