The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-09
AN UNJUST REFLECTION.

At no time IN history have the
people of any community been more un-
deservedly slandered than the good peo-
the jury in the Wilcox case. This SLAM
der has been confined to a few news
papers, which have based their unjust re-
fiections upon false and misleading re-
ports. One paper has even gone so far
as to predict that capital would be driven
from Elizabeth City because of the action
of it's people in the Wilcox case-as
silly AMI absurd prediction as was ever
made,
matter? A young lady disappears from
her home, is seen last with Wilcox, whose
reputation is not good, and her body is
afterwards found in the river. During
the weeks of investigation and natural
wrath against the murderer the peo-
pie of Elizabeth City resort to no vio-
lence, though convinced of the guilt of
Wilcox. He is safe, free from danger of
mob law. and the people with one &C.
communities where there is not profound
respect for law and the legal and fair
trial of men charged with crime, Wilcox
would have been summarily dealt with
Immediately after the disappearance Of
the young lady of whose murder he has
been found guilty. Instead OF any dan
safe. The people appointed committee
which sifted the evidence, and the COM
munity presented during all this period
an object lesson in law abiding, worthy
of all praise.
There has not been a fairer trial in
North Carolina than was given Wilcox.
He was defended by able and eloquent
lawyers, tried by as fair and impartial
4 judge as ever wore the ermine, and
found guilty by a jury whose motives
and integrity are lot impugned And yet
when the verdict of guilty is rendered,
forthwith there is in certain quarters a
howl of abuse of the good people of Eliz-
abeth City because the sentiment is al
most universal that Wilcox is guilty.
Holding such an opinion does not warrant
the unjust reflection upon the people Of
Elizabeth City. They are a conservative
law abiding people, slow to wrath. The
fact that the people of that city, where
Wilcox is known best, believe he is
guilty is to us an indication pointing to
his guilt. A whole community would not
hold that view without good cause. Ger
tainly it does not give warrant for the
severe structures that have been passed
iron the people by few papers.
AS to the verdict, there is difference
Of opinion as to whether it was in accord
ance with the evidence. That difference
of opinion is an honest one. All those
PEOPLE who do not believe that any man
should be convicted upon circumstantial
evidence of course disapprove the verdict
No circumstantial evidence could be so
y
fenGant Of crime. There are others who
believe there was a reasonable doubt,
and others still who declare there was no
evidence upon which Wilcox could be con-
victed. On the other hand there are
many who agree with the News and OBJ
server thatit was "a righteous verdict"
But there N no reason why honest men
who have Soached opposite conclusions
should permit their views to cause them
TO do wrong 70 the orderly character of
eastern North Carolina. During the
whole time from the disappearance of the
young lady the people of that city have
borne themselves in such way as to
advertise their devotion to law and order.
The exodus from the court house while
an honored member of the bar was de-
Tending Wilcox is the only incident that
criticism But aside from that the peo-
pie of Elizabeth City in a crisis that
title TO be regarded as a city of law
abiding men. There is no excuse or rea-
son in the animadversions that have been
made upon the city.
Mr.. Stand And-Deliver Pope, who was