The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-04
Governor Should Take Notice.

Governor Should Take Notice.
Wilmington Star.
We appreciate the fact that contin-
ual harping on one subject may serve
to subject a newspaper to criticism.
alike as to its taste, its paucity of
ideas, and its motives. Some mat
ters of comment, however, Will not
wait for reference and do not Wane
in importance because of opinion free
ly expressed. Hence-it is "Shem-
we'll again"
The star was the first paper in
the State to express its qualification
at the refusal of the Supreme Court
to grant Shemwell a new trial. 1t
took this unusual course for the IA
son that the man seems to be out of
date in this country-a braggart, a
bully, a s~elf-professed desperado. It
declared that his IMPRISONMENT would
be salutarv for the example it would
set the people of the State generally
that, Notwithstanding ShemWell and
others might terrorize their towns or
cities-might even 50 far impress
themselves as dangerous men upon
their counties as to escape the usual
punlshmentS put upon crime-it was
impossible for them to persist to the
end either Of terrorizing or influencing
a State. When, on ~affiGaVits, Cover
nor Kitchin granted ShemWell a re-
prleVe, we granted him an honesty of
purpose, and, while suspecting Shem-
We'll, STATED tndl the Governor WAS
necessarily concluded by the evidence
offered him. We wished that Shem-
we'll be punished, but did not criti-
else the Governor for delaying execu-
ton of the sentence.
On top Of the reprieve Shemwell
supposed to be under treatment at
Hot Springs, returned to the State,
paraded himself in Lexington, and ap-
peared to be in perfect health. In the
meantime he failed to appea at Gull
ford court, and forfeited his bond.
We then took the ground that the
affidavits representing him to be too
sick to go to jail were, on their face,
deceptive, since the facts were that
ShemWell was able to undergo the
fatigue Of travel and, in his own per-
son, gave the lie to that which had
been represented concerning him
Later developments are hat Shem-
wells son makes declarations that at
the time the reprieve was granted his
father was at Hot Springs for treat
ment; that he came back at his sons
request en- the mission of renewing
the bone for his appearance at Gull
ford court, and that he a since
returned TO Hot Springs to continue
treatment. After this the Charlotte
Observer printed q dispatch from Hot
Springs stating that ShemWel was
not there, and since that time he has
been seen again in North Carolina.
In view of all these facts the Star
called on Governor kitchin to make
an expression III respect to a case
involving the honor of the State. The
expression came yesterday. and to
say the very least it is disappointing.
The Governor says that there is nc
evidence that deception was used to
obtain the reprieVe. and that if it is
made to appea to him that deception
was used, he will act. And while he
was in the very act of making this
! Sf.3 7 To 10 NC n a mon y IL
Mebane, a clerk in the service of the
State, walked into the Governors Of
flee and old him that Shemwen was
again back in the State, apparently
IN perfect health and not suffering
from rheumatism in the least. TO
which, as reported in the Stars RAJ
elgh correspondence, Governor Kitchin
made the comment on the situation
that he sees no reason Why Shem-
well should not travel about if occa-
sion requires, as he has his reprieve
to April list
OF course Governor kitchin has
the power to grant a reprieVe OF his
own motion. generosity and kindli-
ness. II these are his reasons he
should so state them. But when he
puts his reprieve on the rOund that
the condition of the prisoner is such
as to render his imprisonment dan
gerOu to his life, he avoids the re-
spOnsibility which he might have
taken, Cn the ground OF humanity.
When he does that he at that instant
takes the people into partnership in
the exercise of his discretion. 1t is not
his personal act. but the act of the
agent OF the State to express its mer-
ciful and humane character. There
fore, when the prisoner, reprieved as
one in q critical condition of health.
returns braZen}y to show the n
in which he has hoodwinked the Gov
ernor, it makes more difference than
Governor kitchin seems to appreciate
that he should travel about while
under raprieVe, at his own sweet viii.
The man Who can endure nights on q
Pullman without physical hurt can
easily endure life in a Jail. The rea-
son for the reprieve was the necessity
for expert medical treatment. If the
prisoner chooses not to take the treat
mcnt-and therefore. presumably,