The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-09-06
A WORD FROM BANCROFT.

The aftermath of the Bancroft lynch
ing, which took place Monday morning
OF the past week, has developed the
fact that a good many more people
approve the hanging because Of past
laXity of the law in Nebraska, than dis
approve it. Omaha papers and the
Lincoln Journal demanded that the
lynchers be hunted down and punish
ed for first degree murder. But those
lynchers will never be punished. Public
sentiment as general thing too
strongly upholds them in their mob
violence for the reason that already
too many brutal murders in Nebraska
have gone unpublished. The murder
OF his entire family by Rash, the fiend
who was acquitted on an insanity
plea and who was dismissed from the
Norfolk hospital because he was not
insane, is but an instance. Many
people believing Mrs. Lille guilty of
the murder of her husband point to
her pardon as an example of how mob
violence finally broke out.
The Lincoln Journal severely CEN
sured the lynching and demanded that
the lynchers be punished. Rev. Byron
Beall of that city answered the editor.
ial and defended the lynching, in view
of present conditions in Nebraska. The
fact is referred to as Indicating the
sentiment Of many classes.
or interest, too, because It comes
from a Bancroft man in the midst of
things, is this letter written to the
Omaha Bee, in reply to Bee editor
ial:
NOW that the excitement of the re.
cent lynching here has passed away. a
rev words from one who was innocent
or any knowledge Of the act before
hand might cause you to direct your
editorials where they may easily do
more good.
l am fully convinced now that Hig-
gins would have been lynched no mat
ter what precaution was taken. He
was Swallowed from the time he left
the Omaha Jail until he reached Ban
croft, and had any resistance been
ofered 1t would have meant more
lives lost for the sake Of a brute with
a criminal career.
The trouble is the costs to this coun-
ty. 1t has ever been thus. Just one
man In recent years arrested In this
locality, no matter what the charge,
has been held for trial and received
a sentence. That man was sent I'D for
six years. He served two, was paroled
by Governor Mickey and skipped the
country in few days. This Is an.
other reason for the lynching.
was born in Cunning county in the |
early '7Os. When a boy my mother
often told me about staying alone, |
and for days seeing nothing but In |
dams going past on the warpath, but |
never was there a time in the early |
days when the law was so badly ig-
nored as the present. Is 1t any won
der the people are rising up?
stood on the depot platform, saw
The train slow down that carried the
ad with a criminal career on his last
lies journey, but returned to my of
ice before there were any signs of a
mob, and am thankful for what | did
lot see. / regret from the bottom of
ny heart that this blot upon our fair
community was necessary, but now
hat the deed is done we can not agree
hat the "lynchers be punished" Far
rom it, If had seen a masked man
md could positively identify him,
would accept a Jail sentence for con.
empt OF court rather than testify
against that man.
VIII the editor of The Bee inform
is what per cent of those who were
harged with murder in Nebraska dur.
ng the last six years had to pay the
penalty with their lives? Is it not a
act that If Higgins had been given a