The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-31
THE CASE OF EVANS

The last Rockingham Rocket ex-
that John Evans, under sentence to be
hanged, is guilty Of the horrible rape
charged. The excellent judge presiding
and the jury believe in mis- guilt. Mr..
w. L. Parsons, Endorsed highly by the
Rocket, holds the same opinion as to
the guilt of the condemned. It says of
his article in the Raleigh News
and Observer, we endorse it furth-
er because Mr.. Parsons is a pri-
waite citizen, sensible, intelligent, Of &C
know1edged legal ability, who is an ac-
k1ow1edged gentleman, and with no
axe to grind" Mr.. w. L. John writes
also a communication for the same pa
Der in which he condemns the action of
the court and declares that to hang
Evans would be judicial murder" He
rs of the counsel for the defendant
Evans. The Rocks regards the course
Of the counsel extraordinary, and says
IT is specially so "in the case, where
everyone admits the fairness of he
trial. Mr.. John brought out no new
evidence and failed to add any strength
to the old. If he felt that he was risk
Eng too much to leave the case with the
jury, it would have been more appro-
PIRATE to hav refused the proposition
of opposing counsel to submit the case
without argument" MIR. F. l.. Cole,
father of the young woman so greatly
outraged 10y some incarnate devil, APP
pears in the Rocket in a communication
commenting upon MIR. Johns course.
He complains that there is an effort to
discredit his daughter Mattie's testi-
mony, and says that. Mr.. John seems
to he a wiser man than the noblest
judge of North Carolina, n twelve of
the best men in Richmond county.
He sets himself up against the whole
court We do not undertake to give
Mr.. John, and do not undertake to give
an opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of the defendant charged with such a
grievous crime as we neither heard nor
read the testimony before the court.
When a jury of respectable and intelli-
gent men under the charge of an able,
conscientious and learned judge find a
mar guilty of a very great crime, we
may suppose him guilty unless there is
subsequent evidence of a most import
ant kind Forthcoming to prove him in
nocent. In the case Of Evans we sup
pose no such evidence has been pro-
,duced or can be produced.
We do not believe in hanging by
mobs or in hanging innocent people.
1t is a great horror to take a mans life
and send him into eternity with all or
mis- crushing sins upon him If he is not
guilty of a crime which under the law
demands his life in eXpiatiOn. 1t is a
great offence and wrong, on the other
hand, under the pressure of false SYM
s,athy or selfish motive or general con-
demnation of hanging as a punishment,
80 turn a red-handsd murderer or a
s,rutish rapist loose upon society to
roam and ravin. Juries are not prone
TO overdo the matter of hanging. Grim
snals have a great advantage under the
laws and the present jury system to es-
cape punishment. A fair trial with the
law leaning towards the Gull
Drit is imperative, but when found
guilty and sentenced to forfeit life for
damning crime he should pay the for
felt to the fullest extent without false
sentiment or hurtful sympathy or the
interference of the ~pardoning executive,