Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-24
"The Rule of the Mob"

Two striking examples of ingrowlng
personal liberty the direct result OF
tolerated and encouraged contempt oil
law, are related in a Boston Transcript
editorial. The product of exaggerated
sense of independence multiplied by
natural and unrestrained cussedness is
crime. 1t increases with successive
generations unless diffused with gen
tier blood or checked by public COM
mandments. We see its rapid growth
i'm Maine under a regime of contempt
for law and official preaching of the
necessity of notification.
The longer men deny the restraint OF
God and man, the less regard they
have for the rights of others Lewis
ton shows that crime is rapidly pro-
gressive.
The Transcript editorial reads:
The courage committed in March at
I9illsville. Va, by mountaineer who,
having been convicted of felony, led his
gang in the shooting of four men and a
woman, seems in fair way to be
atoned Floyd Allen, the first of the
group to be tried, has been found guilty
of murder in the first degree. and the
bravado which has hitherto character
lied him and his companions is break
ing down. Il amt a going" he said in
March, when Judge Massey. one of the
murdered men, told him to prepare for
JAIL but when the recent trial ended
with a verdict that insures the penalty
of eleetrocution. his comment was more
like whine than challenge. Il still
have friends" he muttered. land they
will never see me going to the electric
chair Possibly his confidence is war
ranted, but the case has been handled
thus far with such celebrity and bray
cry that we are disposed to think that
he will not only go, but will travel in
company.
Hillsville. the scene of the tragedy. is
the county seat of Carroll County,
which is in the southwestern part of
the State. just above the North Caro-
lima boundary. though the murder trials
are proceeding under a change Of venue
at WytheyiIle, the shire town of the
adjoining county of Wythe. Farther
| toward the west. at louisville, Lee
County, there will begin next Monday
a trial almost as pregnant with conse-
quance as that of the HillsviIe assas-
sins. The Indictment charges a num-
Der of men with bribery in a recent
election. Judge Skeen. who is to pre-
side in the case. has received letter
conveying a. threat and warning
There are about thirty-eight in my
crowd" this document runs. land ii
any of us are sent to Jail the town will
be destroyed. We will die and go to
- before we will submit to be pun
ished."
Shall the PEOPLE ruler" Surely. even
though they begin with buying votes
and end by recalling judges at the
muzzles of revolvers. Seriously. though
the Hillsville crimes and that which is
announced to take place at JonesviIle
cannot be treated as isolated instances
of lawlessness, it may be that they
have definite connection and a COM
mon genesis. What is likely to be the
effect of an ignorant man. like one OF
THESE Virginian mountaineers, of per
petual iteration on the part of public
iegders whom he assumes to be men 81
high intelligence, that courts and
judges are corrupt? Is 1t not likely to
be that. when he feels himself aggriev-
ed by the law, he will arm himself and
try to get justice" by the rough
ready method? It seems 10 us that this
danger threatens in Virginia alone
and is constantly being enhanced
| The demagogues that help to foster il
| incur serious responsibility