Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17

Regulator IS the latest name adopted
by the people who think they are Justiiieo
in taking human life, and who are Known
to law-abiding people as "lynchers Ihe
murder OF an innocent man In FIorloa Only
last week has been commented upon by
members of anti-ly nching organizations
and is to be used an argument against
the taking of life In such a manner.
That is by no means the first case in
this country in which an innocent man was
lynched," a Star repof n was told by
mar in official life. I'VE have had lynch
ings in this section of the country IN
which the victims were not shown to nave
committed the crimes for which they were
made to pay the penalty Only a Few
years ago there a man lynched in
Montgomery county for crime when ne
PROFESSIONALLY knew nothing about and
last year a man was lynChed across the
river in Virginia when there was no legal
proof to connect him with murder Tor
" hich he paid the death penalty
Its astonishing how bold the members
of such mobs become. In the Virginia case
they killed a helpless man who had not
the slightest chance to defend himself
against the cowardly mob. The crime was
committed in the daytime, and was wit
messed by scores of people, but 1t was i'm
possible to convict the gentlemen murder
ers as the witnesses who knew them did
rot appear. Several persons were arrested.
but the proof showed that they had no con-
neCtion with the case.
For some reason it seems impossible to
convict these men who so willing to
take human life and set a bad example for
the younger generation. 1t will be a good
thing for the country when the people have
been taught to stop this method of trying
people AID condemning them to death. |
remember the case of man named Cock
ing who was lynched in Charles county,
Md, few years ago. In which an inno-
~ 70 y =
man was driving along the road. and some
of the mob thought he their intended
victim. and that his being in a buggy was
only ruse to put them on the wrong
track
"Lynchers are necessarily towards" he
said. and l hope the day will come when
the intended victims of mobs will be given
opportunity to defend themselves
There is reason, under ordinary con-
ditiOnS, why a man who has been picked
out to die in this way should not be given
means of defense. Some years ago an old
man who was incarcerated IN a Maryland
Jail suspected that he was to be lynched
and so told the sheriff He said he wanted
no life lost on his account and suggested
that he was fully able to protect the jail
and himself, if the sheriff would let him
have the necessary weapons. The officer
in charge OF the prison refused his request.
but put a strong guard about the jail and
saved the prisoner from the hands of the
mob that night.
Give the prisoners the means of self
protection and a few visits from the self
appointed executioners may end so dis
astrously that the practice of taking human
life in this unlawful manner may be
stopped
* x
The civil service commission has been
making extraordinary efforts of late to get
suitable teachers for schools in the Philip
pines. Many letters of inquiry have been
received from persons In different parts of
the country. A letter received this week
from man in South Carolina is unique 1t
is as follows:
Dear Sir l notice you are wanting
teachers to 60 to the Philippines. l have
been spending some time in school and l
think | have a very good knowledge of how
teaching should be done. | have always
felt it my duty to help lifte up falling hui
mainly. If you will commission me l will
go and work..
Not for the price nor the good name nor
for the honor that l may gain by men.
But for the establishment of education
and for the light of civilzssion and the
spreading of gods rich gospel 1 am willing
to go. | am living at home in a good sivile
part of the county and have a good time.
But | am willing to sackifise.
How do you want any one to go?
by what means? and what terms
What time and how soon do you want any
ones to go? How long will you compelle
them to say? Please let me hear from you
at once.
, Yours truly