The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1895-08-07
CAN TT BE TRUES

corruption OF the courts so snocK-
ing in their details that, in the
reading Of them, reason becomes
almost palsied. The fearless and
unbought newspapers, ever on
the alert with watchfui eyes,
point out the eases III which JUS
tice miscarrics and caution mod
Grafton The thousands upon tens
Of thousands Of cases where justice
is lneted out, and where the law
in its supreme, majesty is fully and
wholly vintlicated, occasion no
surprise and evoke no comment.
These numerous eases seem to
neither point i moral nor be pro-
per subjects for discussioL--either
pro or con. so it is, as We had
before understood it, that the PEST
mistic dispepsia-laden and dis
gruntled man found a happy
chance to quarrel with his orti-
mistic brother, and swear that tie
world was going to the eternal
bow-wows and saltpeter could not
save it.
But the question appears to be
no longer a one-sided one, but
iram the evidence adduccd il 10,
comes painfully and shockingly
apparent that the rcssimist is Oh
the right track, aud until We hear
the other side We must conclude,
though reluctantly We do it, that
the world, so far at least as North
Carolina i concerned, i not grow
ing better but stands upon the
brink Of = precipice-its social
fabric seriously threatened IL no.
destroyed. No better paper and
no ADLER paper than the States
vile Landmark is found in the
press u he state, and this i VIVA.
it says:
"rhe resultofth Shemwell trial
caused no surprise III statesyille.
An acquitial Was anticipated.
This does not mean, however, that
everybody here thought the homi-
eide excusable. Not a few believed,
and still believe, that Shemwell is
guilty Of murder. But the fact
that the verdict Of the jury caused
no surprise even among this class
is easily accounted for. It has
come TO be an accepted fact that d
man who has the money to ON
ploy the best legal talent and to
use all the Various WAYS and
means which can be and are used
to fire. the guilty, may slay his
neighbor almost with IMMUNITY.
The Law seems powerless. Alas
that this should be %, but that il
isso every intelligent man knows
Is not the Landmark mistaken ?
Did it fully consider the length
and breadth and meaning Of its
sweeping and crushing indict.
ment! Does ii mean 10 nv that
the posscssor Of gold III this state
can shoot in cold blood his fellow
man-Yhoot him as be would a
dog. and that with gold buy the
lawyers, the Jurors and the judge.
and by doing % be acquitted Of
the crime o. Tliich be i guilty
before Tie blood stains Of lis Vic.
tim are dry upon his hands?
Does the Landmark mean to say,
as il gEiyely states, that the "best
legal talent Of this state Is EN-.
ployed 70 buy iuries and corrupt
judge, instead u arguing the law 7
Has Il coGie, does tie Landmark
seriously believe. 10 tie unhappy
state Of affair that Tie law Is only
an incident in q case at court, and
that puunies and suborners Of
puGnry are employed 20 decide
the guilt or innocence 81 an alleged
evil deer? Docs the Landmark
49,. adyiselly that all courts III
North Carolina are purchased or
are prrhasible? Does Il want
the people Of America b. under.
stand that in this brave stata a
'oor citizen cannot ct justice ii.
Oh the other si,le rosscsors Of gold
desire the case decil,d fur them :.
Surely We cannot believe nor
indore vii the Landmark SAYS.
We know, as all poorpcoplc know,