Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-21
HELEN BISHOP MURDER
GRAND JURY CHARGED BY CHIEF
JUSTICE LORE.
Crime Of George White Revived and
Citizens Urged to Uphold the
Majesty Of the Law.

WILMINGTON, Del, September 21.-
Chief Justice Lore of the Delaware SUI
preme court today delivered q strong
charge to the grand jury which is consider
Ing 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 pun
ishment are. not before u.s. Upon his body
human vengeance has done it's work. If
the matter concerned George White alone,
there would be nothing left for our consid-
GRAFTON. But for the first time the lawless
and revolving crime of lynching has in
vaded this state. We have heard Of lynch
ing as a punishment for horse stealing in
the south and west, and for hopicides,
rapeS and other crimes elsewhere; but we
fiattered ourselves that such scenes could
not occur in our community, composed as
1t is largely of that good old English stock
whose obedience to law has been one of
the secrets of our civilization and of the
safety of our people. We are now con-
fronted, however, with this crime and must
meet it. Shall we invite its visitation in
the future by acquiescence in its perpetra-
ton, or make such crime hereafter fmprob-
able, if not impossible, by dealing out ade
quate punishment?
A Brutal Crime.
''No good citizen, we are persuaded, can
regard the lynching of George White in any
other light than as a brutal crime, and as
fragrant violation of law.
Gentlemen in this country we make the
laws; they are our will formally expressed.
1t is the duty of every good man to obey
the law himself and to see that 1t is obeyed
by others as far he may. Lynching Ia
crime against the law Of both God and man.
Every wilful participant in such an act is
a murderer. No man has right to COM
NIT 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 perfect.
This no reasonable man will expect.
Lynching and Mob Law.
"Lynching and mob law, their promoters
and encouragers. whether they be of high
or low degree, should receive no favor at
the hands of thoughtful and patriotic men.
There must be governnEnt or no govern
ment. The line of cleavage is clear. All his
tory teaches that the prevalence Of mob
fence to law is the life-brea ath of our re-
public.
"In obedience to the oath vou have taken
and to your duty to your stssce we ask you
to so act that the crime Of lss4ching may be
suppressed in this state so far as by your
action that end may be attained, and that
the perpetrators of this crime and the au-
thors of the disgrace that has come upon US
through their crime. shah be dealt with &C
cording to their just merits.
ITO you the people look for for faithful,
fearless and honest discharge of your duty.
They ask nothing more, and expect nothing
less"