The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-04-03

Feed all Out OIL the Same Spooh'
We believe If we were in Governor
Aycock's place we would at once
cancel his order calling a special term
of the court to try the negro Brod-
max. the Reidsville murderer, IN or
der to meet the public demand for
speedy trial and to give him an early
passage to eternity by way Of the
gallows. Since Bishop. the Charlotte
murder, was only sentenced to the
penitentiary for five years, the trial
of Ernest Haywood, the Raleigh law
yer and murderer of Ludlow Skinner.
has been postponed until July, and DR..
Baker, the murderer of DR.. Bass, IS
not to face his accusers for months
to come. we can see no reason why the
negro should not be extended Ike
consideration. Both DR.. Baker and
Haywood are men of acknowledged
intelligence, and were aware OF the
penalty the law fixes for the shooting
down of one Of its citizens, and they
cannot plead ignorance, which the
siXteen-year-old negro boy might just
ly claim in eXtenuation of his crime
The reasons that Judge Justice gave
for granting a continuance in the case
of Haywood, the defence had not SUI
ficient time to secure the presence of
important witnesses, may be applied
with more force to the negro, who has,
as far as we have heard, no counSel
to defend him, no one to look after
his witnesses, and if he has any coun-
sci at all, one will have to be assigned
to defend him after the session Of the
court is called.
In other words. in the name Of high
heaven, justice and truth, lets feed
all violators of the law, whether white
or black, rich Or poor, learned or 1g-
norant. out Of the same spoon, at
least as far as outside appearances
are concerned. The governor of North
Carolina cannot afford 20 call 4 special
term of the court in order to appeaSe
the public clamoring for a speedy
trial and an early hanging Of SIX
teen-year-old negro boy. while sonie:
of the leading men Of the state are
being charged with the commission Of
the same crime, committed under rs un
provoked surroundings as the one Of
which the negro is to stand an early
trial
If Haywood is to be given time to
ransack the heavens above and earth
beneath in search of witnesses in his
defense and to compel their attendance
at court and to secure the benefits of
times cooling effect on the passions of
those who are demanding his convic-
ton justice demands the negro should
De dCCOIuSO tIS SAINT TISntS III eNcIy
particular. Let simple justice con-
tinue to be the chief glory of North
Carolina. We are no prophet, or the
son Of one, but we confidently predict
should this negro be forced 10 meet
his accusers without previously secu-
ring counsel Or witnesses and be hang
ed, as he surely will, while the trials
of men Of high social position, leaders
in their respective communities, char
ed with the same offence, accompa-
MED with all the brutality that sur
rounds the case of the negro. the seeds
of lynchings will be so0vn, the harvest
of which it will take a wise man to
say when it will be garnered. Cover
nor Aycock. under the circumstances
now prevailing in the state, is setting
a dangerous precedent in calling this
special term of court to try this negro
and, though we are in favor of meet
ing out swift and sure punishment to
the pistol toter and murderer, we are
opposed to sending a negro swiftly to
his doom while white men are securing
their trials postponed in the hope pub
lie sentiment might change and they
finally escape with less punishment
than would be meeted out to a negro
for robbing a hen coop. Let's feed
all aw-breakers out Of the same spoon