The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-10-07
UNION, s. c., OCTOBER 7, 1904
MORE SPEEDY TRIALS.


The laws delay is subject that
has been worn almost to "frazzle,"
having been preached from every pull |
pit, been the subject of editorials in
every newspaper in the land. Vari-
Gus and peculiar have been the sug-
gestions of the preachers and editors
looking to the more speedy and sum-
mary trials Of musderers, rapists and
other lawbreakers; but unfortunately
none have met the emergency, were
entirely practical or expedient. 1t is
hardly possible to have court in
session in every city, town and ham,
let in the State, in order to try the
perpetrators Of these crimes "a soon
as committed, or as soon as the Of
fender can be apprehended and
brought before the court. In every
case under the existing laws the de-
fendant is entitled to fair and i'm
partial trial and cannot be rushed to
trial before he or she is ready. He is
no less a citizen, and is entitled to
every protection guaranteed to citi-
zens under the provisions of the law,
because he stands charged with the
violation Of the law. In olden times.
when we say olden times we do not
mean to 90 so far back in our coun-
try's history, only just before the
civil war between the states, men
son; Dut On the contrary, wei @effsE e ttTnitffl tTnitffll
tent to wait for the regular sitting Of
the courts. 10 this county among
the earliest murders and hanging of
murderer was that of Phineas john
son, who killed II woman, sitting in a
chair in her own house with her babe
In her lap. He put the muzzle Of the
gun through crack i'm the house and
shot her dead as she sat, ignorant
and unsuspecting of his presence.
At that day and time there was no
thought OF lynching, even for so dia-
bolical crime as that; if such crime
were committed now, but few hours
would pass before that man would be
lynched; yet the men OF today are
largely the descendants of those who
lived in this county at that time.
What has brought about the change
in the temper Of men Of to-day as con-
tradistinguished from that of their
ancestors? Why do men OF today
clamor for revenge or vengeance.
blood for blood? The social, civil
and religious conditions are not ex-
actly the same now as then, but vcry
nearly so, at least with the whites.
The juries are composed of the same
men who make up the mob; but
when they sit quietly and hear the
testimony and the eloquent areu-
ments for and against they bring in
verdict OF not guilty, men in the
audience during the progress of the
trial are heard to say: "That man is
guilty and ought to hang" yet il the
man who says that were transferred
from the audience to the jury box he
no doubt would do as the jurors did
Mems minds and feelings change ac-
cording to circumstances and condi- |
tions, being creatures OF susceptible |
ty. 1t is not every case, possibly
only few cases, that the laws delav
furnishes an excuse for lynchieg, as
we have one case, that Of statesboro,
GA. The two persons lynched had
already been tried, convicted and
sentenced to be hung; but this did
net satisfy the spirit OF revenge, ven
geance and morbid thirst for blood.
In the case OF John Morrison of Ian.
caster County, he had killed young
white man, quiet, peaceable farm
or. because he would not lend Morri.
son ten cents. This was so outrage
Gus and uncalled for murder, and
this being the fourth man that Nor
rison had killed, the people became
30 enraged that they could not or
rather did not wait for the action of
she law. In this case, there did seem
In ha n abadnu ~ axouaa g. -