The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-14
AWFUL RECORD.
Rev. MIR. Brlstow Writes of Muir
ders In This State in
THE: LAST SIX MONTHS.

Hundred and Fifty-Eight Murders
in sorth Carolina, Of Which Eigh-
ty-Two Were Committed in Pro-
hibitiGn Counties and Seventy-Six
In Dispensary Counties.
Rev. Louis J. Brisrow, a young
Baptist preacher and a strong pro-
hibitionist, has been keeping the re-
cord of the murders committed in
this State in the last six months, and
gives out the following on the sub
ject for publication:
''The appalling frequency Of homi-
cides in South Carolina is matter
which should give the officers OF the
law and all law-abiding people cause
for serious consideration. Legisla-
tive, executive and judicial officers
are confronted with situation
which, If tolerated much longer,
will result In untold evil to the
state. II necessary, drastic measures
should be adopted to put stop to
the reign Of riot that is rampant in
South Carolina.
"For long time have been CIV
ing attention to the matter, and I
herewith append figures covering re-
ports in the daily papers for the past
six months, from July to December
81, inclusive.
"Homicides, 15s; of the dead,
whites 10; negroes, 10; Of the slay-
ers, whites 70, negroes IS, unknown
3. It will thus be seen that the
number of deaths is and the men
who did the killings were almost
equally divided also. I have often
heard it said In answer to argument
against killing that the large major
ity Of the homicides in South Caro-
lima were ordinary enigger killings.
The reports in the daily papers for
the last six months are complete re-
futation of the claim.
GAS to the manner Of death find
that 121 Of the dead were killed by
guns and pistol shots; 1S by blows
from rocks, brick and pieces of
wood; It by knife cuts, and two by
blows from axes. Here, too is ter
rible Indictment against our people;
the deadly weapon-the pistols
carried by far too many men and
boys. Pistols are made and carried
for the purpose Of shooting men, and
that person who habitually carries a
pistol is in his heart already a
murderer, with the; possible excep-
ffon of certain officers Of the law,
Swho~are supposed to go armed.
Relieve it Is true that an Indictment
for murder in this state carries with
q charge Of carrying concealed wea-
pons; but have never heard or q
case where the accused was convicted
Of the charge, or count, relating
:; thereto.
Another matter, and one which
I leave to others to account for: .
"Of the 15S killings since July l,
80 were committed in prohibition
counties and rs in counties in which
there are dispensaries. Since Octo-
ber 29. killings have been reported
in prohibition counties as follows:
York, Saluda, Oconee. Union, Pick
ems, Marlboro, Cherokee and Spar
tanburg, one each; Greenville, New
berry, Darlington, two each; Edge
field and Marion, three each, Lam
caster, four, and Anderson eleven.
.tIn prohibition counties. Hamp-
ton. williamsburg, Georgetown and
Dorchester, one each; Charleston
and Columbia. two each; Bamberg,
Aiken, Orangeburg, Richland, Lau-
rens, three each, and Barnwell, four.
eI recite this last paragraph for
the information Of those who have
desired to compare the homicide re-
cords Of prohibition and dispensary
counties.
my remedy for the evil Of homi-
eide is for the legislature to make
It a crime, per SO. to be punished
according to the degree OF felony IN
each case.
"To take a human life is an Of
Sense against Cod and human So
ciety, except it be due process OF
law. When the Lord gave his laws
to Ysreal, he made provision for the
manslayer who killed by accident.
But even he was not to go scott free.
According to the Mosaic dispensa-
tion every person guilty Of homi-
eide suffered a penalty for his Of
fense against human life and society,
whether the death blow was given
premeditatedly and wantonly, in
heat Of passion, or in fear; or
whether by error or accident. This
was Gods command; and every pro-
vision Of the Mosaic economy en-
shrined some enduring principle BY
it some lasting moral lesson was in
tended to be impressed upon the
minds Of the people. The institution
may be altered or entirely disappear
amid changing social conditions: but
the principle ever remains the same.
"The Cities Of Refuge provided for
by the Mosaic laws were to give an
esvlum only to those who killed by