The gold leaf., 1909-07-08

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Halt and Take Our Bearings
Upon the Tendency Toward
Failure to Punish Crime
Dangerous Precedent.
AlbemarIe Enterprise.
The verdict of acqutittal in this
case is a dangerous one 1t is making
justice a farce, and giving crime a
vlndicatiOn in the foolish plea of
every man who gets mad enough to
lose his mind to everything else ex-
cept the object OF his worry. If such
Is classed as insanity that excuses
the crime OF murder, then the man
who gets drunk and commits murder
IS almost on tie same ground, if not
entirely. Biggers committed murder
II he was insane when he did it, he
is subject to the same kind Ofinsanity
everytime he gets mad II the Meek
lenburg courts want to see Justice en-
thrOned, then Biggers should do
service in the penitentiary. say the
penalty OF first-degree murder, or else
he should he made to keep company
with such men as Harry Thaw, and
be compelled to make some atone
ment for q crime for which there was
no sane excuse. Our prisons or peni-
tentiaries should have special depart
ments for the care of such patients if
this form of acquittal from capital
offenses is to become popular. Char
lOtte should hold it's head in shame.
However unpopular was the dead
man and however respected the
slayer may have been and isnow, the
verdict OF acquittal gives justice
III North Carolina IL back set, while
men will be encouraged into getting
mad, pulling their hair, gritting their
teeth, and shooting down their fel-
lows. Our courts cannot afford such
wild abortions OF justice.
Statesville Landmarks
The acquittal of Biggers in Char
lotte Oh the ground of insanity has
forced on public attention an absurd
situation. While q very
large number of people do not believe
that Biggers was insane at any time
except in so far as one is insane who
brOOds over grievance or imaginary
grievance until he works himself up
to the point of committing murder,
even if it be conceded that the man
was insane prior to and at the time
of the murder, it must be admitted
that to allow him to go free is q
, grievOus wrong to society, for no as
surance can be given that he will not
again become victim of confusion
al insanity" and repeat his perform
ance if the occasion arise
The result of the Biggers trial can
but give impetus to the already
shocking prevalence of homicide
One who gives way to feeling and
makes no effort to control himself
may be insane in sense, but if he is
not held responsible for his conduct
under such circumstances it is easy
to see what the result will be.
Mt. Olive Tribune
The acquittal of Biggers on the
plea of insanity has caused a great
deal of comment as to what will be
the solution of this vexed problem
of convicting murderers when they
plead temporary insanity, homicida
mania, "confusional insanity" etc
And it is really problem that should
greatly interest every one. The best
and most sensible solution so fal
offered comes from Solicitor Herio;
ClarksOn, of the Charlotte district
who prosecuted Biggers. His plan is
that all slayers of their fellOwmel
shall be subjected to the same punish
ment meted out to second degree
murderers, which is two to thirty
years Imprisonment, "but in ar
asylum for the criminal insane for q
period in the discretion of the conrt'
when such defendants plead insanity
at the time of the killing, and are
found not guilty by the jury on this
plea.
Greenville Reflector.
In the matter of the insanity plea
the North Carolina courts seem to be
falling in line after New York. II
seems to us that il we are going tC
turn our murderers loose on this
ground we had just as we'll do away
with the courts entirely, as one who
commits a crime of any kind is insane
to that extent. No sane man will
walk deliberately up and shoot his
fellow being down. Such al act is
directly against the nature of a
normal man, but that is no reason
they should be turned loose on the
public to possibly do the same thing
under similar circumstances.
Those who are in position to know
say the evidence against Biggers
would not justify his conviction. As
for that we know nothing, but We
know the insanity plea is no plea
and think our lawyers are carrying
things too far.
High Point Enterprise.
The verdict in the Biggerstrial was
unexpected in a community like Meek
lenburg, whose people for genera
tions have been taught obedience tt
> authority and whose newspapers
have preached the pure doctrine o
law and order almost to the point o
| A failing tiny nerve-no larger than tn