The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-13
SPEEDY TRIAL.
Mr.. ]. AItheus johnson Writes an In
terestins Letter on the Subject.

The speedy trial and conviction OF Ihomas
Peterson TOR the murder OF Constaple j.. j.
Moseley Is certainly remarkaole, ana aito-
gether commendable, considering the aelays
Ihat so frequently outrage justice and shake
the confidence OF the pubic In the elncacy on
the courts TO punish criminals. Indeed. the
newspapers here having noted tne snoo.lns a,
of the constable as described in their press
despatches at the time of the occurrence, but
no such dispatches having eeen 1urnlshed OF
the SEQUEL, mentioned the case myselt 10
some newspaper men in way TO elicit ap-
probation OF the Abbeville method OF pun
ishing swiftly through the Courts.
But an instance has occurred this week just
across the river in Alexandria County, VT
rinia that distances the record OF AbbeVllle
even On the afternoon OF Monday, OCTOBER
2sth, the daughter of an Alexandria County
farmer, while on her way from school, was
waylald and assaulted by negro boy. Ihe
screams and struggles OF the girl. however,
brought timely assistance; ana tne 0oy was
captured within an hour; By ? o'clock on
the afternoon of "Wednesday, 3Cth; tne fellow
and sentenced by the county court TO be
hanged on Friday, December q. 1873.
The time-honored custom, II observed,
would have resulted in the lynching OF the
negro; but Governor O'Ferrell, during his
term of office, has been actlVe 10 suppress
lynching by every means in his power. 1ou
may remember that In the early part OF ms
administration he used two companies OF the
State MALTA for a week in guarding, during
the trial at Orange Court House, couple OF
prisoners against whom the public indigna'
lion was so great that II was feared that tne
would-be lynchcrs would invade the preclnts
of the court house and wrest the prisoners
from the very hand of the court.
When courts come to act promptly IN the
punishment of wrong-doers, there Will be no
need of lynchings. 1t Is Infinitely better 10
observe the forms of law and execute accord
ing TO judicial process than that punishment
should be inflicted by an unauthorized mop
and when courts show that they can be relied
on to punish the criminal instead OF afford.
ing 10 him the means merely OF ma king good
his escape. the great temptation ana proVoca-
tive TO lynching will be removed.
For the law TO have It's greatest terrors, tne
offender whose guilt is known must not only
be punished-he must be punished speedily.
If the courtsof the country had more regard 10
this fact, and INDUCED in fewer delays, there
would be fewer lynchings. You will recall
how the angered populace at MI. Sterling.
Kentucky, in June last, deSisted from Il
lynching at the entreaties Of the judge who
promised them 10 convene special term OF
the court to trythe prisoner. On such assn.
RANGES the officers OF the law were permitteu
10 retain the prisoner, and the MOB gave up
It's purpose.
or course am not suggesting that the pro-
cedure of a court should be marked with the
celebrity of an avenging mob, though believe
there was a case down in Caroline County,
Virginia, where a man was arrested, indict-
ed, tried and convicted all the same day: but
such haste was evidently for the purpose OF
forestalling a violent outbreak which was
feared If justice should be delayed.
Courts certainly, however, in dealing with
crime, ought not, IN their SOicitude for the
accused, to forget the public in whose behalf
IL is that criminal laws are enacted and pun
ishments provided. And when the public
have been long overlooked by too jealous
regard for the accused, TO protect when in his
presumed innocence the courts will go 10
every extreme, resulting in the pon-punish'
ment, for long time at least, OF the known
lawbreaker, it Is not strange that the more
impulsive OF the outraged public do some
times protest by assuming themselves, In
fragrant case, TO intlict the punishment which
Yours, J. A. j.