Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-10-02
STOPPING MOB VIOLENCE

Juuge MoseS Wright, generally ac- credited one of the most level-headed and conscientious jurists in Georgia, has suggested by a recent novel and courageous act new line of thought in dealing with the sometimes distress ing problem of lynch law.
 A man charged with horrible crime was recently brought before Judge Wright during session of court at Sum, merville, Ga. The mans act was SC attrocious, so far as his appearance seemed to go, that it was feared he would never be permitted to go to trial, but would be dealt with in sum. mary fashion, by mob then reported forming. Before proceeding with the case, the judge placed the officers of the law in charge of the prisoner; saw that he was securely and amply guarded, and adjourned court for the purpose of hay. ing few words with the cooler heads of the town. In front of the court house the magistrate gathered together as many as he could get to listen to him, and then and there pleaded earnestly with all patriotic men present to stand by him in upholding the law of the land and in dealing justice righteously.
 In part, Judge Wright said:
 I realize that it is not the good,
 true citizens of Su,nmerville who
 are talking of lynching. I under
 stand that lot of people are here
 from Alabama seeking to incite
 trouble. want to see justice done,
 and intend to do my best to see
 that it is done. i want you good
 men to help me. And I want to say
 further, if any of you hear any man,
 or set of men, advocating mob vio-
 lence here, you come to me and give
 me their names. I pledge you my
 word will send every one of them
 promptly to jail for six months for
 contempt of court I can do that
 and I will. Give me their names
 and will do the rest.'
 Significantly enough, it is reported that after this delivery upon the part of the presiding judge, number of "strangers" quietly sneaked out of town, and no trouble of any kind arose during the progress of the trial.
 Judge Wright is, evidently, prac- tical man, as well as an upright judge. He appealed to the better element for assistance in a manner that could hard ly have failed to be effective. Conf dently, he put the trouble-makers or plain notice that they would get jail sentence at the very outset if they sought to bring disgrace to his juris- diction. The scheme could not fall through. It touched the good citizen in spot sure to win his cooperation; it touched the would-be lyncher in his most vulnerable point-his fear for his own precious hide.
 If Judge Wright is man of his word and he bears that reputation in Geor- gia-and had been presiding in Missis- sippi in that particular locality wherein one ex-Senator Sullivan boasts hs re- gently melted mob to lynching, that worthy would now be behind tho bars 1t over! It will be remember ed that Sullivan was careful enough to state that he "didn't shoot' or ''other- wise participate in the affair" He only urged it on with all his might" If Sullivan should try that on in Judge wright's bailiwick some time, he would get something he wouldn't forget-an jail sentence, and very probable grand jury indictment to fol low!
 It may be that Judge Wright, of Georgia, has solved, in large measure, the question of dealing with mob vio- ence, in his immediate section at all events.