The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-14

not In fact. guilty of Violating the law
themselves. And men who live by per-
vertlng tho machinery OF the law TO shield
criminals from it's Just verdict, will cease
branding communities OF good people as
'murdcrous mohs." and want laws passed
that they may mako back from counties In
damages to the families OF wrctchcs the
fees they expected to get In defending tho
criminals and turning them loose on the
public. III. NJ Henderson.
Governor Hogg's IynchtuG Motion.
To the Editor of The Post.
San Gabriel. Texas June 70, The mo-
ton of Ex-Governor Hogs in suppression
of mob violence is receiving much attcn-
ton from many men OF many minds"
am as much opposed TO irregular ex-
ocutions rs any one can be, yet agree
with those who refuse the remedies pre-
scribcd by Mr. lIogg. and hurl back the
Wholesale donunciaton OF citizens who
rise In their might and wreak vengeance
on the foul rapist. etc. and chasing them
as contemplate. villainous. cowardy
murderers."
This is base SANDER Of. often, as good
citizens as Ex-Governor Hogg himself.
But dcmur to some of the positions
assumed by these who condemn these In
temperate utterances. can moi believe
that the sole or oven prime cause Of mob
executions is found in the tedious. dila-
tory, long drawn out trials In our courts.
and the many tcchnicalitics taken advan-
tage OF TO shield and possibly turn luosc
on society the brutal. lecherous rape ncnd
and midnight assassin" as some writers
but II; nor vet the effect OF "shyster law
ycrs obstructing. hindering and doiayin
the melting out of Justice" Tho mob never
sious TO consider the chances for the per-
petrators OF outrage to escape justice. 1t
Is not the lust punishment FOR the crime
theso people desire. but the visitation of
vengeance by themselves Very few exc
Cutions of judgments rendered by Judge
Lynch are for the commission of any but
the holnous crimes that SO enrage the peo-
pie that reason is UNDECIDED, and they arc
animated alone by an unquenchablc craze
for Immediate vengeance, they would dele
gate TO no ether power.
The uncertainty OF the laws, manipulated
by "shvstor LAWYERS and administered by
timid or venal courts has no place in tier
minds. a fend has invaded the sanctity OF
home committed or attempted to commit
brutal outrage, and vengeance, there and
bY themselves viii alone ippeasc their
wrath. Reason has been. aud by adequate
cause. driven from its throne w hestial
crime. and nothing less than personal ven
geance Will satisfy. rhey would not fore
go il II they could be assured that; even on
the morrow, the perpetrator would be
hanged by the law or by others than them
selves. They and they alone must act
not in administering Justice, but IN wrcak-
Ing dire vengeance on the often ier
How many fends that have committed
hn 1.s s.ytt ,1,.,
have escaped through the uncertainty or
the law? You who hold to Ills theory as
the cause OF mob executions. please Iolnt
out YOUR precedents.
l. too condemn the .echa.rliitios iy
which criminals have della 3ed--ct,en es-
caped--just punishment techuicahti,s
largely abolished by late en- tct .neYt OF the
Twcntyffth legislature. but these have
not aided the criminals Judge LJnth lets
after
DO such hends calculate on the laws de-
LAYS before committing crime--Huo wing the
terrible Nemesis that has pursued their
fellows. wreaking swift vengeance ~ tor
ture and death? They know OF this rnCh
better than they know of chances, often
with no money, 10 escape legal punishment.
We have among us those who. when tcs-
'iai desire controls them. calculate ON
nothing save an opportunity 10 assui some
dcfenseless female and no cefta NY of
dreadful death seems to turn tucm from
their purpose. and vet writegs viii cyrtend
that uncertainty Of punishment influences
them 10 commission OF outrage.
! care not what laws may be enacted:
while such crimes are committed an en-
ragged people VIII take Yengealce o1 those
committing them, II they will not hest
tate at the certainty that they will render
themselves amcnable TO the laws dcnounc-
| Ing him who takes life. are they likely to
hall because OF a cash indemnity cxactod
on the people OF the whole country? We
| NAV have a lRWi?J mulc6ng a county in
the sum of $4,000 TO keep up the breed OF
such hends. and another furnishing an Off
| Ger fer no Oflense save occupying au office
he Is forced. for the time being, 10 alb
nlcatc, but unless preparation OF those
helnous crimes be prevented the people
VIII take summary vengeance.
i can not suggest a preventative. ard
surely We will not ind one In earic1llg tho
relatives OF such brutcs by da.pO,lns The
people in no way responsible for their
| taking on. nor yet In Furnishing an officer
| for being overcome by determined pld
| reaistlCss force with blood in It's eye How
can his "Astuteness" reconcile such sug-
pcsuons with his well known knowledge OF
constitutional law. and his sense ot iIgtt?
| Docs hi expect tho certainty ~ 5000
raid on Il countvs funds for the benefit OF
n ranlsts relatlYes-uin cases out OF ten
! he l.aves no helpless childron-to cool the
often murdered and mu,ilated wife,
mother daughter. sister and female friend,
! from visiting summary vengeance upoW
| the ncnds 80 Invading the sapc,ity of home
and dcbnuChing socioty7
Again; Does he expect the danger OF
thar depletion Of a county's eXchequor will
induce the mass of the pr0ple not 80
aroused 10 keen watch aud ward all ever
the county and make such uprising iEpos-
siblc or when mob has sprung up they
VIII arrange themselves as wall between
the raplst and murderer and the people
| seeking AN eye for an eye"
/ How. In any way. can the fear 0f tfat
money tax call a halt 10 the executions
/ by the pooplei
| II is now the duty of a sheriff to protect
I n prisoner In his custody. IL there IL col
fusion between him and n mob seeking That
prisoners life. or he weakly Yields his cab
! tive TO force that he could ldSc With
stood, he can be impeached and deprived
OF office; but his wholesale punishment,
disgrace and virtual outlawry. guilty or
| MOI guilty. must not obtain. even T. II be