Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-02-15
coon FOR MIsSIsSlPpI

laws.
GOOD FOR MISSISSIPPI.
The prompt conviction of Cooke and
Lauderdale and the apparent certain
ty that they will hang for the murder
OF Engineer Rhea speak volumes for
the aroused conscience Of Mississippi,
The manner Ia which the trial was
conducted, not less than Its result,
does the greatest credit TO the admin.
istration VI Justice in our nelghboring
state;-Aeppbis Scimitar.
The conviction Of the murderers of
Railway Engineer Rhea in the special
Washington county, court term was no
more than should have been expected.
At the same time, the verdict Of gull
ty as charged, and the lnfliction of the
death sentence by Judge Larkin, will
afford sense of relief and gratIficaN
tion to every good citizen of the states
The paratve :impunlty with which
the crime of murder has been com.
milted of late years has gone to a de-
gree that has shamed the state and
alarmed the public. But 1t had be-
come apparent to every one, except
the criminals, that life taking was
nearing that turning point which
awaits all criminal epidemiLs-where
tue question is squarely presented
that the law must be enforced or gov
eminent fail. When such a crisis is
reached long suffering is exhausted
some deed of exceptional atroclty
arouses the instincts of community
self-preservation, and the law tri-
umphs.
The example, of Judge Ldrkln's spe-
cial term, with those so recently fur
nished in Lafayette and Kinds counS
ties, come atan aospicious time. Such
signal victories of law will, we feel
sure, prove contagious. Their repres>
sive effect will be felt all over the state
upon the mob and murder spirit which
has gone too long unchecked It is
tolerance of this spirit that sows the
dragon teeth which bear so bountiful-
ly of bloodshed. Had Ashley Cooke
been punished for his first attempt at
murder-as he would have been but
for family influence and recreant pub
lie opinion-his "homicIdal mania''
would have been cured. Had his neck
been stretched for. his first murder, as
it would have been but for the same
reasons, a dozen lives would have been
saved. Here we have an illustration
of the vice of giving consideration for
the criminal, precedence over law
The train of cause and effect cOnvicts
the court and the jury that turn ass
sassins and murderers loose, of blood
outlines for their after deeds. This
is a reflection that should be with
every good citizen when called upon
to serve his country In such capacity.
When crime. challenges law, as In
this case, there IS presented funda>
mental test of self-g0verning capaci-
ty. And woe to that country when
thus confronted which does not rise
to the demands of so grave an emer>
gency-in which public opiulon does
not assert its innate strength and
majesty and call halt on the crimi-
nails. fortunately the cruel murder
of the band of Bolivar county hood
lums was committed in a county
that is not in the degraded class where
shysters and officers cOnnlve at jury
packing, and justice is Knocked in its
temple. 1t looks like a providence
that Ashley Cooke, whose trail of neal
twenty years is marked By innocent
/ blood and violence-and the crew thai
did murder at his bidding should
have crossed the dead line of Wash
Iington county border.
All communities have their limit
4 of sufferance of crime. And it may b.
be that the long cheated Nemesi
would have overtaken Cooke anyway
10 spite of the insanity plea which /
4 the last refuge Of the wretch who's
pastime is numbering innocent men,
But his fate was fixed In Washington
county-a county wherein until YER
recently hoodlum outbreaks and lynch
ing were unknown. Upon the occa
sion Of this diabollc act, which stlrrel
this whole section Of the state witt
wrath, the best sentiment OF one o
the best counties was directly inspire
: by the example of It's leading citfzcl
and lawyer, who took the prosecution
after refusing TO defend at ''any price.
"Not for ten thousand dollars" b
said, "would I appear before a Wash
lngto county Jury In defense Of such
monstrous and coward deed" And 0
the numerous morals TO be Idrawl
from the event perhaps the best !
suggested here: That the good caus
can never be called lost when goo
men-men of character and leader
shlp--draw the sword and throw ava
the scabbard 10 its behalf. -Vlcks
burg Herald.
-es-a-st--