The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-10
The Law Taking Its Course.

1t is encouraging to observe that
the grand jury in the United States
court for the Southern circuit. sitting
at Charlestown s. G., has returned a
true bill against thirteen white citi-
zens of Lake City, S. c., charged with
lynching Frazier Il. Baker. the negro
postmaster of that town. Baker had
always borne Il good reputation and
when appointed postmaster by the Nc
Kinley administration had first class
credentials. But the whites objected
to receiving mail from a negro. They
first warned Baker to move away. He
refused and several attempts were
made to kill him. They did not prove
successful and then mob was made
up to do the work. Baker and his
family lived in a small frame house,
which was also used as the post office.
At midnight the mob gathered, poured
oil on the place and set it on fire.
Baker and one child were killed by
bullets fired from the woods nearby
and his wife and five children were
badly wounded. The office and every
thing in 1t were destroyed.
In charging the grand jury the judge
remarked: "A more heinous crime
has rarely darkened the history of the
state. 1t would be an everlasting re-
proach to our government and to our
administration of the laws failed to
bring to trial the perpetrators of this
crime. 1t was stated in the news
papers at the time, and it was prob
ably true, that Baker was obnoxious
to the community that he was appoint
ed to serve. 1t is not for this court to
express any opinion on that point OF
to attempt to measure the moral re-
sponsibility of those who are RESPONSE
BILE for bringing about conditions
which aroused the popular fury to such
an extent that that should be con-
sidered by any community as in any
measure an eXtenuation of this dread.
full crime. No consideration of that
kind can furnish palliation or excuse
for the horrible offences charged il
this indictment. Whatever reason
may have existed for the feeling of the
| community on this subject there were
other and legal ways in which thai
| feeling might manifest itself, and 9th
| er and legal remedies for such com
! plants, whether we'll or Ill founded
| The very foundation of society will bt
| broken up if the wild and lawless ele
| ments which in every community re
| quire the wholesale restraints of tht
| law are allowed upon any preteXt o
| for any reason to take upon themselve
| the right to say who shall discharg,
| public functions and kill and burn tn,
! objects of their displeasure. The mos
| temperate statement of the offenc,
charged in this indictment, the sim
| plest detail of the circumstances at
tending the execution OF the conspir
acy therein charged, is so calculated
to excite the horror of all just-minde,
| men that the court forbears to max
any further comment"
| The returning of true bill does not
| of course, assure final conviction, an
until the final verdict is rendered
will be premature to say that tn
south has manhood enough in it 1
insure adequate punishment for sue,
an atrocious crime. But the diligenc
shown by the federal officials in prose
cutting this case is in any outcom
worthy of respect. The trial will be
gin this morning, and inasmuch a
two of the suspects have turne
states evidence and divulged all tn
details of the affair, enabling the gov
ernment to summon 160 witnesse!
some of whom can hardly fail to re
spect the solemnity of their oath, tn
hope for a conviction is strong. Th
mob planned in insane prejudice an
murdered in passion, but the law ha
worked coolly and with imperturbabl
patience, and in its triumph societ
cannot fail to read a salutary lesson.