The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-19
AS To LYNcHISa.
A Maryland judges Decentralization OF the
Prevailing "iIabu.n

hAfsihnu Jnugeh bcnuhclA1on OF the
PrsYsiling "ilRbu.n
At the opening Of the October term OF
the circuit court for Somerset county
Nd, Chief Judge Henry Page in charg-
ing the grand jury, said:
There is nothing more alarming than
the sentiment that seems to have rap
idly grown IN the last few years that
certain crimes should be- speedily fol-
lowed by summary punishment VI the
criminal ut the hands OF the ncensed
persons without the Intervention uf n
court of justice, That this Is SO Is prob
ably due 10 the fact that, !A the cstl-
nation OF some good people IT Is sun
posed that the pubic peace and order
can better be 50 maintained than by
running the risks Of the laws delay, the
uReeHs mites Ell jpries. or the pardon
ing power OF the executive, But this
10 4 great error and ii Is the duty Of
this court and of all citizens to do what
lies ~ their nuWer 20 bring about u
more correct view OF the matter.
III has been amply demonstrated by
all past experiences that close OBJ
selyance of the law rs The best security
for the prevention OF crime. Indeed
upon this depends not only the good
order OF society, but even the preser-
walton of our lives, our property and
our liberties. The bill OF rights OF our
constitution enforces the accepted opln-
ion of all civilized nations on this point.
BY article 20 1t Is declared that the trial
OF facts Is one Of the greatest securities
OF The lives, liberties, and estate OF the
people; by article n that in all Grim
inal prosecutions every man has right
TO be informed of the accusation
against him, TO have u copy Of the
charge, to be confronted with the Wit
nesses against him, and to have
speedy trial by an impartial Jury and
by article 2S that no man ought TO be
deprived Of his liberty or his life but
by the Judgment OF his peers or by the
law of the land
IAN these wholesome principles, that
are approved by experience and funda-
mental rights by our constitution,
lynchng absolutely sets at naught.- 1t
gives no rights to the criminal, II de-
prlves him of all trial or the semblance
Of trial, and ruthlessly puts an end
to his existence without observing any
OF the safeguards that all experience
has demonstrated are necessary to pro-
teet the innocent. II any number OF
persons can OF themselves. without trial
Of any kind. say that a person Is guilty
Of crime and rightfully proceed To
execute him, there is an end Of all law,
No limit can be set as 10 the time and
circumstances when 1t may be done.
and you and l and all of us hold our
lives and fortunes ut the mercy or any
impulse that may take possession OF the
community in which we live We may
be destroyed like u wild beast, even
though partial trial would have
shown us to be. In fact. innocent. APP
parent guilt would be all that would be
necessary. 1t is needless to say, there
fore. that lynchlng Is wholly without
law, and that its tendency is TO produce
consequences subversive OF all law and
all safety. In fact, where the courts
are open It is not right or remedy
for wrong doing. Correspondence
Baltimore Sun,