Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-27

who had taken human life, under all
manner Of circumstances, and without
a single exception they wore the brand
Of Cain upon their brows. There was
no pleasure or happiness In life for
them. Their existence was one long
reign of remorse and self-reproach,
and If they did not manifest the same
by word Of mouth, it could be seen In
the restless eye, and nervous starting
at every unusual noise. Many turned
for consolation to drink, which only
added fuel to the internal fires that
ever burned within them. Others
prospered, but during those intervals
when the mind was permitted to wan
der back to the past, looks Of haggard
misery overspread their faces. The
brand Of Cain was fixed upon human
blood by Divine vengeance, and only
death could erase it..
I remember, while living in Ogle-
thorpe county, Georgia, talking with
a young friend of mine who had gone
with party to chastise Negro for
reported insult to a white woman.
This young man was stationed at
window, through which the Negro en-
deavored to escape. He fired on the
man and shot him dead, his body
hanging over the SILL This young man,
and who was a successful merchant,
stated to me that he afterwards dis
covered that he had killed an inno-
cent and slandered man, and the par
ty who had made up that story was
enraged against the Negro because he
intended to leave his farm and they
wanted to have him chastised. But my
young friend stated to me that his
whole life was blighted, and his entire
existence one Of misery and remorse;
that the sight Of the poor Negro haunt
ed him all day long and was a constant
nightmare. Freely would he give all
he possessed, and become a convict
In stripes, to have that stain washed
from his conscience. He often felt that
did he possess the wealth Of the world
he would freely give it for even one
days relief from the agony Of mind
that pursued him, and that he might
experience the feeling Of innocence he
knew before that wretched night.
Were this globe of ours coined into
gold and placed at my disposal to take
the life of the most debased and mis-
cradle human being. that walks the
earth, even under the most justifiable
circumstances, would scorn the bribe.
Unless a man, as have stated, has
a heart scared with sin, and is incap-
able Of feeling remorse, l sometimes
think 1t would be an act Of mercy and
kindness for the laws Of his country
to put him to death, after wilfully and
deliberately taking the life of a fell
low man. A jury may acquit him, and
he may live a long life, applauded and
honored by the world, but there beats
in his breast an inner monitor,
which will ever keep him reminded of
that dark deed. His entire existence
will be one prolonged agony. and there
will ever walk by his side in day, and
lSPooC oPoii iiio Piiio" oS Ah6htb Gil eAA
seen spectre Of the dead man, and from
which terrible and constant visitor
there Is no escape.
The murderer Is reminded Of the fate
that awaits him by the Bible and which
commands that He who sheds mans
blood by man shall his blood he she'd"
1 admit that there are occasions
when it becomes imperatively necessa-
ry to take human life, but my greatest
hope and desire is that no such dread
alternative shall ever be forced upon
myself. I had sooner go to my grave
the victim Of another, than spend my
days on earth with hands dripping
with the life-blood of any one created
in Gods own image.
Life is sweet, but it is anything but
sweet to the red-handed murderer.
In penning this article, had no in
dividual case in mind, but give it as
the observation Of my life and warn
ing.-T. Larry Can't, in Spartanburg
Herald.