The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-01-27

Senator Adams has introduced the
following bill In the Senate, which has
been referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee:
AN ACT TO SUPPRESS MOB VIOLENCE,
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legisla-
ture OF the State Of Mississippi, That any
this State. or of any county or municipality
thereof. having u prisoner In his custody,
shall suffer the prisoner to be unlawfully
taken from him. and while being. so taken,
or as a consequence thereof, manned, Grip
pied or killed. the Office held by such officer
shall Immediately become vacant, and he
shall not thereafter exercise any OF the
functions thereof, or receive any emolu-
ment therefrOm.
SEC. 9. In case any prisoner, while In the
custody OF any such officer. be crippled or
him, from custody In order to put him TO
death. he shall have a right Of action
against the county in which he. shall have
been so crippled or MANNED and may recov-
er two thousand dollars; and in case a pris-
oner while in the custody Of such officer. or
AS a consequence Of having been taken
may sue therefor within three MONTHS. or II
his heirs do not sue within such time. his ad-
ministrator shall have a. right Of action
against the county in which he shall have
been murdered. and may recover three
thousand dollars.
SEC. B.. II any person. not having be en- i'm
bCtOIt III thC Cu-ttu - All OlitCI
shall be murdered by a mob or unlawful as
sembly, his heirs, who may sue therefor
within three months. or, II his heirs do not
sue within said tire, his administrator shall
have Il right OF action against the county in
which he shall have been murdered, may re-
cover three thousand dollars.
SEC. 4. Suits may be brought under the
provision of this act In the circuit court OF
the county sued, which Is given full, ample
and complete Jurisdiction thereof, but they
one year from the infiiction Of the injury.
SEC. s. This act shall be in force from its
passage.
The Clarion>Ledger publishes the
abov, remarkable bill ia full so that
the public may see and understand it,
and that no injustice may be done in
the comments that follow:
This paper has already spoken out
agains, the radical propositions above
advanced. and wishes now to re-em-
pbasize with all the emphatic force Of
its nature, the views 1t has before TX
pressed. whether popular or unpopular.
The first proposition, to deprive a
sheriff OF his Office. to which he was
elected for four years, MS fixed by the
constitution, without due process Of
law, is clearly unconstitutional. Sec
tiou 1875 of the constitution, fixes the
tel m OF sheriff's office at four years
Section 1873 says, "the Legislature may
empower the Governor to remove and
appoint offc ,rs, under such regulations
as may be prescribed by law;' but the
bill OF Mr.. Adams declares the sher-
IFS Office shall Immediately become
vacant II he allows a mob TO overpower
and take a prisoner from him. The
constitution grants no such power as Is
proposed by the Adams bill. The
legislature may authorize the Cover
nor to make removals, but it cannot
make "a law declaring an Office vacant
ipso facto. Ard il it had the power, IL
would be INDUSTRIOUS to apply it in such
cases.
The propositions contained 10 the
other sections. the first OF which pro-
p0ses 10 allow suits. giving persons
who may he MANNED or injured by
mobs, right of action against the coun-
ty to recover $4,000, and the other,
giving relatives or administrators OF a
person killed by "a mob, the right to
recover SO, 900, are equally objections.
bic.
Pause for Il moment and contemplate
the spectacle:
A brute breaks into the room of a
pure, sweet girl, In the dead hour OF
the night. outrages her person; or, per-
chance. while his ~neighbor has gone
TO market 10 sell his cotton, and buy
recessrry articles. this brute goes TO
his house. murders his family, sets fire
10 the humble little home and burns