The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-05-03
THE MURDEROUS PISTOL AGAIN.
Killing of the Negro, Nose Tucker
by William S. Green, Former
Coroner of RiChIand County.

\ human being was shot to death
in Il store in the business heart of I,
Columbia ut half-past 10 O'Clock
Friday morning. SO far as the
evidence presented at the inquest
indicates, the killing was without
the shadow of justification, wan
ton straightforward would have been
shocking to the humane sense of Il
civilized community had the vic
tim of the deadly shot been Il dog.
Where does the responsibility lie
for the ruthless killing of the negro,
Nose Tucker, by William $. Green,
former coroner of Richland county? |
1t lies Immediately, of course, in
the disregard of the laws of God
and man on the part of the slayer. |
But primarily the responsibility for
that bloody grave rests ut the doors !
of the peace officers of this city and |
county who have failed to make
this man respect the law III. "airAnr
cases, and at the doors OF those
legislators who year after year per-
NIT the continuance of loopholes
through which influential or favored
criminals may escape. And behind
the failures to perform their full
duty is dormant public sentiment,
unworthy of a law-abiding people.
The law should provide that
whenever there Is Il violent breach
of the peace, in which life is
threatened or deadly violence at
tempted, there shall be rigorous
prosecution. Whether or not the
assaulted person is willing to let
the case drop" the case should be
followed up by officers of the law,
from magistrate to solicitor. The
offensc is not alone against the per-
son assaulted, it is against the state,
it is against society. And every
abandonment of Il prosecution gives
encouragement to lawlcssness anC
aids in the development of desper
If Il man is killed his nearest o.
kin can not drop the case';
against the slayer. Why, then, il
the attempt to kill is unsuccessful
should the state permit the intend
ed victim to drop the case" or be
brought off? Had there been adj
ministered in the Columbia and
Richland courts for the last fifteen
years the fearless, impartial Justice
that was known in this city in the
years when John r. Rhett was
mayor none would have grown W
regardless of law, or feeling free,
even if his conscience permitted, t.
N-..-.. ,1'',' 'i,,,r ,r.e,-I. ,.,:,
OF rcprOOf.
When Nose Tucker was killed
the man who slew him was on his
way from the police court, where
he had been summoned for Mt
tempting to cut to death Il whit.
man on the previous evening. He
went to court, armed with ut least
a pistol; but found the charge had
been withdrawn" Had its with
drawal not been permitted this
community would have probably
escaped the shock and digrace of
that killing; had the law been en-
forced IN previous years it would
nave made itself respected or feared.
and the knife would not have been
used on Thursday night.
No manmadc decree can force
men to do right through fear of
/ their consclcnccs, nor make them
love the law for the sake of society
nor lnculcate such respect for them
selves and their families that will
guard against disgrace. Man-made
laws cannot do these things, but
those that disregard all else that
appeals to the higher senses are
reached by fear and man-nadc
laws, enforced, protect society from
those against whom society most
needs protection. Only through
fear of punishment can society be
protected from the coward that
strikes down without warming II de-
fenScIcSs being, or from him ON
whose soul the stain of human
blood rests lightly. Therefore, So
clety should appeal loudly and
lnslstcntly upon the law and de- .
mand its enforcement i'm every T.,
instance. Those that condonc the
horrible crime Of murder because
the victim l. lowIy and fricndrss
are sowing dragons teeth; the
harvest N,i II L.. :, ,,,;, -.