The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-22
THURSDAY, MARCH g. 1906.
Everything 10 proper that is right,
and everything IL right that leads to
Justice and fair dealing.
The Chattanooga Outrage.

Tho Chattanooga Times, one of The
most honorable and most fearless of
Southern newspapers denounces In utl.
measured terms the lyncfing in that city
Of a. negro WHO was in the custody of the
United states authorities awaiting q hear
Ing In the court of final resort to test
the question Of his innocence or guilt.
right soemnly guaranteed to every
accused person under tho law, In cir
cumstanccs of this kind" adds our con-
temporary, "all that the good citizen can
do is to how his head in shame and look
for better things in future. In the pres
nnce OF mob spirit rampant In the land
NC have nothing to expect but anarchy
and ruin; and If something is not done
TO stay the growth of that spirit. who
shall say 1t will not be upon us before
we know 1t q
hours old, there was negro uprising in
Chattanooga, and 1t took the combined
force of the police and tho military to.
keep the inf,iriated blacks from destroy
Ing the city. But how can better be-
havior be expected of the blacks when
the whites defy the courts and tramplci
the Law under foot? We'll does the Chat
nooEa paper declare that at is time for
lovers of law and order and the friends
of society and the home to take counsel
together and see il something may not
be done to check this evil that seems;
ready and able to run riot at any time
its promoters may think 1t has provoca
ton
And from the Associated Press reports
of yesterday it appears that something
is going to be done nisthis particular
case, something which never has been done
and that something is tocatch the lynch
crs and punish them. About year ago
Il negro, who was confined In the Jail of
Madison county, Ala, to answer the
charge of murder. was taken out and
lynched The lynchers We're indicted in
tile United States court, Judge Thomas
G.. Jones, presiding. The persons in-I
dicted applied for a discharge on habeas
corpus. on the ground that the indict-.
ment under which they were held did
not charge any offense against the laws
OF the United States. Judge Jones held
that the lynchers were guilty OF conspir-
acy under sections 55Os and $500 OF the
Revised Statutes of the United States. de-
MED the petition. and remanded the pris-
oners to the custody Of the marshal.
This case excited considerable comment
at the time. and finally went to the
United States Supreme Court, but the
main question. in issue was not decided.
But here is. a,different case. The negro
lynched in Chattanooga had appealed to
the Supreme Court of4the United States,
and that court had granted him new
ncy, therefore, says that he will consult
Attorney General Moody. ana that If so
instructed will prosecute the Offenders
to the fullest extent of the law. 1t is
also stated that some OF the pembers
of the Supreme Court Of the United
States are considering tho advisability
Of an attempt to secure the punishment
of the lynchcrs.
1t is almost impossible to secure In a
State court the conviction and punish
Inent Of white men who lynch a negro
for criminal assault but If the Chatta-
nooga lynchers are brought TO trial IN a
United States court, and the evidence
is sufficient to convict. they will not
find 1t anicasy matter TO get off.
i. will not do TO say that this negro
deserved his fate. That has nothing to
do viii. IT. ii Is a question OF law and
order. The lsnchers showed their utter
contempt for the order OF tho highest
4 court court in the land, and such contempt
OF law cannot be condoncd. We hone
that these bod and defiant law breakers
will be pprehended and made mn example
OF. The lawlcss element OF the South
foa-d an object lesson.
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