The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-05
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSE
CUTE

A few days ago The News and OBJ
server commenting on an editorial In
The News. OF Charlotte, on the AcBee
and Finch cases said.
Concluding the article. the editor
voices what we believe will be the
sentiment Of all faIr-minded and JUS
men in North Carolina. We quote;
The sentiment is hat the law
should be allowed to take it's course.
Public opinion would not have ap-
proved of any further prosecution By
the administrator. The administra-
ton took the initiative. as was right.
las not now the administration against
McBee and Finch. Ii is the State VS..
McBee and Finch. as in any other
criminal case. The solicitor has the
matter in his own hands. His seif-re-
spect should resent the imputaiion that
a deal was made. and show that resent
ment by an earnest effort to carry GU
the law. Let the law take its course
THAT is the position this paper has
maintained from the minute that Nc
Bee was bound over TO the superior
court. Up to that hour il was the
state acknowledgements executive
department represented by the govern
or and the attorney general-against
McBee and Finch. 1t was the duty OF
those two officers to uncover the con-
spiracy against the state. Having done
that and having brought sufficient evil
dence OF probable cause to warrant
the chief justice in binding McBee over
to the superior court, the case was then
in the judicial department OF the gov
eminent. The governor and attorney
general had done their duty. and l.
they a gone on vigorously conducting
the prosecution outside their duty, the
very men now criticising them for their
me- Ona nimitu would now he abusing
them for being 'blood-thirsty.'
Now it is the State against AcBee
and Finch as in any other crimina
case Let them a W. a fair trial. jus.
as other accused parties. and let JUS
tice be DONE. And with that all good
men will be satisfied"
That is all right. II McBee n Finch
are guilty of the crime w~herewith they
have been charged they should be pun
ished. The question of their guilt is
to be decided by a jury in the superior
court Of Wake county. The solicitor
Of that district is the prosecuting at
torney in that court. The governor and
the attorney general. according to The
News and Observer. had completed
their duty when they secured h bind
ing over OF the defendants and an
nounced that the case was then in the
hands Of the district solicitor n they
had nothing more to do with it The
News and Observer expressed the opin-
ion that if these two state officials had
gon on vigorously conducting the pros
ecution outside their duty. the very men
criticising them for their ~magnanimity
would now be abusing them for being
blood-thirsty."
In view of the above it was a great
surprise to learn through dispatches
from Raleigh that the attorney general
of these cases in the superior court.
The governor mas the right to ins.ruc.
the attorney general to assist a district
solicitor in any case which he considers
Of sufficient Importance. But what be-
comes of all hat m-agnanimity Of a few
days back when the governor declarea
that he and the attorney general had
nothing more to do with the case, and
what about being called "blo~od-thirsty''
by the very men who criticised then
for that magnanimity'?
We do not criticise the governor for
i~nstructing the attorney general to as
siSt in the prosecution. That comes
within his powers, but some how we
News and Observer with the orderine
of the attorney general to continue hi
connection with the case.