The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-21
Some Suggestions Anent the Alleged
kidnnping Cnsc.

l<idnnping Cnsc.
To the Editor of The Post.
| The excellent work Of Tho Post staff In
Dunn homestead is Indeed commendable
Fewer more perfect pieces OF newspaper
| work on short order were ever accom-
complshed. Not line. nor word even.
seems to have been omitted In the careful
compilation of the statements of facts.
and the reading public-even the most in
| quisitive--can pick no flaw In this excel.
| lent journalistic labor.
1t may not be inappropriate at this time.
while tho circumstances of this tragedy
| are yet fresh in the minds OF the public.
| to look at the case from another point Of
| view. In the first instance. could not the
life of Hughes have been saved and Hous-
tons fair name spared another trailing
in tho dust OF deep criminality? Could
not the notoriety that has been so uncere-
Enormously heaped upon the families Of the
participants in this affair have been
averted? Could not the threshold OF the
Dunn homestead have been spared the
drenching with human blood 10 which it
was treated. and could not the civilized
worlds feelings have been shown some
mercy in the manner n human form was
| literally torn to pieces by leaden missiles
hurled from firearms in the hands OF sober
peace officers against man who was in
state OF partial intoxication las his VIE
says he was when he left bome)
Could not these things have been
| avoided?
| The writer is not endeavorng TO offer
| excuse for the man Hughes, or TO pailiate
his intended crime, tho very thought OF
| which, as related by the man Edel. Is in
| ~ hnrrihla
| Is it conclusively shown that Hughes was
! the instigator of this heinous mischief?
| Admitting that the circumstances prove
that he was. there is a law TO prevent tho
carrying out Of his designs
Hughes was dissuadod from executing
one act OF kidnapping OF the Camp child
Could not the same effort have altered his
course in the other case?
Is 1t plausible that the man Hughes had
the courage to undertake to kidnap the
Dunn child alone without the aid and on
enlargement Of some one. and urgent
pressure at that? Does 1t look reasonable
that a man with such deep criminal nrt
I'm his mind would confide his purpose 10
any one unless he wanted help in Its exc
cution, and IL It not reasonable to sup
peso that that help was promised?
Does not the idea suggest itself that the
peace officers could have Swallowed both
Edel and Hughes at their meetings and
| acquainted lHtIu WIN Aa'N ''i''N
were ION TO" their scheme. and thus have
avoided the above terrible results?
Is IT tho object, purpose and intent OF th'
law to lead on, foster encourage and IN
spire the lawless into the commission OF
crime and then shoot the perpetrator down
in its execution? -
The punishment for kidnapping is mpris
oument for from two to five years and
any amount of fine not less than $1,000
Would II not have been better to have
trapped Hughes In the act OF leaving mo
nunn nremises with the precious little
Annie ra her than shot him on entering?
These thoughts land others OF like char
acter calculated to avert the terrible re-
sulD might be mentioned but enough
food for thought is contained herein.
. Human.