Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-10-15
Public Sentiment.
ORKNEY SPRINGS. VA. oct. /


The news Of tho Governors actions
toward Sibert and Rice has struck this
part OF Shenandoah county like a
cyclone, Never has the public been so
dumb founded, or such a clamOr for
justice raised as when it learned that the
Governor of Virginia. had pardoned and
set aside the verdict of the jury who sat
upon the case OF Sibert and Rice and
had these public stigmies brought from
the penitentiary to serve two months in
the Jail Of Rockingham county. When
this murder was committed, public In
dignation against these two culprits ran
exceedingly high and mob violence was
feared, but after the first outburst, when
cooler heads began TO think; those who
threatened violence were implored and
restrained to a sense Of law and justice.
While this was accomplished, steps were
being taken in another way to try If
possible to secure justice or see that the
law was vindicated. The impression Of
the public was that the trial Of these
men would take place at Woodstock and
fearing justice would mscarry these, (as
it had so often done before, and so noted
~ in the Weatherhotz caseJ a secret or
ganization was formed of some OF the
verycOOlest hea ded men in this part Of
the county, binding themselves by their
oath to spare neither prison or de-
Tending attorneys il justice should mis-
carry in this case by any law and dirty
trick that might be introduced in favor
Of the prisoners. Their Intention was to
hover over and around Woodstock like
death angel while this trial was in
progress and if any such verdict should
be rendered that they did not approve to
make an example long TO be remember
ed by the people and court Of Shenan-
doah county,
While these scenes were being enacted
with greet precaution and decision. it
was decided to remove the case to Har-
rlsOnburg the county seat OF Rocking
ham county. this of course brought a
stand still to all these dark resolutions,
workings and thoughts. The news OF
the removal OF the case was taken by the
public as a good omen and even those
with revenge in their hearts felt SQUIRE
that these men would be punished ac-
cOrding to the crime they had committed;
at the hand of her sister courts whose
reputation for furnishing crime was all
that could be desired. With this end in
view, public sentiment was allowed to
slumber without murmur; looking
forward to the time of trial to have their
brightest antlcipations realized.
But little did they know. that at the
last moment, their long looked for JUS
tice was to be dethrOned and crime was
to go unpublished; when the jury brought
in their verdict Of one, only one. year in
the peniteptiary still these men who lad
pledged themselves to see that justice
should reign supreme did not break out
IN open rebellion, but sorry 10 see crime
90 unpublished, resolved 10 bear the YER
diet as given by ~ OF Rockingham's
sturdy sons. Little did they realize at
the very last, that these men should es-
cape without punishment; but ere long
they were doomed to hear that the
Governor had pardOned the men who
killed their brother, neighbor and friend,
at their very doors, without any good
cause. This was enough to arouse all
the Indignation and spirit OF revenge
that had slumbcrcd in their bosom.
No wonder they were struck a. ii BY
a thunderbOlt. TO hear that - verdict
that was so mild. so Insignificant, when
with the crime committed; had
been set aside by the Governor, in whom
all had put their trust, would be one OF
the fist TO give us justice and not set a
prize upon crime.
While they are awe stricken by this
intelligence and ask each other the ques-
ton what can be done to avcnge this
wrong. The answer comes, nothing.
nothing. The widow i, left to mourn
OH in silence and to make living for
her little ones God knows how. In after
years il the mother j, 20 fortunate a. to
raise her children to manhood and |
vomanhOOd;th may have the privilege. !
Il they so desire, to ayengc their fathers
blood in some way, remembering that |
even the Governor OF their own state
lided In setting free those who had ac-
themselves the parties who
OOk their fathers life.
Knowing that the said Governor had
rot even consulted or communicated |
With the Commonwealth Of their county |
II their Judge. And inst here | wish to
az for the benefit Of those who hold
prejudice against the Hon. VI. l.. Wal
on and bla him for helping to inilu-
.nce the Governor in tvs matter, al
hough he figured largely in The Wealth
rholtZ ease and brought upon himself
evere censure, yet | can say land
peak the truth that he had nothing TO
10 i'm this matter toward influencing the
Governor. He was not even consulted by
hat august person who undertakes 10
leet out justice in spite OF that mceted
at by twelve men who heard the evil (
ence and had all the fact, presented to
hem. Mr.. Walton did not even know
nat such was the case until he with I
theirs saw the announcement in the
ewpaper.
While the writer has ever advocated 10
ave those who commit crime to be dealt
18th as the law dictates, and this was
is advice to all, When lynching and
lob desire ranclcd in almost every
reast tin the western part OF this
)unty) to ayenge the blood OF their I
lend and neighbor. But the writer
entures to say, that, if justice is 10 be
.thrOned and crime is to 20 unpunished
uch longer in this county, there Will be
time when the lynching idea will pre-
all and mob law will run riot against
| pleading Of sober minds. The peo-
% will bear much, and have already
,rne a great deal hoping to see the law
Indicated and the rights # justice es- !
blished above all, but when their !
'ightest anticipation OF along this line
e not to be realized there cones time
hen waiting ceases to be virtue.
c. w. c.