The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-01-13
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE

The Ocala Star asks What is the
difference between lynching by mob
and Iynching under the form Of law?'
Gainesville Sun.
The Star never asked any such
question, and it would truly like to
know what the Sun means by mis-
quoting it in any such fashion.
Having quoted question which the
Star didn't ask, the Sun goes on to
answer it in the following oracular
manner?
$50 far as meeting out justice.
there Is no difference whatever. The
accused gets as fair trial by mob
as he would by a legally organized
jury trying the case during the excit-
ed demand Of the people for veng-
eance Immediately following commits
sion Of the crime. Members Of the
legal jury are often men who would
take part in lynching the accused if
they were not prevented by armed
forces and they give about as much
consideration to the case as the mob
would"
We should Judge by the foregoing
that the Sun had paid about as much
attention to the subject as it did to
the article in the star, which it replied
to in such a sage manner. For the past
ten years, there has been concerted
effort on the part of state authorities
all over the south to have immediate
trials for the accused in cases of rape.
Most of these trials have resulted in
immediate conviction and speedy ex-
ecution, which is the logical result in
cases of rape, which is probably the
most easy to prove as we'll as the most
obnoxious of crimes. Others of these
trials, where the guilt of the criminal
was not so fully established, have
lasted for days, one such instance oc-
curing in Alabama last week. Some
few have resulted in acquittal. AL
of which the Sun could have found
out for itself by close observation.
As far as the trial of the negro
Johnson here last week was concern
ed, the court and grand jury were in
session in their regular term when he
was brought before them The proof
of his guilt was direct The Star is
personally acquainted with the Judge
the prosecuting attorney and most OF
the members of the jury, and doesn't
believe that any one of them would
have consented to the conviction o.
the accused if the evidence against
him hadn't been positive There was
no reason why they should have beer
afraid to do their duty.
The sober second-thought of the
county, as well as the power of the
state was behind them; they had M
reason to fear, and we don't believe
they did fear. The accused had all the
justice he was entitled to, and al
law-abiding men should rejoice tina
technicalities were showed aside. 81
far as the Star is concerned, it woul(
be glad If every criminal had just a!
speedy a trial. Everybody except the
eviI-doers would be better off, an(
there would soon be fewer of them.
Perhaps the greatest reason TO
speedy trials, as well as the creates
reason for 1ynching, in the case o
rape, is consideration for the victim
1t is agony for her to be brought int
a court room to testify, and almos
always the longer the ordeal is post
poned, the worse it is for her. TIL
Star does not wonder that northern
men, who have had no personal con
tact with such cases, do not conside
this fact, but it is surprised tina
southerners, like the editors of tn
Tampa Times and Gainesville Sun
should forget it.