The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-10-26
Hagood's Reflections.


Hagood, Oct. 25.-Where are we?
mean as common wealth, with the
courts fake, means by which the
guilty are pronounced innocent and
clothed in its livery. Suspend our
courts? By no meanns, for thus you
cut of from the lawyer the means of
gain. Keep up the show; let socie-
ty, let the state be taxed. aye burdened,
of need be, that the halls of Justice be
open night and day with all the pomp
attendant. Let Us make the impres
sion, however false it may be that
this is a noble generation, who hate
evil, love righteousness, cleaying to
the good. Keep up the show, what
ever it may cost, but be sure it will
revert to you with tremendous conse-
quences. The very agencies, believe
me, inaugurated to suppress lawless-
| ness, occasion it. You ask how? In
more ways than one Here is nerv-
Gus. excitable fellow, good maE, and
| life is sweet to him, who never would
have carried gun but for its preva-
lence, and that because he, knowing
himself to be impulsive, feared that
at some unlucky moment be might do
that he would regret afterward. Self
preservation, self-defense. safety make
powerful appeals to one, and these to-
| gether with the fact that so many go
armed, have made the custom almost
universal. This nervous man shoots
another. He would never have done
it had he not been armed at the time
provoked. He would not have been
armed had it not been 80 prevalent
He argued thus eff I do not shoot
him he will shoot me. I must get the
drop on him. If he kills me he will
go uEhung. can't bear the thought
that mysmurderer should escape
| There are other than nervous people
who have such thoughts, which are
not without their influence.
Here is a fellow, cut-throat, who
has quarrel, grudge, to settle, and
proceeds to do SO in cold blood because,
he says, 81 will escape. They do not
hang people nova days, if good coun-
sci can be obtained to plead your
cause. Revenge is sweet, will put
that fellow out of the way He
does, and escapes, although it was as
plain a case of murder as could be.
The news is flashed over the countr!
and some other, inspired by what the
court has done, without just provoca
tion takes his brothers. life, and thu:
the bloody work goes on.
Here is a man supposed to be guilty
of crime, circumstantial evidence
points to him. The people are wrongh
up. In the heat of passion they say
.He is the man; lets string him be
| fore the sheriff gets here and tn
courts defeat justice. :" The court
defeat justice! That is a plea no
without ground. nor influence. Where
is law and order? Who is responsible
| for this state of things. Veril.
our courts. Alas alas alas. that
man, found guilty after the most care
full investigation, condemned to die,
man adiudged of all worthy of deatl
should escape through the pardorinl
powder of the executive. Who ar
responsible? The courts? Who con
stitute the courts? Others are there
but the lawyers are the court. 1o'
ask where the jury is? The ordiDaI.
iury is an easy. s. convenient tool fo
the shrewd lawyer With all respec
for them ] assert what all admit a
least of others. / do wonder. and asl
the question, what would these Grim
inal lawyers do if some one was to xii
two or three of them? Would they per
suade themselves, and would they try
to make others believe, he was il
the right. God forbid that we tam
per with Justice Let the law, here
as in all things else, have its way, ane
thus avert the direful consequences
Don't postone tie case that public
sentiment it is called conviction
NAV die. Don't seek change OF
venue; our people are honest.