The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-01

for these lynchings. and, ninety-nine
times out of each hundred, the head
ers OF the mobs are as lowly and IRE.
sponsiDle men as are 20 be found In
he community where the outrage
was committed
This Florida sheriff had an old hulk
OF building for jail, and part of
the mob came over the roof, falling
on shpfiffs and his guards from the
rear, 3aking their guns away taking
out tie negro and killing him. One
guard, a merchant whom the sneriR
had sworn IN as deputy, stood by the
side OF the cell of the culprii ard sold
his life dearly. being able to kill or
wound seven of the mobbing outlaws
before he was killed
Only few days ago fiend was
burned at the stake in Texas, the
citizens committing this awful deed
under the delusion they were setting
an example Of what would nappn to
the next one of the kind. Ii is an
nonsnse to say these crimes are com
mitted against blacks because they
are negroes, for the same men would
strap the same punishment on whose
ever would commit the offense. That,
Of course. Is no; admitted by parts
ans seeking to make political capital,
but is none the less true. The trouble
| is that wrong lead has been fol
lowd for years, both North and
South. The deprelations followed
carpetbag days, when juatice was for
eign to the South. and the only rem
sdy was the unerring aim of the dis
ciplesof Southcrn chiyalry. With the
advent of honest courts and tile en-
ioTcement OF the laws, the mob spirit
should have gone with the carpet
bagger and attendant evils, but did
not, and the South has had to pay
dearly for the continuation Of this syg.
em of immediate dealing with such
csses--suffered so much none not well
versei in Eastern ideas can estimate
the cost.
A few years ago two crimes were
committed in Verrnilion county, hi
nois In one day. Danviile, the county
seat is the home Of Speaker Cannon
nd at that time had mayor who was
If different political faith. A mob
started TO lynch the assailant in the
ity jail and a weak-hearted chief of
)olice allowed the jsil to be assault
ID. the prisoner taken out and killed
tho streets
In the meantime the negro who was
;narged with assault in another par.
Of the county had arrived at the jail
md the mob went after him. The
iheriff had been a farmer, AMI, stand
ng In Front of the jail. he told a
thousand determined men that there
would be no lynching; tnat he had
ortified the JAIL that behind the
loors were his sons his daughter and
rood wife, and FIVE men known as
rave, and that they would pump
eai into the mob until the un1ertak-
ng departments at Danyille would
nave TO call for assistance. The
ineriff a native of a near by tcpn.
hip was famed fer mOdesty and his
iunny disposition, and all laughed
when he made what was believed 10
,e a bravado speech. When the rail
Dad iron to be used for batteTing
am was placed against the door for
jar. machine rifle gun took on
very wrist hold Of the iron, ani a
olley from up the stairway provei
he battle had commenced. Seven OF
he mob were killed outright and thir-
y-two went to the hospital The mob
created, and II was afterwards as
ertained the negro boy Che was 16)
vas innocent
BE It said to the credit of that sher-
that he had the crippled mobbists
ent 10 the penitentiary, and there
as not been another mobbing In she
ate. In the hitherto standing second
Georgia in mob manifestations.
Any man will defend the honor and
afety Of his home ami will not await
he coming OF the official But where
ltners, when the accused Is under ar
est and in the power OF the law, un-
'ertake to become the law, anarchy
axes the saddle, and sworn officials
IRE best serving their country in their
ttempts to prevent II lives are lost
maintaining the law, the mob is
esponsible for the loss.