Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-01-10
PRICE ONE GENT
THEY WOULD NOT SIGN.
COMMISSIONERS DO NOT
ENDORSE PETITION.
Judge Magruder Is Warmly Re-
ceived at The Hands of
The Board.

severe and sharp criticism of tho
young generation of the colored race
IN which they we're arraigned for the
many acts of thievery, disorder and
murder OF which so many stand con
victed was precipitated at the meeting
oi the county commissioners this at
ternoon by the request on the part OF
Judge Magruder TO have the county
commissioners endorse the petition be.
ing circulated for the Communication OF
the sentence of death against Julius
Cooper
Before the discussion following the
proposition was disposed of some very
strong and forceful language was used
ana the Judge was given to under.
stand that the mercy which he seeks
TO have shown the condemned murder
or is not really mercy but misapplied
sentiment. In no uncertain terms did
some of the members of the board
give expression TO the feelings they
have with reference to the punish
ment which should be meeted out to
the man. Judge Magruder stated that
the hanging OF the negro would be
blot ON the fair name of the state,
that sufficient premeditation had not
been shown before the commission of
the crime TO warrant the infiiction of
the death penalty and that members
OF the jury had even asked the court
70 show mercy to the prisoner.
Then it was that Mr.. Phelps, one
OF che members OF the board, spoke up
and STATED that he was unalterably
opposed TO Communication of the sen
tence. He said that he had heard the
principle evidence in the case, that a
good case of premeditated murder had
been made by the state and that he
thought the ends Of justice could be
best maintained by the execution of
the man. To this Judge Magruder re-
piled that il was not the negro who
was TO blame but the state which had
granted to the saloons of the state the
right to sell liquor which put murder
in the hearts Of men and made them
commit crimes which they would
otherwise not commit.
Mr.. Phelps then replied by stating
that it would be terrible thing fol
the Judge to create a precedent by
which all man had to do when he
wished to commit murder was TO make
his plans, become intoxicated and
commit the crime. He said that with
the older generation of oolored people
there is no trouble, that they are self
respecting and lawabiding, but :that
many OF the younger generation. boil
stored up by that misapplied mercy
which has rescued so many from the
penalty of their crimes had made
them arrogant and vicious and that il
was TO discourage then in acts of this
nature that the death penalty should
be enforced. He said that men such
as Cooper should be put away and rem
dered unable to again commit crimes
against society.
Judge Magruder then stated that
that was just what il was intended to
do in this case-to put the man ia
prison for life in order that he would
never again be able to commit crime.
Mr.. Phelps did not agree with him in
that respect and stated that he was
not willing to trust ito future COVER
nors the right to again place the man
at liberty and give him an oppor-
tunity ofkilling some one. Other mem
bers of the board spoke in the same
strain and stated that they we're op.
posed to the Communication of the sen.
tence and thought that the hanging of
Cooper would have a wholesome effect
on the other members OF his race who
might feel emboldened BY his success
we're he given his life.
AS a body the members Of the board
refused to sign the petition which il
TO be presented to the Governor tomor-
row. Mr.. Samuel Brooke signed the
petition, but all the other members
refused to have anything to do with
il, stating that they could not con-
scientiously do such a thing. Practi-
cally all of the better class Of colored
people in the city are opposed to a
communication of the death penalty
They claim that the fact of the mans
color has nothing to do with the case
that he is a disgrace TO his race and
/ their efforts to become good citizens
and that instead of working good to
the case of better citizenship on their
art, it would be a drawback. Dur
| ing the discussion of the matter be-
fore the commissioners thesroom was
| crowded with spectators and the con.
census of opinion was that the ends of
justice could best be met by the exc.
cution of the man; that, white or
black, he deserved the fate which he
had prepared for himself and should
meet it as a just return to that so.
ciety which he had outraged.