The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-03-23
SOLICITOR NOT DETECTIVE.

The Jury of inquest in the Lake
CITY affair has concluded Its laoors'
and on last Saturday they rendered a
verdict that Postmaster Baker and
his child came to their death by gun
shot wounds from the hands OF IN
known parties to the jury. Solicitor
Wilson, United States District Attor-
ney Lathrop, and Post Office 1nspec-
tor Bulla were present at the inquest
and neither of them were able to fur
nish evidence that would warrant the
jury in charging an Individual or a
number of individuals with the
crime. The News and Courier OF
last Monday labors very hard in the
effort to play to the Northern CALLER
les, by indirectly charging Solicitor
Wilson with lukewarmness in the
matter, and not inclined to do his
full duty. The people OF the third
judicial circuit know Solicitor Wilson
and they know, there is no public
official who is more conscientious in
the discharge of his duties; they know
also that in the discharge Of his off,
cial duties he is no respecter OF per-
sons and absolutely fearless. The
slightest iutimaticn to the contrary
bellies a public record of about
twelve years. If the News and Cou-
rier would have Solicitor Wilson
tramping through the swamps OF
Williamsburg, Florence and other
counties to run down criminals, they
must first get the law-making power
to incorporate that kind of work in
the law. The government has a Sc
cret service for such work and we
suppose it has made an effort through
that channel TO obtain clue; we
must infer that the secret agents or
government detectives have so far
failed in the effort to secure evidence,
inasmuch as none was produced at
the inquest
Theju of inquest could not fasten
such a grave charge upon individuals
without some evidence, and we do
think that our esteemed contempora-
ry makes grave mistake in CRITICS
ing every step that is taken in this
deplorable affair. It's editorials have
PLAYED into the hands Of the political
capital-making north, and we have
no doubt but that in the coming
congressional elections, they will play
an important part on the hustings.
The News and Courier, in words
does not intelligently blame the Solic-
itor for the verdict, butt does not need
extraordinary care in reading to see
that it would like to fasten part OF
the miscarriage of justice upon that
officer.
It might be so that in not assuming
the role of detective, Solicitor Wilson
has failed 70 crafty the q am holier
than thou" editor OF the News and
Courier. Perhaps it was not indif-
ference at all; it might have been the
result of being incompetent, and as
the editor of the greatest journal in
the State is attempting to pose be-
fore psalm-singing Massachusetts, we
would suggest that he put u little
sincerity into his professions, go to
Lake CITY and look for'the 'malefac-
tors" In this day OF progressive
journalism it has become u part OF
the profession to run down crime, and
if This distinguished editor will
breathe little life into his work, he
will not have to proclaim to his
Northern auditors,
"And yet with all this long delay the So
Ecitor was not able TO produce before the
grand jury Il SinSl wltaeSS whose crl-
depce was sufficient. so far rs II has been
reported. 10 cast even a suspicion on any
one Of having been implicated IN the
crime.
But to the contrary he may be able
to send forth the glad tidings that
after detectives, inspectors, United
States Attorney and the Solicitor
failed, he girded himself with the
armor OF justice and into the
swamps he went, and after much
trial, strategy and tribulation the red
handed demons were turned over to
the courts with evidence to convict.
Great newspapers often do detective
work, sud many criminal has been
landed behind prison walls through
the energy OF q newspaper, then why
not the News and Courier get out of
its old trodden path and arouse its
readers from their monotony by fur
niShing evidence to convict the muir
dererS of Baker and his child.