The gold leaf., 1910-03-17
THE SCOTLAND NECK TRAGEDY.
Some Press Comments on the De-
pIorabIe Affair Which Startled the
State
GastoEia Gazette.

| Gastoria Gazette
No one was surprised that Powell,
the slayer of Dunn and assailant OF
Kitchin and Travis, announced that
he would plead insanity as his de-
fense for the commission of that bar
barous crime. He claims that he
has no recollection whatever OF the
affair. Chances are that the jury
will believe his cock-and-b bull insanity
story 1t goes that way according
to history.
| Salisbury Post.
Averse as We are to passing iudg-
ment in any case where a defendant
is yet to have a trial by Jury, we do
| not hesitate to express the conviction
that if ever man deserved the death
sentence that fellow Powell, who
wantonly murdered a brave officer
and wounded two other unOffending
citizens, is the man.
Wilmington Star.
The more that is learned about the
Scotland Neck tragedy, the more in
explicable it appears. There is room
in this case for a strict construction
OF the rule of law that the use OF a
deadly weapon implies malice, and
consequently motive. Otherwise, to
kill with impunity, it is only neces-
sary that the killer refrain from dis
closing the motive which rests in his
own breast.
Reidsville Weekly.
The whole State has heard with
sorrow of Scotland Neck's terrible
tragedy. One citizen unwarningly
shoots three Others in the heart of the
city. A plea of insanity will no doubt
be entered, but it looks to US as if
there was murder in his heart. The
law must protect good citizens from
such dangerous character. Let pun
ishment be administered swift and
sure.
Lumbert0n Robesonian.
II that man Powell, who was so
handy with his gun at Scotland Neck,
escapes the electric chair on any sort
of insanity dodge it will be in order
to ship back that electric chair that
it took so long to get and make no
bones over saying that murder is the
safest crime man can possibly COM
nit in this State.
Pittsboro Record
The shooting of Messrs. Travis,
Kitchin and Dunn at Scotland Neck,
on last Friday, was most unprO-
voked, and yet it is probable, GER
tainly possible, that their assailant
will escape any punishment, because
of course he will plead "emotional
insanity or a "brainstorm, or
some other of the many fiimsy ex-
cuses on which murders are acquitted.
While of course it is as much mur-
der to shoot one man as another,
whether he be rich or poor, obscure
or prominent, yet the prominence
OF the three men shot in this triple
tragedy may be the means of the law
being avenged and their assailant
properly punished. 1t is certainly
earnestly hoped so. There have been
so many miscarriages 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.
Wrliamston Enterprise
The horrible crime committed at
Scotland Neck stands unparelled in
the history Of Eastern Carolina. The
peace and quiet of people who stand
for whatever is good, has been dis
turbed, and the laws of God and man
have been outraged. A husband and
father is lying beneath the sod, and
two Others are suffering severe inju-
ries. This was the work OF man
who knew no order that he would
not in his splfishness dare to change.
There was no prOvOcatiOn, no strug-
gle for defense on the part OF those
shot dOwn-it was the deliberate act
OF II man whose heart was evil, and
who had from time to time lent his