The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-01-08
REMEDY FOR HOMICIDEs
Louis BristOw Suggests That HOmi-
eide be Made a FelOny-A Review
fOf Records in This State for Six
Months.


sThe appalling frequency Of homi-
ctdes in South Carolina is a matter
which should give the officers Of the
law and all abiding people cause for
serious consideration. Legislature,
executive and judicial officers are
confronted with situation which, if
tolerated much longer, will result in
untold evil to the State. If nec-
essary, drastic measures should be
adopted to put stop to the reign Of
riot that is rampant in South Caro-
lima.
For long time I have been giving
attention to the matter, and 1 here
with append figures covering reports
In the daily papers for the past six
months, from July to December 81,
inclusive:
Homicides. 1853; Of the dead, whites,
7s. negroes. 70; OF the slayers, whites,
~. negroes, SIS, unknown, three. It
VIII thus be seen that the number of
deaths is equally divided between the
races, and the men who did the kill
ings were almost equally divided also
nave often heard it said in answer
10 arguments against killing that the
large majority Of the homicides in
South Carolina were ordinary "nigger
Killings" The reports in the daily
papers for the last six months
are a complete refutation of the
claim.
AS to the manner of death And
tnat III OF the dead were killed by
gun and pistol shots; 1S by blows
rom rocks, bricks and pieces of
wood; II by knife cuts and two nv
Dlows from axes. Here, too, is a ter
noie indictment against our people:
the deadly weapon-the pistols
carried by far too many men and
boys. Pistols are made and carried
tor the purpose Of shooting men and
that person who habitually carries a
pistol Is in his heart already a mur-
oerer, with the possible exception of
certain officers Of the law who are
supposed to go armed. 1 believe IL ia
true that an. indictment for mur-
der IN this State carries with it a
cnarge Of carrying concealed wea.
pons; but I have never heard of a
case where the accused was con-
victed OF the charge, or count. relat-
ing thereto.
Another matter. and one which T
ieaVe 10 others to account for: OF the
l5S killings since July 1. 50 were COM
mitted in prohibition counties and 76
in counties in which there are dispen-
saries. Since October 20 killings have
been reported in prohibition counties
as follows: York, Saluda, Pickens
Union. Oconee. Marlboro Cherokee
and Spartanburg. one each: Green
vile, Newberry,, Darlington, TWO each:
Edgefeld and Marion, three each:
Lancaster. four, and Anderson. H.
In dispensary counties: Hampton. Will
iiamsburg. Georgetown and Dorches-
ter, one each; Charleston and Colle-
ton, two each; Bamberg, Aiken, Or
angeburg. Richland Laurens, three
each, and Barnwell, four. I recite
this last paragraph for the informa-
ton of those who have desired to
compare the homicide records Of pro-
hibition and dispensary counties.
Ny remedy for the evil of homi-
eide is for the legislature to make
q crime per sc. to be punished ac-
cording to the degree OF felony in each
case.
TO take human life is an offense
against God and human society, ex-
cept 1t be by due process Of law. When
the Lord gave his laws to Israel he
made provision for the man slayer
who killed by accident. But even he
was not to go scot free. According to
the Mosaic dispensatiOn every person
guilty Of a. homicide suffered a pen
atty for his offense against human life
and society, whether the death-blow
was given premeditatedly and wanton-
ly, 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
1t some lasting moral lesson was in
tended to he impressed upon tho
minds fthe people. The institution
may be altered or entirely disappear
amid changing social conditions; but
the principal ever remains the same.
The cities Of refuge provided for by
the Mosaic laws were to give an asy-
lum only to those who killed by acct
dent b,,f hul tn