The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-31

their appearance, or are they to be
given the full sentence of the law so
far as it may apply to their cases?
In the decision of these qustions the
Police Justice of Raleigh has the OPP
portunity of life time. Lilliston and
Clarke are neither of them innocent
on several counts. Both were carry
ing concealed weapons. According to
Their own statements they engaged in
an affray. They would both appear
guilty of an assault with a deadly
weapon. Certainly there is evidence
of all these offenses against them
both. What is the remedy for men
of the Lilliston and Clarke type? Is
it not labor, stern, hard labor of the
hands? Would it not be an experience
which would serve them in good stead
and, more important, serve notice on
others of their ilk of the temper of
North Carolina justice?
At this juncture becomes apparent
the significance Of the Police Justices
act. He has jurisdiction of all of
these crimes. The evidence is before
him. If the State fails to make out
case of homicide, his alternative
course would seem clear and easy.
The Police Justice has jurisdiction
over all crimes of the grade of mis-
demeanOr arising in Raleigh township
final Jurisdiction. Carrying con-
cealed weapons, assault with a deadly
weapon are both msdemeanors. Let
Mr.. Clarke and Mr.. Lillston feel the
weight of a sentence at the beginning
of their legal career in this State
Let them be sentenced to the roads
to the limit in every count that can
be found against them. On one
count the court could give two years
on the roads. On the others it could
give shorter terms. In addition, as
well as catching another of the houses
of ill-fame, there is evidence sufficient
to convict both of these men of
gambling. There is room for more
trouble for Clarke and Lilliston. If,
after these sentences, they desire an
appeal, let the bonds be good and let
them be required in each case. Let
there be something else than the pay
ment of a gamblers stake to get
away!
We appreciate that the Police JUS
tiCe may have it in mind to do all or
one of these things. There is no dis
position here to prejudice the pend
ing investigation in the case of either
of these men. All that it is intended
to impress is the enormity of the real
crime, of which they are both known
to be guilty-the crime of brutally
subjecting a holiday crowd to the
fear and danger of death by pistol fire
or the horrors of a panic. Men who
would act in that way are of a sort
for whom pity struggles in vain. 1t
is the public they have assaulted and
the public wants satisfaction. The
men whose wives and sisters and lit:
tie children were in that crowd, who
witnessed that scene OF horror and
death, want satisfaction. The State
wants satisfaction for an assault upon
the peace of one of it's great annual
administration of a warning through
these men to the class of immigration
which they represent-the class of
hangers-on, of fakirs, of gamblers, of
dissolute criminals who are wont to
invade the State for purposes of crime
and fraud and theft, taking the cynical
chance of a rogue to get away with
his loot Or buy out with money repre-
senting other loot should he be caught.
1t is too often a play justice that is
administered to these Vandals on So
|ciety. Let Clarke Cor MOrris) and Lii
liston be made a conspicuous example
of the other sort of justice which
Furnishes the criminal and protects
society at the same time. When the
crooks come to understand that the
farmers" as they are accustomed to
name the people of the provinces,
will make them work when they catch
them, there will not be the complaint
that there has been of their boIdness
and their depredations.