The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-28
THE DETECTIVE FROM CHICAGO.

I'LL DLlLOllfL thUn ClllCAUU.
Atlanta Constitution.
The Constitution is in receipt of letter
from business friend in New York City,
asking about the report of that Chicago
detective as to the merits OF the Sam Holt
case, taken in connection with a letter
written by T. Thomas Fortune, in the
New York San.
1T is difficult for any reputable news
paper to attempt to answer the falsehoods
set afoat by inscriptions men who may
be purchased for so much money to make
any kind of an article which may be ac-
cepted by a gullible editor.
The rawlings OF this man Fortune pos
sess no element worthy OF attention. He
is one of those colored men who argue
about the question at a safe distance, and
whose principal capital is in trying to
appear TO be prosecuted. AS for what
may have been said by tramp detec-
tive who felt called upon TO earn his
salary 1t is not worthy OF notice. The
charge made that a lady of the character
and standing of Mrs. Crawford would lend
herself to such diabolical conspiracy as
Is mapped out. could only have its origin
In depraved minds whether black or white.
There are times when 1t fatigues the i'm
agination to be called upon to notice the
mouthings of the vicious and the ire
sponsble. As to the truth of the Incl
dents which led to the execution OF Sam
Holt IL is beyond question, and can not
be disputed by any decent man. The
whole facts are known to the clergyman
OF the district whore the offense was com
United 10 the officers, to such men as
former Governor w. Y. Atkinson. who
sought TO prevent the lynching, and to the
governor OF this state. OF course, to
those people who prefer the words of
strolling negroes and detectives to men
or this class, IL would be useless TO pre-
sent evidence; but there is one point in
the letter of this man Fortune to which
the Constitution may be permitted to re-
ply. II Is to this effect:
wv. A. Hsmphill. president and busi
ness manager, and Clark Howell. editor of
the Atlanta Constitution, contributed more
TO the burning than any other men and
all other forces In Georgia. Through the
columns or their paper they exaggerated
every detail of the killing, invented and
published intiammatory descriptions of
ehhd that was never committed, and by
glarlng headlines continually suggested
'eAN
offered a reward of $500 blood money for
the capture OF the fugitive, and during all
the time OF the man hunt they never made
one suggestion that the law should have
It's course"
We reproduce this paragraph. not for
the purpose OF answering 1t for the salts
faction OF either Fortune or those who
read with him: but for the purpose OF
showing our readers the unparalleled men
tksifh tashf ab Al
OF liberal assaults upon women is being
conducted by those people. The readers
OF the Constitution will we'll remember
the urgent appeal which the Constitution
made, not only for the capture of the
criminal; but that he should be legally
tried and executed They will also re-
member that the offer OF reward was
for the delivery of the fugitive to the
ofleers OF the law for the purpose OF such
trial. In view OF these VIGOROUSLY false
declarations, twill be a long time before
IL VIII become necessary "for white people
OF Georgia to dlsprove Detective Levin's
statement" because previous to the es-
enlistment OF any such necessity, Detec-
tive Levin must first make plain his own
crediblity.
But putting all this aside, the main
question yet remains to be considered. and
the Constitution has no hesltancy in an
T.
nave condemned 1t time after time On
no occasion have we ever condoned it;
and Notwithstanding repeated proyoca-
tons, we will continue TO urge upon ex-
asperated people the preferable policy OF
appealing to the law, rather than 10 the
irregular methods OF the mob. But while
We are engaged in this effort. II is la
mentable that those who claim to be the
leaders OF the negro race. and those white
editors OF the north who assume to be
their friends are more engaged In denouno-
ing the unlawful death of the known Grim
mails than they are In calling upon the
eolored people to build up a record FOR
morality and virtue which will insure
them against any attack. The poor, out
ragged and Inundated victim OF lust is
sneeringly dismissed as unworthy OF sym.
pathy and unworthy OF belief. while all
the sympathy and credulity are wasted
upon the criminal who has so violated
nature itself
The white people OF the South Will con-
tinue to uphold the higher virtues through
the orderly execution OF the law with ali
their might: but II occasionally we hear
OF short shrift being given to dastardly
wretch who has invaded the home. II mus.
not be forgotten how these people have
been goaded on by the misplaced sym.
pathy which is given to crime and crimi-
nails by those who assume to be mentors
Of a higher civilization.