The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-09-04

r-u ~ Ooala. printed the following ar.
urlr in me Charleston News and
Courier and The most of lis suppes.
unns arr still appropos:
Ta ~ Editor News and Courier.
TIE editorial Ia today's issue of
THur valued paper on the subject OF
rnurt uf summary Jurisdiction sup
E-sf to me- the propuety OF placing
beiur. the public. and especially the
tr.eEafes chosen to compose the con-
sfu.oual convention. some thoughts
a'nug that line which have for some
umr bern revolving in ms own mind
Every Eooi and thoughtful citizen
a. ~ state must deplore that spirit
uf Iaulrssness which too frequently
mauIfests itself in every section of
our sIafp hy mobs taking the law in
tlsr ouu hands and administering
seminary punishment upon criminals
tu aume instances Dr. H. Co be feared
ttaf me mobs are not too exacting as
fa fhe evidence upon which they act
end the iunoCeut suffer for the deeds
uf fhe Euiity. In u0 civilized commu-
ats uhsre fNed and settled laws are
of force Tor the punishment Of crime
can MOI laW be- justified. There NAV
- and doubtless are occasions where
thr crime is 30 heinOus and the de-
taiis of % 80 horrible and revolving
thaf summary punishment by the peo-
o. in their heat and Indignation may
b. uaIuated and excused. but from a
ieEal standpoint never justified. The
tneFttable tendency OF every such &C.
Curence o. 90 lower the standard Of
civilization and 90 bring law and or
Or into disrepute
EFery time a lynching takes place
be- b. an object lesson 20 all the world
that our oWn lives. liberty and prop
erfy arr less secure than ever before
tf ID within the memory OF all men
of mature axe when lynching was re-
a1rt-d to for only one crime. but il
Is uof 30 noV The spirit OF lawless-
u-ss. and the fact that the mobs go
unuuuish.sd have added crime after
crime to Judge Lynch's calendar. and
u some remedy is not found his ju-
reelection viii soon extend 20 the
CrIrkeu and melon thief IL Is sub
Hersite of fhe morals OF the rising
EenerafI1u and detrimental 90 the ma
t.raI welfare and progress Of our
state such being the case. mobocra-
Cf should be- abated. To apply the
remedy t is first necessary TO find
ffa cause coz causes which lead the
people fo violate the law and admins
ter Punishment by their own hands.
think there can be- 40 doubt that
i Is largely tracea5ie % the tardiness
of melting our Justice through the ma
Ch.nrrl of the courts The people
have reau too many criminals escape
IrH punishment whose cases were
passed through tha regular form Of
!, trial iu the courts 10 is too easy.
strictly TOO much within thu establish
ed rules ~ laW and practice. 20 con
tuua a case from term 90 term, and
thus. in the meantime. human nature
uIu largely transfer the sympathy
from me slain or injured party TO the
prisoner When al last trial is
rearhed 10 a conviction follows. an APP
pal OIL taken to the supreme court on
ssme trIhing technicality. Yet rule
of au Hhich that court must observe.
although it had no weight whatever
with fhe jury in reaching the verdict
results n the case being sent back
f1r new trial This brings about an
other trial after a stiu longer lapse
uf time. and then DO a second conyic-
rur follows there is motion for a
uru rrIaI uu afra~-iisCDyered evidence
arH possibly another appeal Thus
dr.at f1Iuv- delay. until finally the
U..Hrsr Is -af free. although right
f.Tt convicted by the jury which first
f-et ths cas-.
Ir seven cases 0uf 1f ten the party
charged stir the crime has been on
haU I.-po-.ug of hi- time and per
rrr a. suits bis convenience and in
CUuafiuu. and az course taking every
s.rr possible to secure his acquitiaL
tf perrhancr. a final conviction rs had
chen petitions for executive clemency
are freely circulated. and too readily
signed urriug the governor 10 com
mute ur pardon With all OF these
aEeuCIas and Influences az work II Is
taa often me result that the grossly
FIsIafaI Iau o. not indicated. and
ttr people are led % believe that II
outrageous crimes are 90 be punish
90 r must b. done by the people but