Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-05-22
IMPERIALISM INTENSIFIED.

A condition has arisen In WeSC VII
ginia growing out of the killing OF a
strike leader that not only displays an
utter disregard for human life, but also
a singular and startling condition of
law. Some time ago a United States
Judge undertook to manage the mines
of West Virginia as they are doing
elsewhere; he issued writs which were
to say the least of doubtful jurlsdic-
ton, and placed them in the hands of
one of his deputy marshals; one of
those writs was for the arrest of one
John Hairless, who was known as
strike leader, for simple misdemean-
or. The deputy marshal summoned
certain persons to 60 with him to ar
rest Hairless. among these was one John
Laing and one Stewart Hurst. Laing
was mine owner or operator who had
suffered from strike and was i'll q
good frame of mind to be avenged on
strikers, and especially strike leaders,
and more especially Hairless, whose
arrest it is said he was partially inter-
ested in causing. When the posse
came to Hairless house, Hairless heard
them and ran for a nearby wood. AS
he ran these two men, Laing and
Hurst, shot at him, and one or the
other of them killed him, shooting him
in the back. They had no right to
shoot under such warrant as they
had, but in order to justify themselves
for such murder, for murder it was,
they framed story that HAIRLESS was
a great shot and they knew if he ever
got to the woods he would kill them,
so this is the self justification and self
defense theory advanced, and the only
one asserted. These men, Laing and
Hurst, were indicted in Raleigh cOun-
ty for murder. No sooner was this
done than U. s. Judge awarded them
writ of habeas corpus and on this
they were released, the court holding
that they were acting under authority
from the United States Court and
therefore are not amenable to State
court for any act com mitted while
officers of the Federal court. AS a
United States court has no jurisdlc-
tion to try murder case in West Vir-
ginla, the killing of Hairless cannot be
enquired into by it, nor can the killing
be enquired into by the State court
where Hairless was shot and killed, be
cause the U. S. court has released the
murderer, hence we have killing
which cannot be enquired into at all.
We scarcely think it was ever con-
templated that such a condition should
arise in any State of this union. a
case in fine where man could be shot
to.death and yet no jury of his vicinage
nor any jury at all could pass upon
the killing even so much as to say that
the person who took away the life was
guilty or not guilty.
This action of the Federal courts OF
w tSU v luld uObu Ill IuuuluR tut
mines and in assisting through it's ir-
responsible deputies and guards in the
killing of many miners, has received
many plaudits at the hands of those
who represent the capital of this coun.
try, and who believe in an Imperial
policy which can be brought about by
Federal Judges more rapidly than in
any other way. But this condition Is
regarded with great fear by those who
are opposed to despOtism and to strife
if not revolution. The latter will come
quickly if the conditions in Raleigh
are carried to the full extent now APP
parently fixed On by the Federal courts
If deputy U. S. marshal can kill. he
can also burn or commit other crimes
without enquiry further than that he
was an officer of U. S. court. Such
is the logical sequence. such out there
is the law.