The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-17
a MAN WHO DID HIS DUTY.

There is no sort Of doubt that the
crying need OF this new and expand
ing country is broader and wiser law.
makers. in legislative chambers and
on benches Unjust OF One-sided laws.
and untimely legislation. entangling
and harassiug enactments and insup-
portable rulings from the bench have
done much 20 destroy popular respect
for the code and courts and 10 excuse
men who have dared take the laws in
10 their own hands says the News
While this is true. il remains never
theless the duty OF every good citizen
10 abide by and adhere 10 the laws
OF the land as it IS written There is
a way TO make and 10 unmake these
rules OF society. and the proper rem
edy for failures in courthouse OF state
house Is found at the ballot box. There
is no adequate excuse for one man who
takes the law into his own hand. and
just as little excuse FOR a thousand
men who unite with purpose to do 80
A remarkable criminal trial has just
been completed at Ashville. Ala II
was an effort 90 convict Of murder
the sheriff OF the county. j. l. North.
who killed one OF the mob that tried
10 lynch a prisoner in the Sheriff's
charge. II was remarkable that Sher.
IN North is one of the first officers in
all the South who braved a mob's
vengeance and went TO the extent OF
f'-- upon men who were attempting
10 limit murder. The case attract.
ed much attention all over the South.
and the ablest counsel in Alabama
were employed on one side or the
other
The attack upon the St Clair court
house was made in August last. while
a negro named Brown was on trial
| for criminal assault The trial was
proceeding with all due haste. and
it was certain that the negro would
! be convicted He has since been le-
/ gally hanged But the mob would not
wait for the law to take its course
and attacked the seat OF justice
Sheriff North and his posse knew
their duty and did IT, They fred upon
the mob, killing a young man named
Blankenship and injuring two others
Instead OF being praised for having
done as the law commanded. the Sher-
In was widely censured He was
placed under arrest. gave a heavy
bond for his appearance at trial on
the charge of murder and was put
TO the expense OF making a defense
The trial ended with a verdict OF
mot guilty" So strong was the feeling
at Ashyille against the fearless officer
that Gov. Jelks sent 20 guard the
court and prisoner a detail OF hfty
selected men from the Third regiment
OF the state guard, stationed at Bir-
mingham. The crowds in St Clair
We're so large and their conduct so
Threatening that Col Higdon. com
manding the soldiers. sent for addi-
tional men. The trial passed on. how.
ever, without any disorder and the
brave sheriff was trlumphantly win.
dicated.
The News considers the verdict a
timely lesson to other sheriffs and TO
other mobs. With the knowledge that
men like Sheriff North are behind
the guns will come wholesome respect
for the law on the part Of the mobs
and the South will no longer be dis.
graced by having criminals taken
from its jails and burned at the stake.
Sheriff North has done more to II
TO the good name OF Alabama than
many men who have been honored d
by the State with high official pos.