The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1903-09-25
LAW OBSERVANCE
The Main Secret of Our Civil
ization and Our Safety
STRONG CHARGE TO JURY
BY Chief Justice of Delaware In Re-
lation to Lynching of White-Says
Every WiIfuI Participant In Such
an Act Is "a Murderer

Wilmington, Del, Sept. 22.-Chief
Justice Lore of the Delaware supreme
court delivered q strong charge to the
grand jury which is considering the
criminal work OF the county courts.
After reciting the details of the muir
der on June Is of Helen Bishop by
George White and the subsequent
lynching of White by mob, Justice
Lore said:
"Ihe 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 Jynching has invaded this
state.
eve have heard of lynching as a
punishment for horse stealing in the
south and west, and for homiCideS,
rapes and other crimes elseU here: but
we 1attered ourselves that such
munity, composed as it 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 Low
confronted, however, with this crime,
and must meet it. Shall we invite its
visitation in the future by acquiescence
to its preparation, or make such crime
herea fter 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
brutal crime and as a fragrant viola
ton of laws.
''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
it is obeyed by others as far as he
may. Lynching is a crime against the
law of both God and man. Every
wilful participant in such an act is Il
murderer. No man has a 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 per-
Torrance Of his duty.
"Cnder the law we know what our
rights are, and, in the main. we find
that they are fairly attained ard en-
forced. No human laws or human in
sttutions are perfect. This no reason
able man will expect.
"Lynching and mob law, their pro-
moters and encouragers, whether they
be of high or loW degree, shonld re-
ceive 10 favor at the hands of thought
full and patriotic men. There must
be government or no government. The
line of cleavage is clear. All history
teaches that the prevalence of mob law
is the end of free government. Obedi
ence to law is the life breath of our
republic.
"In obedience to the oath you have
taken and to your duty to your state,
we ask you to Sc 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 perpetra-
tors 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 expect nothing less"