The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-14
JUDGE DOUGLAS MAKES REPLY.

JUDGE DOUGLAS MAKES REPLY.
Denies That There Has Been ANY In
crease of Lynchings in the State.
BY way of reply to Judge Clark CON
curing opinion is filed by Judge Dou-
glas. He says:
Il am unwilling to rest under the
charge that the increase of lvnchings
is caused by the inability of the courts
to protect society from murderers. In
the first place | do not think there has
been any increase of lynchings in this
State, where it has been extremely rare:
and even if our courts We're inefficient
which / emphatically deny, | do not see
how our alleged laXity should increase
lynchings in other States without hay-
ing any such effect in our own. Such
suggestions do great injustice to our
State and may do great harm by en-
couraging the very outrage they profess
to denounce. In any event they tend
to weaken, especially when coming from
such Il source, the respect of the peo-
pie for the administration of justice,
which is the foundation of social order
/ feel safe in saying that the courts of
this State are fully competent to protect
our citizens, and able to do so without
denying to anyone the equal protection
of the law.
'''The temple of justice contains no al
tar of sacrifice, nor do the people of
North Carolina demand sacrifice for
the sins of ten thousand murderers
throughout the country.
Va f1n1I hat -hr,
have money enough to retain able coun-
sci are rarely convicted of murder. Are
they ever lynched? If they are never
lynched, then lynch law can in no sense
be regarded as a protest against their
acquittal.
:" 1t is always a matter of deep regret
when men whose talents and position
should make them the leaders of their
people, permit themselves, i'll the heat
of contention or the zeal of reform, to
do or say things that are unjust to their
fellow-men, and tend to bring into dis
repute the tribunals of justice and the
laws of the land. Feeling as | do, more
I do not wish to say, less | could not
say.
Il concur in the opinion of the court
THE STORY OF RHYMES CRIME.
Had to be Taken to Raleigh to Prevent
Lynching.
The laws delays are responsible for
most of the apologies Of lynch law. Here
is an illustration of fact:
In November 1898. q negro by the
name of Phons Rhyme murdered Mr..
II. G.. Falls, one of the best men in Gas
ton county. The account of the murder
was thus given in the Gastonia Gazette
of Nov. 24th, 1898:
1.-THE deed occurred at Mr.. Falls gin
house about sunset. A negro named
Alphonso Rhyme, in the employ of Mr..
Frank Boyd, was at the gin. A Write
man named Frank Parrish. employed
at the gin, was displeased at a repre-
hensible act of Rhyme and words follow
ed. The men became angry and the me-
gro was violently cursing the white
man. At this juncture, the attention OF
Mr. Falls, who was at supper, was di-
rected to the quarrel ont at the gin. He
arose and stepped to the SCENE of trou-
BILE. Come with me and let's see what's
the matter with you and Frank OF.
some such pacifying expression was us
ed by Mr.. Falls as he touched Rhyme
on the shoulder or took him by the arm
and turned toward the engine room.
Hands off, get away from me.' eXclaim-
ed Rhyme as he quickly plunged a knife
not before seen, into Mr.. Falls body,
making Il deep wound in the lower left
side of the abdomen. He then broke
away and fled in great haste. Mr.. Falls
walked to his home and all the surgical
aid that could possibly be of avail was
speedily summoned. Mr.. Falls
died Sunday afternoon"
The murderer escaped. So great was
the indignation that a reward of $500
was offered for his capture. He was
caught near Forest City, running like
a deer He was taken to Shelby. A
special to the Charlotte Observer said:
News of the capture reached Gastonia
about the middle of the afternoon. With
in few minutes a squad of about 40
horsemen, many of them carrying guns
galloped along Main street, causing al
most panic of excitement. Many
thought they We're intent on a lynching
trip. but they We're only a Gordon who
had been standing guard in the rain along
the approaches to town.
lit is said that crowd Of 30 men
rode to Shelby that night to get the pris-
oner and make short work of him. They
were assured by Messrs. Falls and
Thompson that the negro was not in Jail
and the sheriff offered to allow them to
go through all the cells. They were dis
appointed
"A private letter from prominent citi-
zen of Gastonia says:
There certainly We're suggestions of
lynching. Nothing, it seems, except Gas
toms good record for hanging people
who belong to be hanged and Sheriff
Tom Loves fine strategy saved the fed
low from the mob"
Even then. in order to prevent lynch
ing, Judge Starbuck felt called upon to
have the prisoner brought to Wake jail
for safe keeping.
The negro was tried in March. 1899.
and after an hours dehberation, the jury
a verdict of guilty of murder in
the first degree" and Judge Coble SEN
fenced Rhyme to be hung. Rhyne's