The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-03-06

1t does seem that there has been
entirely too much merry comment, not
In say unkind ~innuendo, INDUCED III
bv the press at the expense OF the IN
MIGRATING state Of Texas by reason OF
the testimony of one OF her prominent
citizens OF Seabrook To the effect that
murder under certain circumstances
is an honorable crime.
Mr.. Jordan. It viii be recalled, was
one Of the witnesses summoned on De-
half Of lawyer Albert Patrick IN sup
port Of his motion for a ne" tTldl On
the charge Of having poisoned the mn
li0nairc Rice. on which he IS now IN
Sing Sing under death sentence. JoF-
dan and other witnesses from Texas
testified to statements made by Jones,
the valet of the deceased Millionaire
to the effect that his testimony against
Patrick was false. and that he was IN
duced to say what he did TO save him
self. II was on the crosS-cXamination
by Mr.. jerome. however, tina Nj.
Ordan made the remark winch mas
caused so much minimizing satire:
DO you think murder is a personal
natter" asked the district attorney.
Murder" replied Jordan, lis an
honorable crime if it is committed IN
the right way
[ contend that Mr.. Jordan's an
swear to the question put evidences q
nice discrimination in matters III
criminal onense which is not peculiar
to Texas. That state in the bleeding
times acquired a reputation for Kill
iugS which it will take more than one
generation to nalliatc. y vast and
SparscIy settled country. it appealed
with its rough romance to a brood of
adVcnturou& spirits who started bE
making it famous for its gun play
and ended by making it one of the
greatest and most prosperous states
in the Union. The trouble with the
Texas reputation was that the STATE
set d new standard in the picturesque.
Forgetting that in new countries peo-
pie have to shoot to live. the world
al large concluded that Texas lived to
shoot. The resulting ~rIcatur on
the stage. in the newspapers and i'll the
vivid Western literature Of a few years
ago. represented every Texan mas
u~ucrading under a sOmbrero and toy
ing with a brace Of pistols and a boot
!cG fun Of bowie knives. Indcpend-
cncc was m~isconstrted into l1Wl@ss-
ness and bravery into braSgadoCio
But. ven if Texas has made a spec
ialty Of murder considered as a kill
ing and even if the practice is looked
upon as rather honorable than other
wise, if done iii the right way" is the
philosophy new to other sections? Or
is it indicative Of a lower moral
STANDARD than that pertaining. for in
stance, in New York? Very much We
doubt it.
AS "A matter Of fact. docs not the
nina. while recognizing the taking Of
life as the highest of crimes. rather
sNlnpathize with if it does o excuse
ITS commission? Some years ago a
man was tried in North Carolina for
murder and, after a holly contested
trial, from which he escaped the cal
lows by the skin uf his teeth. was son
fenced to a term of Imprisonment. -
desperate was his case. indeed, thai
his lawyer was esteemed to ave WUa
Il great victory in saving his neck.
Yet, before he had served more than
:; few months of his term. he wrote
his attorney an urgent letter to move
for his pardon.
Il can't stand this place he wrote.
"Thcy treat me with no consideration
Whatever. They act as if | We're a
thief. | am forced to work. eat. and
actually sleep with men Who are
in here for stealing hogs. for forgery.
and for thu "OmmOncst crimes. If his
matter is Dut before the Governor
properly. he ought to do something to
remedy IA condition of things which IS
d~iSSraceful and intolerable."
1uch as murder and the taking Of
life is to be d%eplored. it must be re-
ncmberod that in some sense it is
the survival in civilization of tina pris-
tine force of passion which rightly di-
rocted makes men strong instead of
weak. 1t will be noticed that Jordan
qualified his opinion. By lin the right
way" he probably meant that the kill
ing must have bee@ done under circum-
stances in which Zach man had a fair
show for his life. A stab in the back
is quite as much ahhored in Texas as
in Boston and is a good deal less prob
able than in New York. Under manly
q it.att ,,.tn ~ - -
ulk of men constituting society must
condemn, wins from the Individual in
teger of the mass an intuitive if un-
voiced sympathy. Let a mar go to
the roads for stealing and he will be
forever by society: let him
serve q term for m~anslaughter. a much
higher crime. and he finds little trou-
bic in resuming his place in life after
his release. Perhaps his is a sad fact.
but it is one which is very human.
But, aside from all this. what Jur-
dan stated so frankly about murder,
New York stands convicted of think
ing about q far moro contemplate
crime. If John d. Rockefeller could
ne put in an honest trance and ex-
amined he would probably say that
stealing is an honorable crime-if it
Is done right the difference in the
Qua~llhcatiOnS being that Wher the
one contemplated a stand-up fight. the
other considers merely the total of
the plumber. Just as the Texan would
hang d man who stabbed in the back.
"ould frenzied finance condemn to thu
outer lark ii man who stole either in
small amount or without observing
the recognized form of BETRAYAL OF
trust for personal profit.
Between the two high crimes, the
argument seems to lie with the man
who Kills in fair fight. He. at least,
pays for the exercise of his passion
with the double risk of his own life.
first from his enemy. second al the
hands of the law Thc other crimi-
nal never fights his equal. With him
1t is always a "con" game. His weap-
ons arc lies, his life a defiance only
III sc far as it relies upon tho power
of it's accumulated stealings for pro
lection. Hypocriticallv his gentry
stand Tor honesty" ut the top of thcil
vocal register: they p]atronize educa.
ton. ornament religion. affect til.
purity league" i'll politics. They are
always prominent citizens" receive
wa W hon :, $500 :.