The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-07-26
The Courts to Blame.
The Laws Delay and Too Frequent
Miscarriage Of Justice Response
bic in Great Measure for Lynch
ings Lawyers and Judges Are
Criticised for Failure to do Their
Duty Toward Society.

A writer in the Wadesboro Messen-
ger and Inteliigencer takes the late
lynching in Anson county as a text,
and says the failure of the courts to
convict the guilty is the cause of
lynch law After "striking back -
at those who criticised and con
demned the lynchers in question, de-
claring that unjust or uncalled for
criticisms never have and never will
reform an evil or correct ar abuse
this writer says:
The non enforcement of law, or toe
hardness in it's enforcement, lead to acts
sometimes seemingly in contempt of law,
which in reality is not true; it is the peO-
peFs contempt for those whose duty it is
to see that the law is enforced. The
tardiness of our courts in acting, their
Willingness to have the time of our people
fritted away in irrelevant nonsense, con-
suming weeks time in trying case
that should be disposed Ofin a few hours.
In this matter our judges are at fault,
and unless there be change-therei is al
ready a revulsiOn-there will be a revo7
luton. In another particular we have
grievance, and our lawyers make too
good a Use of it for the good OF our law
abiding citizens. 1t is this: The law
breaker or criminal has all the advan-
tage over the State in his peremptOry
challenges. This law should be amended
to the extent, at least, OF placing the
good citizen on an equality with the
criminal before the law. The criminal
having already the advantage of every
reasonable doubt, the burden OF proof
being on the State, no lawyer who
practices before our courts would likely
be willing to have the law amended. If
this law cannot be amended | think it
would be we'll to have criminal cases car
rled to some other county where the
lawyers are nOt.sO cOnyersant with the
sentiment of individual jurors. This not
because we would be afraid to trust our
good citizens, but to protect such. Our
people have submitted to one innovation
after another until our courts have so
degenerated that our best people do not
have that respect for law that all good
men should have. Then why brand our
people as brutes or uncivilized because
they want their grievances rlghted? IL
the courts will not come to their rescue
and protect them as the law intends that
they should be protected against the
vicious, why be SO bitter against the
wrOnged ones who are endeavoring to
do what the courts failed to do-right
their wrongs?
Let our judges see that justice is me-
ted out to the criminals; that the ones
who have violated no law but have the
taxes to pay, also have consideration;
that every man in the court house on
business be accorded the right and priyi-
leges of a gentleman, not allowing any
petty lawyer to abuse his betters, aud
try to restore some OF the lost prestige
of our courts When this has been ac-
complished you will hearno more OF men
taking the law into their own hands.
Our best people do not frequent the court
house as in the past. There is reason
for it; let the courts look around and see
for themselves why this is SO. OF course
people who think do not respect our
courts as they would like, and no sane
individual would have far to go to find
the cause. When a lawyer condescends
to use abuse rather than argument he
has missed his calling, lost the respect oi
our best citizens, and the sooner he gets
between the plow handles-no, | take
| that back, for am a farmer and would
not like such recruits in our ranks-in
some other calling the better it will be
for our courts and the people he misrep-
reSents.