Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-01-19

PfsTOI~CARRYING THE CATsE-
The grand jury In one or the oldest
counties In Texas. the county OF Rob-
ertson. reported 10 the court:
We deerlv deplore me many hon
icides In our county III the last TX
months and We cali upon me good
people Of Robertson county 10 aid
The local authorities in every honor
able way 70 the end that those who
violate the laws or our state may BE-
speedily punished. We regret TO
note as a result OF our Investigations
that the Law prohibiting the carrying
OF pistols has been VIGOROUSLY vio-
lated. said violations or which are
the most prolific sources or the many
homicides hat We have reported. We
especially recommend that the law be
rigidly enforced"
Grind juries in many counties could
make the same report. In one year
there were twenty-eight homicides In
Harris county. tw~enty-eight In BexaT
county and nearly twice as many in
yer another county.
These are unpleasant facts 70 re-
cord and 10 press npon public atfen-
tion. but the dutN resting upon the
press TO endeavor TO quicken the pub
lie conscience and develop greater re
spect for the Law and a higher regard
for fhn sancity or human lie Il inn
perative sw 49,
There are more homicides In Texas
in a year. with a population OF 4.0O.-
900. than there are in the whole OF
the British kingdom.
There are several cities In the
United States. OF a greater popula-
ton than Houston. in which there
was not a single homicide. vet the
people Of Texas-or a large part 81
them-seem 70 look upon homicides
"A necessary incidents and concomi-
tants OF present dav civilization.
There must be q reason for such
state OF public sentiment. The peo-
ple OF Texas are not lawless. They
are not towards. They are. as a
whole. a brave. manly. generous ne0-
pie: but the vicious. lawless custom
OF carrying pistols has benumed the
public conscience and caused law.
abiding men 10 look upon a shameful
bold. contemptuous defiance OF Law
as a mere venial matter.
The lawless element sees the DE-
LAYS and miscrriges OF justice and
calculates that the chances OF pun
Ishment are remote. II sees a sys-
TEN OF courts and a code OF proceed
ure. established and adopted q hal
a century ago. sought to be applies
TO 1912 conditions.
Again. and again. for nearly ter
years. The Chronicle has argued ans
pleaded for mere stringent Legislation
against the "r.stol-toafine'' habit
and with the same earnestness hai
pleaded for such change OF the judi
cial system as will insure speedy tri
ais OF all persons accused OF crime.
but 40 far It's efforts have yielded liF
ne fruit.
~ howo~n- - atpronwaUoa IA,
purpose has not altered: It's faith hai
not weakened: It's energy has no
ahated. II believes that the people
viii after awhile awaken 10 the evils
of the hour and apply the remedy.
Our remedy is easy OF application
and is sorely needed-that IS 10 MAKE
n a felony to carry a pistol IN viola
ton az the law. For selling a drinl
or liquor IN a local option precinr'
the penalty Il two years IN the peni
Tertiary. and surely that Is no gravel
or greater otfense than TO carry z
deadly weapon In a peaceful commu
nifty.
Another remedy IL 10 blot out al
distinctions. grades and degrees @
murder and ieave Y 10 the jury q
find guilt and let the court affix I
proper nenalty. Then provide tha'
no criminal case shall be reversed iol
any error on procedure or instrnc
ton that does not operate injustice
Texas must stop the flow OF human
blood or cease TO claim a place amoni
civilized communities. Houston
Chronicle.