Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-12-21
PATBs OF ADvERTIsINo.
THE LAW TOO SLOW

Annapolis and Anne Arundel eoun-
~ was given black eye last night by
the lynching Of the negro Davis or
Chambers. as ne was sometimes called.
The press Of the country, especially
the New England part Of it, will now
fire hot shot at US down here in Mary
land for being "a lawless commu-
nifty"
Are we lawless? Let's see. When
the law has an opportunity to do
squarely and deal justly, and will not
make use :of that opportunity, who
is TO blames Is not the law TO blame.
We do not wish it understood that
we favor or uphold lynching. We
do not. We abhor and deplore il.
But this lynching last night need not
have taken place, had the law done
its duty, and we as community
need not have had a black stain TO
wipe out had the law in all its might
mess acted quickly and not delibera-
ted with no necessity for delibera-
ton.
The negro's assault on Mrs. Reid
occurred week ago today. 1t is
said to have been more heinous and
more villainous than ever made pub
lie. The day after the assault the
scoundrel walked these streets with
his hands in his pockets, coolly
shutting along and whistling regard
less of the home into which he had
wrought such a havoc. He was cap
tured on Sunday, two days after the
assault. He confessed on Tuesday
and was identified by his victim.
Was there any doubt then as to the
mans guilt? Two days elapse and
still nothing is done. The husband
and family of the outraged victim
clamor for justice. The law hesitat-
as. There is a mere bubble, the vic
tim is too i'll to testify, and nothing
is done. The grand jury that always
stands i'm readiness to be called by
the Court, could have been summon
ed three days ago, the negro could
have been indicted and removed to
Baltimore for protection, and this
lynehing could have been avoided.
All this could have been done, but was
not. Somebody bungled, now who is
TO blame? IL is not for us to say. 1t
is for those ON whose shoulders rest
the lynching of this negro who was
entitled TO the benefit the law is sup
posed TO give, TO be their own ac-
cusers. They, and not the mob who
lynched him are the direct cause of the
lynching, whoever they be.
Again, lot every one whose eye falls
on this article put himself in the place
of the victim of this dastardly as
sault and of her family. Would they
want their mother. wife or sister, or
most remote female relative or friend
dragged into Court to testify in such
a case? The friends of this woman
gave the law chance to punish the
criminal. No action was taken, and
realizing what was before them they
took the law in their own hands,
that same law refusing TO act itself.
We may be called slow town.
There is reason for il now and ever
after. We were too slow in attempting
to save ourselves from the stain of
lynehing.
on the other hand, it must be re-
membered that the people who en-
gagged in this lynching believed them
selves justified in doing what they
thought swas right. The negro had
committed similar crime before. He
was a beastial villain of the deepest
dye. In all probability the full
penaltyof the law would or could have
been carried out as the victim, Mrs.
Reid's condition is such it would prob
ably nave cost her life to have come
into Court to testify. These and other
eNtenuating circumstances connected
with the lynching last night must be
considered when the affair is weighed
in the balance and we are condemned
rs Iawless community. Sometimes
the end justifies the means and in this
instance. as deplorable as it is the
provocation was great and the feeling
intense.