Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-11-21
contemplated, and that the law should
be permitted TO take its course.

CbeCHAP PAobSui anu ludl tne law tnOulQ
be permitted to take its course.
SWORN TO INVESTIGATE.
This, gentlemen, is a crime which
it is your sworn duty to thoroughly in
vestigate, to the end that the guilty
parties may be identified, apprehend-
ed and brought to the bar of justice.
given the fair and impartial trial which
they denied Randolph, and. if convict
ed, receive adequate punishment for
their offense.
This is not a case where an entire
community in moment of sudden and
tremendous emotion, frenzied by hor-
ror and CONSERVATION st the commits
sion OF a crime OF awful atrocity, and
impelled by supposed necessity for
f-preservation, arises superior to
and overrides the law which had been
enacted for their own protection, and
wreaks sudden vengeance upon a self
confessed criminal but the clean-cut
issue is whether small party Of or
ganized ccnspirators is to be permit
ted with impunity to defy all law, in
wade the precincts OF the courts, and
snatch from the custody of the
officers of the law and fOully
murder a man who had never confess
victed, and was therefore in contem-
plation of law innocent, and about
whose actual guilt many persons who
had followed the evidence entertained
serious doubts
CANNOT BE TOLERATED.
If ofrenses of this kind are to he ig-
nOred and unpublished cocrts of JUS
tice might as well be dispensed with.
What happened To Randolph, the
penniless Negro tramp and outeast,
may be the fate Of any man. white or
black, who may be arrested, charged
with the commission Of crime under
circumstances of peculiar atrocity, or
in time of great political excitement,
whether he be guilty of not, whenever
band of lawbreakers can be organized
who will deliberately wait until the
sheriff is out of the way and then effect
their purpose without any danger TO
themselves by the safe and easy pro-
cess OF terrorizing a timid jsiler.
NOTHING SHOULD DETER THIN.
II am certain, gentlemen, that YOU
will tase this grave offense against the
authority, the integrity, nay, tie very
existence OF the law, in your charge
and that no considerations of expedi.
ency will deter you from giving the
matter the patient. thorough and rigid
investigation which its Importance de.
/ mands.
The states attorney will furnish
you with a list of the witnesses whose
names he may have in his possession
whose testimony will in his judgmen
tend to throw any light upon the sub
lect OF your Investigation, and yol
have the right and power to summon
any Others you may require in tn,
prosecution OF your inquiries.
WILL CONTINUE TO INSIST UPON PUNISH
MENT.
As ! have said, feel assured tha
there will be no unwillingness or hest
tation on your part to perform you
full duty in this regard, and to max
a thorough investigation OF this outra
geous affair; but should | unfortunat
ly be mistaken in my conception O
your moral fiber. and this Jury shoul
decline to enter upon the inquiry. il j
TO be observed that the statute OF limi
tatIons is no bar TO this crime, and j
Will be given in charge Co the gran
jury of each succeeding term until
body of men shall be found who Wi
have the integrity and the courage {
measure up To the standard OF dut
imposed by the oaths they have TAX
en-"