The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-24

courts show that for Il long series OF
years, which embrace a period Wneh
crime and lawiessnesS were rampant else
where, her people were orderly ana Ia"
respecting and few if any were brought
to the bar of public justice to answer
for heinous offences against the dignity
and majesty of the law. Recently the
criminal records of the county have
shown a decided change in this respect
Homicides and murders have increased
10 such an extent as to win for our
county an unenyable leputa ton on the
other extreme.
Within the last four months four
honlicideS have been committed IN the
county, and some of them under clrcura-
stances so aatrociouS as to stamp them as
..u,,IrderS most foul" These crimes,
with a single exception tthc murder Oh
Dr.. Temple by Riddc1), have all been
con Fitted by negroes upon negroes, anu
the white people are in no way lnFolFeo.
Nevertheless they are chargeabie 10 me
county and go to mar "a reputation o.
which our people have had just cause
to he proud. With an increase of popu-
lation it is but natural that there shouid
he an increase of crime, but in this IN
stance the increase of crime has neeh OUT
of all proportion to the increase OF Pobu-
1ation and we are constrained TO search
elsewhere for the cause. for cause 'iiete
must be for every such outbreah or epi-
demic Of criminal lawlessness, winch II
,,a1,no,,as every citizen to aid in discover
ing and eradicating when 1t IS ulsco'-
cred.
In conversation with one of the most
thong .tful and intelligent citizens Oh Inc
county a few days ago on the SUBJECT '" {
INQUIRED Of him whether he could Suggest
any theory to account for the recent III
crease in the number OF homlc'des con-
n,itted by the negroes in this county ne
REPLIED, without hesitation, that in ms
opinion the phenomenal increase III tiie
number of homicides is due to the ms
carriage of Justice in certain cases when
had been tried in the county, ana IN
which the accused did not have meted
out to them the degree of punishment
which the law prescribed for the offenses,
of which, in pubic opinion, they were
clearly proved to have been guilty. ana
continuing, said: "When these two cases
to which I refer were tried and one or
the parties sent to the penitentiary, and
the other acquitted and turned loose, as
a nero. among his fellows, l then pre-
dicted that we would have just the condl-
tons of which you now complain. The
sequel shows that my prediction mas oeeh
literally verified
If our friend is right in his diagnosis,
and we are strongly inclined to the oplh-
ion mat he is, then it is plain that the
remedy for the evil lies in the rigid,
prompt and impartial enforcement of the
law in every instance. There should De
no mawkish sentimentalty about hang
ing a man who is clearly proved to be
guilty of a crime for which the death
penalty is prescribed by law. Lenlency
to such a person is injustice to the COM
munity upon whom his act brings re-
proach. 1t destroys reverence and respect
for the law. and offers a premium for its
violation. 1t has been nearly fifty years
since capital punishment was inflicted in
this county. In all of that long period
until recently, there have been no crimes
committed for which that penalty is pre-
scribed. But now it seems that the law
less element embroidered by their mag
ined immunity from punishment, have de-
termincd to make up for lost time. A
few convictions and hangings would bring
this class to their senses and put a stop
TO the evil