The leader., 1899-08-30
A MOCKERy OF LAW AND JUSTICE

1
special term of the Circuit Court
convened on the first Monday in De.
cember, 1897. The county Jail was full
OF men charged with murder, and the
honored Circuit Judge of this districr
In stirring charge to the grand jury
which should still ring in the ears OF
every good citizen, adverted to the fact
that over 20 homicides had beenre port.
ed to him as having occurred in the
county during the preceding IL months
and in earnest and eloquent words ap.
pealed to the law-abiding element to
rally to the support of the court and
vindicate the majesty of the law.
Responding to the inspiration of that
charge, which was like bugle call to
duty, the grand jury did its duty nobly.
The petit juries, too, did measurably
well, and as the net outcome of trials
for capital offenses at that term five
men we're convicted of murder and one
for rape. In four of these cases the
petit juries fixed the penalty at i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary for life,
and two of the murderers were SEN
fenced to be hung. The term was held
during some of the worst December
weather ever seen in this country. the
public roads were in a horrible condi-
tion, and it was a real hardship on
jurors, bailiffs and witnesses to re-
spond to the mandates of the court,
the exposure resulting in much suffer-
ing, sickness and in few instances
even death. The cash cost of this
special term of three weeks footed up
over $4,000.
But the moral atmosphere was
greatly clarified by the good work done,
confidence in the courts to punish
crime reasserted itself, no body com.
planned of the cost, the lawless ele-
ment was on the run and the good
effects of that term of court could be
felt for awhile on every hand.
However, in due course, three of the
convicted murderers took an appeal to
the Supreme Court. That tribunal af-
firmed the death sentence of Silas
Davis (the only negro in the lot but
before execution, this sentence was
commuted by the Governor to impris-
onment in the penitentiary for life.
When the other two cases were passed
on by the Supreme Court, they were
reversed and remanded, and ON a sec
ond trial in the court below one of the
murderers plead guilty to manslaught-
er and received ten years sentence
and the other was cleared.
Scarcely had the death sentence of
Silas Davis been commuted and King
and Fore granted new trial, than the
wholesome effects wrought by that
special term of the Lincoln Circuit
Court began to dissipate like mist be-
fore an August sun. The moral re-ac-
ton which Immediately followed
amounted almost toa slump, and the
lawless spirit, ever regnant where it
dare to be, began at once to reassert it.
self. Things have gradually gone on
from bad to worse since that time until
now more than dozen murderers are
under indictment to be tried at the
next term of court, with probably sew
eral others to hear from.
Under such a state of public demor-
alization, it is not surprising that the
relatives of the two remaining white
murderers, sentenced for life less than
two years ago, with devotion and 10y
atty that are commendable in them, set
about circulating and are now publish
ing in the county papers petitions soon
to be presented to the Governor, for
their full and free pardon. The sur
prising part is that in the light of the
history and conditions we have recited
"a record in no particular over drawn
men and women who think them
selves good citizens and are opposed to
murder, will lend their names and in
fluence to such an effort. The whole
proceedings might we'll be looked upon
as solemn farce were it not for the
awful and bloody consequences of such
| trifilng with law and justice. Many
people will sign any kind of petition
presented to them, without serious
thought or question. Many haven't the
moral backbone to do what their judg-
ment dictates and say no. In cases OF
this sort many others sign through
well-intended but misdirected sympa-
thy, not stopping to think that they
are sowing dragons teeth to be reaped
by their own and their neighbors' boys
and are making two murderers for
every one they help to escape the pen,
atty of his crime. They overlook the
fact that the law does not inflict pun,
ishment upon it's violators in spirit OF
revenge, but for the exemplary effect
a just administration of punishment
will have in deterring others from the
commission of crime.
The editor of this paper has been
approached more than once and re-
quested not to comment upon or throw
any obstacles in the way of the effort
to secure the pardon of these men, but
we will not hold our peace under ex
isting conditions, even if in the end we
ourself fall the victim of some assas
sins bullet. The simple fact is, unpal
atable as 1t may be to those who read
these lines, no man in Lincoln county
has any security for his life if any one
has sufficient against him to desire hin
put out of the way by the gun-powdel
route. The law against murder is 9