The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-04-09
OUR COURTS AND KILLINGS.
Is South Carolina to Become Murder
er's Paradise


Is South Carolina to Become Murder
er's Paradise?
When Judge on the bench, in pass
ing sentence on q man, practically COM
when State solicitor shoots q man
dead for cursing him we have reached q
pretty bad pass, And yet, if the news
papers are to be believed, that is what
took place in South Carolina last week.
One Davis tried to shoot one Smith be-
cause Smith insulted him by calling
him names; Davis was indicted for "as-
sault with intent to kill" but was
convicted of assault of high and ag-
gravated nature" Judge Gary fined
Davis $25 but instructed that $15 be re-
grossly insulted and provoked. .
From which the inference is that if one
man insults another by calling him q
bad name he is excusable if he shoots
him. The Judge is reported as having
said that the defendant would not be
worthy his fathers name if he had not
resented the insult"
We call that dangerous doctrine. 1t
is particularly dangerous deliverance
from Judge on the bench. AS long as
our judges preach doctrine like that the
l.
to try. A Judge who believes man is
not worthy of his fathers name if he
does not resent an insult, should ex-
press his opin ions on that subject in a
very guarded manner. A few days
after the Judge commended the son of
his old neighbor for trying to shoot the
man who insulted him Solicitor Thur
mond, of Edgetield, fellow townsman
of this same Judge, shot man dead for
insulting him by calling him bad names.
The Judge is reported to have given out
an official deliverance as to how a gen.
gentleman should act under such cir
cumstances and the solicitor so acted
without waiting for further ruling on
the subject.
How can we hope that the people will
repect the laws and human life when
our officers, sworn to execute and en-
force tho laws, put such low estimate
on human life? The Judge, who es-
teens it a commendable thing, or at
least trifiing offense, for one man to
try to shoot another for an insult,
ought to let somebody else take his
place on the bench; the solicitor who
will SO far forget himself as to shoot
down q man because he calls him hard
names, ought to resign his office at
once and never try again to act as the
states prosecuting attorney. Such
officers ought to resign forthwith.
E.vildOers have no fear of the courts
run by such men.
A Judge on the bench substantially
telling n man to shoot whenever he is
insulted, n solicitor shooting man
dead because he abused him, and the
governor pardoning murderer while
for one week. South Carolina will be
the murderer paradise after awhile, if
we continue at the present rate. If he
has money, friends and family influ-
cnce he will certainly be acquitted in
the courts; if he fails there the COVER
nor will make it all right for him. He
has nothing to fear in this State, ex-
cept some Inconvenience, loss of time
and lawyers fees.
Sometimes the newspaper accounts of
a killing will say by way of extenua-
ton that the man killed made move
ment rs if he was putting his hand in
his hip pocket. is it possible that
putting ones hand in ones pocket is q
deadly otfense, for which the men must
be shot down without seconds delay?
Something like this recently occurred:
man on n horse was pursuing negro
and shot him; on the trial the man tes-
titled that the negro appeared to be
putting his hand in his hip pocket; the
murderer was therefore acquitted on
the plea of self-defense. Verify it looks
as if we must have n new law, prohibit
ing the manufacturers, tailors, sewing
women, wives and mothers from MAX
ing, selling or giving away pants hav-
ing hip pockets; and that the man or,
boy convicted of wearing pants having
hip pockets shall be fined, or i'm
prisoned, or both-the fine, of course,
will be RENTED at the discretion of the
presiding Judge; and the offender, if
imprisoned, will be pardoned by the
Governor!-Baptist Courier.