The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-04-15
Splitting in the Face
OF Justice.

NJ JhoIASS'
Governor Patterson, Of Tennessee,
feels that ne is Of more importance
and Is less fallible than all the courts
in his great state. The supreme court
of that state upheld the lower court in
tho Cooper case and affirmed the
twenty-year sentence for the slayers
of the lamented Carrnack. Robin
Cooper was granted a new trial by the
highest court in the state, while
Colonel Cooper's sentence was affirmed.
Hardly had the ink which recorded
this decision Of the court of last resort
dried before Governor Patterson,
friend of the Coopers and bitter enemy
Of Senator Carmack, mounted his little
pedestal OF power and shouted to all
the world that fail trial had not been
given the defendants and for that
reason he deemed it wise and Just to
pardon the eldest of the criminalsl
There are many who believed that
the governor would probably pardon
these two men, but not until they had
served at least part OF their sentence.
The whole country is shocked at the
news of such clean bill of health fol
lowing so quickly the decree of the
courts.
ain my opinion neither of the de-
PENDANTS was guilty, and they did not
have a fair and Impartial trial, but
were convicted contrary to law and
evidence"
This was the remarkable statement
OF the governor upon pardoning
Colonel Cooper.
"A more fragrant and bold usurpation
OF executive power is scarcely con-
ceivable! A more revolving spectacle
OF outraged Justice is not recorded
within the legal history Of recent
years.
1t Is not the province of this paper
TO venture an opinion on the guilt or
innocence of the Coopers, but when
twelve picked men, after one of the
longest and hardest fought legal bat
ties kown to Southern history. weigh
calmly every word of evidence in the
case, and look their God in the face
and declare to the world that these
two men are guilty Of murder, and
when the supreme court of that state
ponders over the case for practically
three months and DEGREES that the &C
cused are guilty. and then for the gov
ernor of that state to hurl the lie n,
both courts and whitewash these men
is nothing short Of an internal out
ragei
And this, too. when the entire coun
try Is in revolt against the laws de
lay" From every corner OF the re
public we hear the murmurings of dis
content with respect to the variou:
legal technicalities which pat the Grim
inal on the back and slap justice il
the face.
Patterson's eternal hate for a nobl,
man whose body is now in the dust
IS following him to his own politica
grave. II was not the governors low
for the benefciaries Of his lenienc,
that caused him to fling this insult a
the judiciary and citizenry Of his stat
no, not that!-but spite, coward,
hate has led him to his little land o
exile there to perish the amented /
not despised creature of corrupt,
not murderous, man.
An, Patterson, Patterson You sa,
in effect to the five calm and gentl
justices OF Tennessee: You hav
condemned my friend, who Is tn
henchman Of a great railroad corpora
ton and the liquor interests. Yo
seem to forget that I am the MOI
arch, the ruler Of all. and by your az
lions you have displeased me In whor
is embodied all the sweet instincts @
Justice, so therel-take thati"
This trial cost the state Of Ter
nessee thousands and thousands c
dollars. It rended asunder the heart
OF brothers and inflicted wounds tina
Time cannot heal within a generation
When the first trial was ended tn
masses of the people felt that the sci
tence imposed upon the defendant
was a light one in view Of tn
evidence brought out, but there wer
few to complain when 1t was learne
that the men should in reality be pul
sshed for their bloody deed.
But after all this the governor {
this splendid commonwealth impulsivt
" spits in the face of Justice and dii
plays the most vicious contempt fC
every court in his state.
Governor Patterson of Tennessee