New-York tribune., 1901-09-18
DEALING WITH THE ASSASSIN.

The prosecution OF President McKinley's as
sassin has been undertaken with promptness,
decency and good sense highly creditable to the
officials OF Erie County. To them is left the task
OF dealing ont justice to the murderer and of
preventing him from becoming a hero and an
example to the vain and vicious, and 1t will be a
cause OF satisfaction 10 the whole country 10
know that the people Of Buffalo, who conducted
themselves with a genuine hospitality tender
sympathy and perfect taste throughout the days
of the tragedy's unfOldng-for which the ma
ton, well as President McKinley's personal
friends. are profoundly grateful-have turned
from the sad privilege of service and sympathy
TO the stern duty Of punishment with a deter
mination TO show NewYcrk justice equal to the
responsibility laid upon it.
A prompt trial is promised at which the as
sassin will not be permitted TO make show of
the court or iatter his own vanity as the mur-
derer of President Garfield allowed TO do,
TO the disgrace of our criminal law At the
same time all danger of reprOach that the
wretch did not have a fair trial is to be avoided
and eminent counsel have been selected who
can be trusted at once TO see that he has all his
rights and at the same time not TO indulge in
pettifoggng and spectacular plays 1t is OF the
utmost Importance that every requirement OF
law and order be observed American credit
and civilization have been promoted by the
obedience TO President Mcknley's own iniunc-
tions against any resort TO violence or lynch
law. II is to be hoped that passions are now so
far under control to make any such danger
remote, but it should nevertheless be guarded
against and the lesson of obedience to law even
In the face Of anarchy inculcated among our
people, who have been too much accustomed to
tolerate and indulge in anarchy in various
forms.
Besides protecting the prisoner from all vio-
lence and reserving him for the legal expation
of his crime, the officials should also keep him
In seclusion and prevent sensation mongers
from exploiting him and his views, photograph
Ing him and otherwise using him as an instru-
mept OF morbid suggestion TO crime 1t was
right and proper for the police to send forth and
the newspapers TO publish Immediately after
the crime the ''rogues' gallery" pictures of the
assassin. 1t was important 10 learn about him
and his associates, and il was possible that he
might be identified as having been seen at times
or In places which would have thrown light on
conspiracy. If one existed. This purpose has
been served by publications already made. and
further pictures Of him can only feed his vanity
and arouse the admiration Of the criminal or
semicriIninal classes Likewise ANYTHING like
exploitation of him or of his trial is likely 10
nave bad effect on the community The public
wants to know. and has a right TO know. the
leading facts connected with his prosecution.
but II is greatly to be hoped that the press in
general Will recognize that this is an instance
when patriotism demands curbng OF all de-
sires to make sensational stories. A verbatim
report OF all the wretch may say Is not leeiti-
mate news The Buffalo tragedy has had .