The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-09
TO ERADICATE LYNCHING.
Correspondent Thinks Participants i'm
Mob Law Should bc Disfranchised

Courier: Another lynching of negro
in this State brings again to the fore
the oft recurring question of law en-
forcement The laws of the state are
now unfavorable to lynching. Under
the law a person who actively partici-
pates in lynching bee commits mur-
der. Frequently it is murder in it's
most cowardly and brutal form, for
the reason that one defenseless man
is attacked by an armed mob. The
poor negro does not have even a
sporting chance for his life.
| The fact that the person lynched is
considered as deserving death is be-
side the question. It's entirely irrele-
want. In former times in thicltly set
tied communities of the west vigilance
committees found it necessary, in their
Judgment, to administer what they
termed swift justice to Objectionable
citizens. In most of such cases, how
ever, the accused was at least given
a reasonable chance to show his inno-
cence. In case he failed to do SO he
was executed in an orderly manner
There was no mob. Only grave Of
fenses received the attention of vigi-
lance committees. It was not exactly
lynching. but a sort Of rough and
ready justice administered under GER
tain restrictions.
The so-called lynch law of the south
is entirely different. It is the fury of
an irresponsible mob, often visited up
on wretched, defenseless negro for
a trivial offense, sometimes, n
doubt, upon the innocent.
| There is nothing wrong with the
law. The difficulty is with law en-
forcement. Through cowardice or i'm
proper influences juries. with one ac-
4 cord, refuse to convict man accused
of lynching or mob murder. This
spirit Of lawlessness among juries
is so great that it Is often i'm
possible to get a conviction in
common ordinary case Of plain mur-
der. Thus the spirit of lawless-
ness is made to increase. No doubt
there are now fewer homicides in
this State than there were twenty
years ago. However, the abatement
of the liquor evil is more responsible
for this condition than respect for the
law. In fact, in murder cases, al
a profound and far-reaching disre-
spect for the law.
The statute providing that the
widow or heirs at law of the person
murdered by mob violence shall have
the right to sue for damages the coun-
ty in which the lynching occurs has
apparently had no effect in dlscour-
aging mob violence. Among ignor-
ant, prejudiced and vicious people
lynching has lost none of it's popu-
larity.
What are we going to do about it?
Something should be done, and that
quickly.
Many years ago dueling was a
growing evil in, this State. 1t was ef-
fectively stopped by law providing
that any person who participates in
a duel shall be disqualified from vot-
ing and from holding public Office in
| ic OF Mi yoi
or other reason why the law should
not declare that any person who take,
part in, or aids or abets, q lynching
shall be disfranchised. In order to
make the law effective the oath OF
office and the oath of the voter re-
quired in primary and general cleo
tions should be amended so as to re-
quire the ofticeholder and voter to
swear that he has never taken part
in o lynching and was never present
when one occurred. This would dis
qualify great many people in South
/ Carolina from holding office or voting
| However, the statute could be so
Worded as to apply to the future only.
1t will be argued that a person so
lawless as to participate in mob MUIR
der would not hesitate to swear false
ly. Such person would not dare
to swear falsely, for the reason that
his political opponent or a partisan
neighbor would not hesitate % show
his disqualification for office, or chal-
lenge his vote, or prosecute him fol
perjury in case he swore falsely. The
partisan in politics would remain 81
lent in prosecution for mob MUIR
der. The jury would fail to convict
of the heinOus crime Of lynching. Bur
the partisan neighbOr would rejoice to