The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-05-25
A TRAGEDY RECALLED.

Ten months ago the country Mortified over the de-
tails of the killings which for day stalked through the
press of the country as the New Orleans riots
1t will be recalled that after he had made the murderous
assaults which provoked the whole bloody tragedy Rob-
Charles disappeared
He located in a house which he had converted into
miniature arsenal where surrounded by the gang who
had secreed him. he fought to finish those who attempt
ed to take him. From the killing of the first policeman
by Charles to his death the riot cost thirteen
people their lives, while twenty eight more were
wounded n
These furnished texts for editors from one
side of the continent to the other The New England
ton fumed after its wonted STYLE while the whole country
brought to face characteristic of the negro known
to every man who familiar with the race This was
his disposition to shield and harbor his kind when in
trouble and to thereby make himself willing party to
any and every crime 1t was this shielding Of Charles
that probably much aught ese ncensed the peope
Of New Orleans.
When the house finally taken ten negroes were
captured in it. BY the fire kept up from Charles hiding
place five white lost their lives 1t was taken as
matter of course by the South haters generally that the
captured gang would be promptly ynched New Orleans
disappointed these gentlemen and determined to leave
the fate of the gang the slow processes of the law
few days since, three of those who had occupied the
building from which had been killed five white men, were
put trial in the criminal court of New Orleans charged
with murder. Two OF them were ordered declared not
guilty by the COURT against jury returned verdict
of manslaughter Inasmnch the accused was either
guilty of murder not guilty ALL his attorney applied
for, and secured trial Realizing the mpossbiity
of securing conviction for murder the prosecuting at
torney threw up his hands and with the consent of the
court withdrew the charge Of murder. Similar action
promptly taken the of the other seven and
thus ten negroes who had been present at and had be-
yond thedoubt of any reasonable participated in the
killing of FIVE white citizens Of New OrIeans-each of
whom was dscharging duty under the Iaw-were &C
quilted of the guilt Of murder, and held only on the min
or charge of harbOrng criminal So much for the facts
of the case.
The question arises, is this the law and is It
The answer is Yesand No. This instance has furnished
the rare case Of ten negroes accused Of the same rime
some of whom absolutely guilty. and some possibly
amongst themselves the only evidence
Of tho guilt OF any of their number and each refus
ing testify against the other. There was no outside
witness to their SHOOTING and it's not likely that even
hey could have testified to which of them fred fatal
shot They had but to MAINTAIN their noncommttal at
ude and the mpossbiity of cohvcting any of them of
murder assured Yet some, or ALL of them were
clearly enough, guilty.
The law would rather that ninety and nine guilty should
cape than innocent suffer- the administration of JUS
ice beyond the laws established forms would bunch the
ne with The ninety-nine and, on the very reasonable
sumption that all being t0eethor al we're eouallvI
niY. would promptly hang the whole business