The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-11-28
lAwIgssf fsrsrIf

The lyriching of billiard Wilson by
mob composed of citizens of Shiloh
township, Sumter county, and ad-
jacent sections of FToren6S and Claf-
endon counties was the exercise Of
Iawless justice by an excited and out
rageds community. that will be approv-
ed and justified by majority of the
people Sf Sumter county and the state
at large. This being q fact that we
must admit, regardless OF our firm
ly rooted conviction thnt lynch law is
never justified in country that has
courts. an honest judiciary and q
predominant sentiment in favor of the
suppression OF crime and the punish-
ment Of criminals. ii Is almost q waste
Of time to discuss the billiard Wilson
case. save in general terms, for the
purpose OF making clear reasons for
declining TO approve lynch law In any
circumstances. no matter how helm
GUS the crime or. how positive the
psoGf Gf the guilt %, the victim % the
mob, There was no question of the
guilt of billiard Wilson. His. crime
was brought home to him and fasten-
ed upon him by chain of circumstan-
tiai evidence stronger. more positive
and more. convincing than that usual
ly adduced from the testimony of eye
witnesses OF O crime. He was posi-
lively identified by the little son OF
the woman whom he murdered. He
finally confessed his guilt removing
the last shred OF doubt if doubt ex-
listed in the minds of anyone. The
case against him was clear, positive,
irrefutable. His life. was forfeited for
his ghagtIy crime. .1AiI Eat remained
was the time and manner OF his exe4
cution. Had he been left to be dealt
with by law through the orderly pro-
cedure Of the courts speedy trial
was guaranteed and his punishment
certain. All that civilized society aslss;
~ ss.nasti aaa. is zhe lsi..stAnass.i sni
lhw and the punishment OF crifniu-
ais. This was assured In the case or
billiard Wilson. but the msss rs.s nns
him to death, yielding to the heat and
passion of the moment lost sight or
the duty that each and every iaw-
abiding citizen owes TO himself and
his State TO uphold the courts and aid
In all ways. possible and in all cif-i
cumstances the orderly enforcement
own hands and enforced swift jlis-
tice In a lawless manner Tlisy did
no injustice to billiard Wilson. They
killed him, but his life was already
forfeited, and in killing him they did
s::.. 10 wssas 'rhs sssssz:s s..ss as;ss ~ =s.e
community Ia particular and 10 soci-
oty In general u the n.sen and aae-
rant disregard of. law The effect OF
the 4yncning or Diiiari WILSON did
not end when the mob had satisfied
It's yengencejby fiddling his Sbodv with
bnlletel The ksllspR Of billiard Wilson
MAS q revefsion to lawiessness m:
mass and q breaking ef the eyiasas that
divide law and SrdAf from laNiesH. !.
mess and yioience. sT7ierain Hes tfe
danger; in ivreh laHi: tA<rein lies
the wronEfulness OF fescrtirs toi
rough aid iSady iussscz whesz there
are courts estahishesi for the trial
and punishment OF criminals, The ssii-l
ling OF " self-coSifesse murderer.
whose clothinE reeIted with the blood
OF his vic sinl Ia q small thine Ia cons
parison wiSA the wrong done the pub
Tic connciesice. The men who YArtsci.I
pated IN the lynrhing of Dilinrii Wil-
son Will flkd It easy 20 iasisf1 ne
=