Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-22
INDICT LYNCHERs.
instructions of Justice Lore, Of
Delaware, to a Grand Jury
at Wilmington.
GIVES MOB LAW A HOT BLAST
Declares the Lynching of the Negro
at Wilmington Brutal Murder
without Excuse.

Wilmington, Sept. 22.-Chief Justice
Lore, of the Delaware supreme court,
delivered strong charge to the grand
jury. After reciting the details of the
murder June 10 of Helen Bishop by
George White and the subsequent
lyinching of White by a mob Justice
Lore said:
Question for Jurors to Answer.
"The crime of George White and his
punishment are not before us. Upon
his body human vengeance has done
Its work. If the matter concerned
George White alone there would be
nothing left for our consideration. But
for the first time the lawless and
revolting crime of lynching has in
vaded this state. We have heard of
lynching as punishment for horse
stealing in the south and west, and
for homicide and other crimes else
where. but we flattered ourselves that
such scenes could not occur in our COM
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 now
confronted, however, with this crime,
and must meet it. Shall we invite
its visitation in the future by acquiesc-
ing in its preparation or make such
crime 1t ter improbable. if not i'm
possible, by dealing out adequate pun
ishment?
Lynching Was Brutal Crime.
''No good citizen, we are persuaded,
can regard he lynching of George
White in any other light than as u
brutal crime and a fragrant violation of
law. Gentlemen. in this country we
make our laws; they are our will. 1t is
the dutyof every good man to obey the
law himself and tosee that it is obeyed
by others as far as he may. Lynching
is a crime against the law of both God
and man. Every willful participant in
such an act is a murderer. No man
has a right to commit that crime be-
cause he believes or fears that some
other person who is intrusted with the
execution of the law will fail or has
failed in the performance of his duty.
Mob Law the End of Liberty.
Under the law we know what our
rights are, ana IN the main we Unu
that they are fairly attained and en-
forced. No human laws or human in
stitutions are perfect. This no reason
able man will expect. Lynching and
mob law. their promoters and encour-
ayers, whether they he of high or low
degree. should receive no favors at the
hands of thoughtful and patriotic men.
There must be government or non-gOv-
ernment. The line of cleavage is clear.
All history teaches that the prevalence
of mob law is the end of free govern
ment. Obedience to law is the life
breath of our republic.
Lynchers Should BE Punished.
'In obedience to the oath you have
taken and TO your duty to your state,
we ask you to act so 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
perpetrators of this crime and the au-
thOrs of the disgrace that has come
upon us through their crime shall be
dealt with according to their just mer-
its. To you the people look for the
faithful, fearless and honest discharge
of your duty. They ask nothing more,
and expect nothing leSS.''