The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-10-28

Characterizing the charge that be
had Disseminated in favor OF negresg
in the matter of allowing Mrs. Florence
MCGOWAN bond, as really silly, and
that a league wishing TO convince tho
public Of the capacity Of its members
for the ballot should have shown more
discretion than TO engage In the public
agitation of a matter OF this kind,
State Attorney John p. Stokes iast
night issued a statement In reply to
resolutions adopted by the Pensacola
Equal Suffrage league at a meeting
Monday night severely condemnIng aim
for declining to agree 10 bond fer
Mrs. MCGOWAN, who has been Indicted
on a murder charge and is TO be tried
next week. The statement as dictated
by State Attorney Stokes IS as fol-
lows:
after reading the resolution adopt
ed by the Equal Suffrage league az
Pensacola relative to the courts denial
Of bail to Mrs. Florence MCGOWAN.
indicted upon the charge OF murder In
the first degree, and my refusal to
agree to bail In this case, all that I
wish TO state Is that I regret that I
cannot comply with the wishes OF tho
ladies. AS one who is fond Of the
ladies 1t always gives me pleasure to
regret that must adhere to the per
formance Of my sworn duty in this
case.
The bail OF all parties indicted in
the circuit court Is fixed by the judge.
Until the evidence is presented to the
court, the court will not allow hail
in a murder case without the consent
OF the state through It's state attorney
II the state attorney feels that H. is his
duty to refuse to agree to bail the de-
fendant may take the matter before
the court, where the evidence is pre-
sented and the court decides the ques-
tion.
ATTORNEYS FAIL TO ACT.
'Tn the case OF Mrs. MCGOWAN / de-
clined to agree TO bail, because the
evidence before me. II found TO be true
by the petit jury. Will Justify a verdict
-" ~1urdor IN the first degree. Under
these circumstances II was my duty
as a. officer of the state to decline to
agree to ball for the accused. IL tho
defendants attorneys had reason to
believe that their client was entitled
10 bail they had the right to take tho
matter besore the court and present
he evidence and have the question
settled by the court Having declined
70 do this the inference is Irresistible
hat the defendants attorneys them
selves believed that their client was
lot entitled to bail.
Reference has also been made tn
he case of Sarah Mitchell who was
llso indicted for murder IN the first de-
yree. and on whose behalf a request
vas made that the state agree to bail
or her. On behalf Of ne state I agreed
hat this defendants bail be fixed at
me thousand dollars, which she was
Unable to give. She Is now In jail.
CHARGE A SILLY ONE.
TT has been suggested that because
sarah Mitchell was a negro and Mrs.
MCGOWAN was a white person. I dis
.riminated In favor Of the negro ana
gainst the white person. This IS really
lilly
The evidence against Sarah Mitchell
will not justify a verdict OF guilty o.
ny degree Of u~lawful homicide high
r than manslaughter. which Is tho
owest degree OF unlaw wful homicide in
his state The ract Is that 7 seriously
uestion whether the evidence will Jus
!fy verdict Of guilty Of any unlawful
omicide whatever. but she was N
icted by the grand Jury and II Is my
uty 10 prosecute her She was cn-
tiled to bond, however. and II was my
worn duty unueF the evidence IN mo
ase to agree to bail for her.
The difference IN these two cases
that In one case the evidence viii
lstify a verdict OF guilty Of murder
] the first degree ara in the other
ase It will not In the former case
he accused person had no right 10
all and in the latter case the accused
erson did have "A right 70 bail.
Being a sworn officer Of the state
18th the facts before me. I was called
pom 70 perform a duty. The Equal
uhrage league was withot the fscG
nd had no duty TO perform, and likb
theirs who act without information
18th respect 20 matters with reference
, which they have no duty to perform.
hey may engage In idle criticism and
I've vent TO their sympathy
AGITATION UNFORTUNATE.
1T would seem THAI league that
fishes 70 convince the public OF the
apacity OF It's members for the ballot
ould show more discretion than %
,Rage in the public agitation OF
latter Of this kind. The case Is pend
lg In court and we are on the eve a
ie trial Agitation pro and con has
he effect Of stirring up public senti-
ent for and against the accused and
fCorfy-,,nd ~, Tauf pavnl