The leader., 1898-07-06


To His Excellency Gov. A. j. McLaurin, Jack
son, Miss:
DEAR Sir: You have been severely
criticised here for committing the SEN
fences of convicted murderers to life
Imprisonment, and in the Silas Davis
case in particular, in which criticism
The LEADER has Joined. On receipt Of
this, please send me a copy Of the petit
ton which was presented to you in the
Davis case, with the names Of all the
signers. Also kindly advise me wheth-
or Judge Powell and District Attorney
Greaves, unquali fdedly, IL at all, REQ
commended the clemency extended In
this case. l desire to publish all the
facts and let the public judge from
these where the blame rests.
With personal regards,
Yours sincerely,
B. T. HOBBS.
The Governor is very busy man,
and though he has private secretary,
we have never received any response
whatever, so far, to the above letter.
Whether this is due to lack Of time on
His Excellency's part, or to some other
cause, we are unable at present to say.
However, we have since learned from
good authority that there were at
least three petitions presented to the
Governor praying for the commute
ton of Davis sentence to life impris-
onment. One of these was signed by
all of the jurymen who convicted him,
except one. Another was signed by
all except two Of the principal coun-
ty officers, including all Of the men,
bers of the Board Of Supervisors. AL
so by all Of the beat officers residing
in Brookhaven except Justice McMil-
Ian before whom Davis had his pre-
liminary trial., and all members Of the
Brookhaven bar except two. The third
petition was signed by citizens of the
county generally, white and colored,
including many Of the most prominent
citizens and business men of Brookha-
ven. In all, it is estimated there were
from two to three hundred names.
1t will therefore be seen that that
portion of the Vicksburg Herald's crit
icism which inquiries into the respon-
sibility Of reputable citizens of the
county in this matter will lie, as the
courts say. OF course this does not
relieve Governor McLaurin of all re.
sponsibility in the premises, but to the
extent that such petitions are the
reflection Of public sentiment, they
furnish plausible excuse and refuge
for his own lapses of duty.
Attorneys McNair and Jones re-
ceived no fees, but only their travelling
expenses as representatives of the Pc
titioners. They visited Judge Powell,
District Attorney Greaves and the
Governor.
The LEADER has interviewed a num-
Der of the more intelligent signers Of
the Davis petitions, and striking an
average of the reasons offered by them
they are in substance about this
Davis was no more guilty of murder
than the four white men convicted of
murder at the December term-not as
guilty as most Of them. Besides, the |
man he killed was an ex-convict and a
bad, dangerous negro. Two of the
white murderers were sent to the pen.
itentiary for life last winter and one
was soon made "a trusty," and tho
other two now in Jail will in the opin.
lon of the petitioners, either be acquit-
ted at the next term of court, or If
convicted, be sent to the penitentiary
and ultimately be turned loose by the
Governor. 1t would have been dis
grace to hang this niger for killing
another niger, and let all the white
murderers escape. Some said the
Governor, by saving the neck of Mere
dith Case and number of equally no.
torious murderers, had proved that he
was not going to let another white man
be hung in Mississippi if he could
help it, no matter what his crime or
how many courts convicted him. One
of the petitioners who said this, took a
leading part in saving Davis neck.
But this is enough. Suffice it to say
this shameful decentralization with ref
erence to the execution of the law
against murder is as all-pervasive as it
is alarming and deplorable. 1t begins
in the Governors chair and runs all
the way down. 1t is unquestionably
true that there is less confidence among
the people of Lincoln county today, in
the enforcement of law for murder and
the graver crimes, than at any period
since we have known the county.
There is growing sentiment among
the best citizens that our courts are an
expensive farce, and that no man has
any protection for his life, save in his
ownstrong arm-not even that from the
concealed assassin. And as it is in
Lincoln, so it is largely all over Missis-
sippi, and more's the pity.
What the State evidently needs most
is new Governor, or a loftier concep.
ton of official obligation and more
moral stamina and backbone infused
somehow into the one she has.
To Cure Cold In One Day
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All
druggists refund money If 1t fails to cure. &c.
Persons troubled with diarrhea will
be interested in the experience of Mr..
w. M. Bush, clerk of Hotel Dorrance,