The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-03
Gazette on Brlttop.

|
matter. II was eager to rush into print
with personal accusations sgainst the
proprietor. OF the EEws-HERALD, but
when the true animus OF its own utter.
ances is revealed, it goes into convul.
sions OF wrath, not even stopping short
of cowardly thrust at the victim of
Britton's crime.
Nevertheless, the conspicuous and
we'll know facts remain. They are in.
delibly impressed on the memories OF
the people. 1t is useless to pretend
that the Gazette or its editor were i'm.
partial, or that the latter's connection
with the case would have been openly
revealed, except for the pressure which
compelled it.
| But tho merits of this matter are not
dependant upon its relation to the edi.
tor or proprietor of any paper. The
whole subject should be viewed in the
abstract. What are its bearings on good
government and the common welfare
In consequence OF family troubles an
i'll feeling sprang up between Britton
and Brown. What the offense on either
side is not essential here. The tragic
circumstances may be briefly summar..
lied as follows:
Brown is sitting in front of the Parker
House, with his chair tilted against the
wall. Britton comes out Of the hotel,
walks directly past Brown. Neither
speak. After going some fifty yards up
the street, Britton wheels about, returns
towards Brown, who sits unconscious of
his approach. As he nears Brown, he
sheers off toward the curb, in order that
his unsuspecting victim may not spring
onto and disarm him.
Suddenly Brown discovers Brittou in
front of him with pistol presented.
Instantly Britton fires, and Brown,
jumping up, runs into the hotel, follow.
ed by Britton, still firing. Brown, in
his imminent danger, seeks refuge be.
hind an open door, where Britton, clos.
ing up on him, deliberately fires the
fatal shot and waits with savage satisfac.
ton to see his victim sink, and be sure
that the deadly work is done.
Britton with plenty of money con.
tests the case desperately at every step
through the courts of Highland and
Ross, and the Circuit and Supreme
Courts. In every instance the result is
adverse to him. At last, he has only
succeeded in saving his neck from the
halter by the Herculean efforts of able
attorneys and mercy unsanctioned by
the letter of the law.
A little over year ago, Britton was
sent to the penitentiary under life
sentence. Now comes a Ross county
divine, whose tenderness exceeds his
good judgment, and asks that Britton
be pardoned. Immediately the Gazette
with its mate venom, imagining thai
such step would annoy business com
pe.itor, shouts, s - - -. :
eyes, pardon himp
( Notwithstanding his anquestionet
r guilt, the Gazette would let him go.
Notwithstanding it has cost the tax
payers some $40, 900 to secure the sen
tence of the law, the Gazette would sc
it aside.
Notwithstanding the man who so de
liberately murdered Brown, has express
, ed his determined purpose to kill sew
eral of Browns relatives, the Gasetl
: would let him 60.
Even though it knew his threat
+. would be fulfilled tomorrow, it woul'
say. LET him Co."
] Is that the protection to which societ.
!, is entitled?
4 Is that q course by which to creat
t respect for the laws of the land?
!. 1t is such things that lead to lack Q
:. confidence in the legal administrator
: of criminal affairs and tempt people t
make sure of results by taking the pun
ishment Of crime into their own hands
The case of Jones, the Clermont muI
" derer, whose crime was no more delhi
crate than Britton's, may serve to illus
t trate. Four times he has been trie
= ! ouu 0OAeOACOu w uO0SuS onO bIAA tu
}. execution is delayed, that his attorney
d may argue for fifth trial. None q
J. these additional trials are because of an
t question as to his guilt, but because q
: trivial technicalities. The DEGREES G
: justice have been thwarted for year.
n and it isn't strange that the people q
r Clermont have, in u measure, lost tina
8 respect which they once considered du
J. the majesty of the law. Should anothe
such murder occur, who could he sur
prised if they should say, "We'll atten
to this ourselves"
- Society is entitled to protection.
this is accorded by the Courts, then wei
and good. If not, then comes danger
GUS contempt for legal methods.
At best it is heavy task to convict
criminal with money, no matter wha
:, his crime. Every possible contingenc