The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1910-03-24

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upon the great commandment, ''Thou
Shalt do no murder" is held in le g
respect than any other. That neig gh-
boring States are no better, or even
much worse, does not excuse the peo-
pie Of North Carolina. Charlotte
Chronicle.
The shooting Of Messrs. Kitchin,
Travis and Dunn at Scotland Neck,
On last Friday, was most unprovoked,
and yet it is probable. certainly pos
sible, that their assailant will escape
any punishment, because of course
he will plead emotional insanity"
or brainstorm, Or some other Of
the many f1imsy excuses on which
murderers are acquitted. While Of
course it is as much murder to shoot
one man as another, whether he be
rich Or poor, obscure or prominent,
yet the prominence of three men shot
in this triple tragedy may be the
means of the law being avenged and
their assailant being properly punish
ed. It is certainly earnestly hoped
50. There have been SO many mis-
carriages of justice in the trial of
murderers in this State, that it seems
almost impossible to convict one who
has money enough to employ lawyers
who can influence an ignorant jury.
I-Pittsboro Record.
At Scotland Neck Friday, E. E.
Powell, Sr., shot three men, one of
whom has since died, from the eff
feet of the wound. The facts are
that Powell accosted Mr.. E. L. Ira
Wis for not answering letter and
began to curse him. Mr. "A. Paul
| hitchin as peace-maker said to him
1ot to curse Mr.. Travis, whereupon
Powell drew his pistol and shot Mr..
| Kitchin in the face, then fired at Mr..
Travis hitting him in the mouth.
Chief Of Police started and upon
finding he had nothing to shoot with
| turned and started away when Pow
ell shot him in the back from which
wound he died later. Powell has
been taken to Raleigh for safe keep
ing. He now says his mind was to-
tai blank when he did the shooting
and that he does not recOllect doing
| the shooting or anything about any
| letter which he at the time claimed
ne had written to MIR. Travis
Washington (N.C) Progress.
1t is the irony of fate, or judge
ment whichever way you look at it
that the homicidal mania, which is
almost unrestrained in North Caro-
lima, has invaded the ranks of the
lawyers, seeing that the legal frater
nifty is in the main responsible for the
light punishment no punish
ment visited on manslayers in North
Carolina. The two lawyers shot at
Scotland Neck Friday are expected
to recover. The shooting of laymer
is so common that it attracts little
attention, but let US hope that the
blood shed by Messrs. Kitchin and
Travis will not be in vain; that it will
so arouse them and their legal breth-
rem throughout the state that an eff
fort will be made to change the law
that the manslayer cannot at least
feel the security he now fees. The
action of Powell in the Scotland Neck
case would indicate that he is crazy,
he and the Landmark is informed that
has shown signs for some years OF
being mentally unbalanced. If he
had confined his shooting to the laity
he would have little trouble of es-
Gaping on the plea Of insanity, but
under the circumstances he may find
it difficult. -Statesville Landmark.
That was a terrible tragedy that
was enacted in Scotland Neck last
week when E. E. Powell, a former
citizen Of Northampton, shot down
State Senator E. L. Travis, Repre-
sentative A. Paul Kitchin and Chief
of Police Dunn on the streets of the
town without warning and without
any recent provocation, Last fall
Mess. Travis and Kitchin defended
Powell's 18 year old son in the Supe-
rior court when he was tried for Sc
riously cutting a son Of Mr.. W. O..
Futrell, of Woodland, this county,
who was then living in Scotland
Neck, and secured a compromise,
when it was the general opinion that
Young Powell would be sent to the
roads for long term. Mr.. Dunn
died Monday. Powell was carried
to Raleigh for safe-keeping. The
lax administration Of the criminal
laws Of the State, especially as they
relate to carrying concealed weapons
and the small fines usually imposed
for this grave offense, is largely re-
tponsible for this terrible affair
Rich Square Times.