Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-07-15

the killing and not simply for his con-
yiction. The mere fact that man Is
fleeing from the authorities of the law
is prima facie evidence that he Is gull
ty. 1t is so difficult to convict men
these days that reward for a man
conviction Is not much Of an incentive
to try to apprehend him. When one
person takes the life Of another and
fees from the law, the state ought to
offer a very large reward for the man.
This would be productive OF two good
results: 1t would encourage faithful
effort to secure the man, and 1t would
make the impression on the minds or
people that the state puts high val
uation on human life.
8, Again, the man who has killed
his fellow-man ought not to be let out
oil bond, guilty or innocent He may
be innocent Of murder. If so, there Is
no disgrace in remaining few days IN
prison. The disgrace is not In the
prison. A speedy trial will soon set the
innocent man free.
The right to let men out on bond who
are charged with murder has peen
greatly abused; and, no douDt, mas
been the cause Of many a guilty man
becoming free in the end. 1t Is very
hard to convict a man who has been
out on bond, practically free man.
The murderer knows this. Hence one
of the first things his lawyers do after
he has; been placed in jail Is to try 10
get him out on bond. The law ought
to be changed so that this evil vii! be
stopped.
4. Again, the law against carrying
concealed deadly weapons ought 10 oe
enforced better than it is. 1t Is a good
law. In fact, 1t would be we'll to have
q law forbidding the manufacture ana
sale Of pistols. There Is very little le-
citimate business for the pistol to do In
this world-in fact, the good Is SO
small compared to the great evils ac-
complished by 1t, that its utter destruc-
tion and annihilation would be an In
calculable blessing to the race. -,
S. Again, the people ought to hold
officers of the law responsible. II the
officers fail to enforce the law, the peo-
pla ought to rebuke and condemn this
neglect of duty in no uncertain sounds.
II public sentiment against lawlessness
were more pronounced, If the officers
of the law knew they would be held
responsible by the people there Would
bp a more rigid enforcement or the
law. and this, Of course, would decrease
the laWiessness that now prevails IN
our country, Public sentiment neeos
to be toned up and made so strong,
that it will be felt both by the officefs
OF the law htlu Ny LILO SNtk oVSh'
s. Again, the law against mproer
should be enforced. The guilty man
should be punished. The penalty that
is prescribed against murder, both oy
human law and Divine law, Is death.
Hear what God says; Moreover ye
shall take no satisfaction for the life OF
q murderer, which Is guilty OF death;
but he shall be surely put to DEATH"
whose sheddeth mans blood, by man
shall his blood be shed, for IN the mn
age of God made he him." Th|s Is
Gods law on the subject Of murder.
The murderer has caused death, and ne
is to pay the penalty by suffering death
himself There is no alternative. There
IS no recommendation to mercy, TINS
is q modern device. The penalty is
death. 1t Is severe. but no more SO
than the crime.
The way to stop murder Is to enforce
the law against the crime. AS long as
the murderer stands good chance to
he acquitted, there will still be an in
crease in this crime. But, 1t the mur-
derer knows that murder Is the sure
road to the gallows, he will think a
long time before he will commit the
crime. In fact, he will think about IT
SO long that, in the great majority or
cases, the crime will never be commit =
ted, at least, as far as the overt act IS
concerned. " lS Sdlu tlat "ueu SaPt~
tai punishment was abolished In Italy
In 1875, that there was an increase OF
murders Of AZ per cent. The best way
! know Of to decrease the number or
murders Is to increase the number OF
hangings.
Z. Public sentiment ought to express
itself against this crime. The theory
that no expression should be made on
the part Of the public until the case Is
tried is supremely contemptible and
ought to be spurned by all good peo-
pie. There is a power In public senti-
ment and 1t ought to make itself felt
against this gigantic evil. The public
conscience ought to be so stirred when
this crime Is committed in the COM
munity that you can feel the righteous
Indignation of an outraged people IN
the very atmosphere. This Is the way
to put down this evil and all other
evils. Therefore. the pulpit and the
press and the people ought to unite
their forces and their resources to
crush ont this atrocious and national
crime. They ought to resist with ev-
cry possible energy every effort to be
gagged.
Let us go away from this place prop
erly appreciating the gravity Of this
subject and resolving by the grace Of
God that we will do all in our power to
arrest the progress of this great evil.