The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-23
SOME NORTHERN ADVICE
Letter From Northwest Calls Our Law
Disgrace to Civilization
NO RECORD or THE CASE YET RECEIVED
The -Four Men, Two White and Two Colored,
10 Die February 26th Newspaper In
terview With Mr.. Alexander
the Intended Victim.

The Governor assuredly does not lack
raen and two negroes under sentence OF
death at Asheville for burglary and at
tempted murder. Letters are coming to
His Excellency every day, some asking
that he pardon the desperadoes, others
urging him not tc exercise his right of
executive clemency.
Some Of these letters come from North
ern individuals who are much disturbed
in mind over North Cardinals law making
burglary with attempt at murder a CAPT.
TEL onense. Some of these letters are
anonymous, One from an Indiana town
WEE signed observer, Box 90" The Gov
ernor replied TO this Indiana guardian of
North Carolina morals that if the writer
wanted to give him, (the GOVERNOR, adj
vice, he would have TO sign his name.
Another virtuously indignant writer from
the Northwest. either Illinois or Indiana,
unhestatingly and naturally without fear
or favor. at the distance that he was re-
moved, informed Governor Aycock in no
unmeasured terms that the law was a
disgrace TO civilization This frankness
is really refreshing, quite as much so as
the freshness is delicious to a faded
mind.
But the Governor merely smiled when
talking of these letters yesterday, and
a !,
sign of our development that We no Ion
ger notice Northern criticism, but remain
perfectly self contained in the even tenor
Of our way.
No ofcial record of the case has yet
been received by the Governor, but there
seems to be doubt that one will be be-
tore long.
There +ire1 only four States in the Union
where burglary is capital oifense, and
consequently this case is attracting wide
attention.
The crime was committed about a year
ago at Emma, Buncombe county. The
convicted men entered the postoffice
there for the purpose of robbery, hold
ing up the assistant postmaster, Mr.. S
H. Alexander He resisted them, and
they shot him, inficting a wound which
came near resulting in his death. The
four men We're convicted of burglary in
The first degree. On appeal, the Supreme
court affirmed the decision of the lower
court.
Many people have urged Mr.. Alexander
10 ask the Governor to commute the SEN
tcncc. but he has so far refused to do
So saying in a newspaper interview:
Tho robbers entered the store pre-
Jared and resolved as their subsequent
actions proved, to kill ne in case l re-
sisted. Ny mind is made up in regard
10 the matter. ! will sign no petitions
either in favor of or against the men.
They committed a crime which is pun
ishable in this State by death They
have been tried by fair jury and SEN
fenced by an honorable judge. They have
appealed 10 the highest court in the
state and the judgment of the lower
court, that they must die, has been con-
firmed
The laws were made by the Legis-
lature and while they stand must be
carried out. The only chance now
open to the men is executive clemency.
but shall not move in the matter either
way.
! an sorry from the bottom of my
heart forN these depraved criminals. but
they have brought their fate on them
selves and must suffer for their crime