The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-09-22
STRONG LYNCHING CHARGE
DELAWARE,s CHIEF JUSTICE
FOR SEVERE PUNISHMENT.
cites Before she Grand Jury che aseeat
murder Of Helen bishop by the Nssro
George white and the Burning OF the
Latter by mob-Ask. Adequate Pun
ishmeat of Perpetrators.


Wilmington, Del, Sept. 21.-Chief
Justice Lore. of the Delaware Supreme
court, to-day delivered a strong charge
70 the grand jury which is considering
the criminal work Of the county courts.
After reciting the details Of the murder
on June Is Of Helen Bishop by George
White and the subsequent lynching of
White by a mob. Justice Lore said:
The crime OF George White and his
punishment are not before US Upon
his body human vengeance has done it's
work. If the matter concerned George
White alone there would be nothing left
for our. consideration. But for the first
time the lawless and revolving crime of
lynching has invaded this state. We
have heard of lynching as a punishment
for horse stealing in the south and west,
and for homicides. rapes and other
crimes elsewhere; but we fattered our
selves that such scenes could not occur
in our community. composed as it is
largely Of that good old English stock
whose obedience to law has been one
Of the .escrets of our civilization and Of
the safety of our people. We are now
confronted. however, with this crime
and must meet 1t. Shall we invite its
visitation in the future by acquiesence
to its perpetration, or make such crime
hereafter improbable, If not impossible,
by dealing out adequate punishment.
No good citizen. we are persuaded,
can regard the lynching of George
White in any other light than as a
brutal crime and as a f1agrant violation
of laws.
I'm this country we make the laws;
they are our will formally expressed.
It IS the duty Of every good man to
obey the law himself and to see that it
is obeyed by others as far as he may.
Lynching is a crime against the law OF
both God and man. Every wilful parti-
Grant in such an act is murderer.
No man has a right to commit that
crime because he believes or fears that
some other person who is entrusted with
the execution of the law will fail, or has
failed in the performance Of his duty
Under the law. we know what our
rights are, and in the main, we find that
they are fairly attained and enforced.
No human laws or human institutions
are aerfect. This no reasonable man
will expect.
Lynching and mob Law. their pro-
moters and encourages, whether they
be Of high or low degree, should receive
no favor at the hands Of thoughtful
and patriotic men. There must be
government Or no government. The line
of cleaverage is clear. All history
teaches that the prevalence Of mob law
IS the end of free governnlt mt. Obedi-
ence to law is the life breath Of our re-
public.
In obedience to the oath you have
taken and to your duty to your state,
We ask you to SO act that the crime Of
lynching may be suppressed in this
state, SO far as by your action that end
may be attained, and that the perpet-
rators of this crime and the authors Of
the disgrace that has come upon us
through their crime, shall be dealt with
according to their just merits.
ITO you the people look for the faith
full fearless and honest discharge OF
your duty. They ask nothing more and
ey2ect nothing Less