Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-04-25
coon RsSR THE MgN or
TALn0g

TALENT
Some DC the newspapers have been
printing things about the disgrace Of
TagA0k Connfy. In connection vita the
incidents growing out III the crime 81
the negro Fountaip, his trial and sen-
Aational egcape and recapture. II ID
hard to zee where Talbot County has
dops anything to disgrace itself; on
the contrary, II appears that It has
emerged from 3 terribly trying sitna-
ton with the balance inclined dis
tlslctly ID the other direction. II re-
Inasns Cor those who % not have To-
face al 0rdeal Of this kind 10 talk
about sdlsgraosful conditions.
There are communities. not ii this
section. where to their shame, the kind
Of crime Fountain committed excites
no special Indignation. and where the
courts infiict inadequate punishment
without protest from the people A.
much al mob law ia to be deprecated.
such condition indicates lower de-
gree Of civilization and decent senti-
lnent than Iii places where actual jus
tlee is accomplished through means
not recognized by the law OF the
two. lynch law Is DreEarabie.
There was no reason for the as
Eenbly Or d mob 81 Easton Or the do
Ing of anything along the line Of mob
action, for the courts Of this state
may be trusted to deal as they should
with crimes Of this character. For
Whatever part the people of Talbot
had In the action Of the mob. upon
whom rests The real responsibility for
the escape Of the prlsoner, thay must
shoulder the blame, but In many in-
stances, the people acted with COM
inendable restraint, considering the
great strain they we're under.
Ii no instance was the court treated
With dtsrespect. al has happened n
Maryland courts under similar CIR
] cumstances, and. Fl The end. tho right
thinking people triumphed, and the
prisoner was given i fair and orderly
trial resulting III bis conviction and
sentence 10 death. the punishment
which public sentiment demands In
i caas 0f this sort II has been said,
and with every indication that It ID q
fact, that the trouble makers we're
largely residents Of other sections and
the most irresponsible Of their own
community. This is generally the
type which make the trouble under
such circumstances. AT any rate.
there we're enough law-abiding and
courageous citizens of Talbot To IN
sure the tpiumph Of Law and order.
and the community energies from q
most trying ordeal deserving oE high
credit.
40 10 Sheriff stichberry, he, also. IL
entitled to more credit than censMre.
Ii Ii true that he made i mistep Iii
failing to manacle tho prisoner when
he conveyed him frons the courtroom
10 the lsil. but II must he remembered
that these county sherifTs are not spe-
claffsts In crimes and the handling 81
prisoners. and that II was his deters
mination 10 protect bis prisoner and
perform his oath bound obligations
which diverted him in this one thing.
Upon the whole, he appears 10 have
shown 4 high sense Of duty and given
an example Of courage under diffcul-1
ties which other officials might well
fellow.
The whole AFFAIR should teach les
son 10 the people OF Maryland that
their laws are sufficient to cover even
those cases which cause the blood OF
eeyery true man I'd boil. and III which
extreme measures might he excused
il there was any reason for them, and
that their courts may Be trusted to
apply the law ID way which satisfies
the public mind and conscience.
IL was said that j higher degree Of
right public opinlon and civilization
excused in 4 community which took
The law into liz own hands and pun
ished adequately crimes of this sort
than In those where the courts and
public utterly eail to deai with them as
iley should The highest degree of
afi IS in community where adeQuase
punishment II inflicted after q fnir
and orderly trial 81 the criminal. Such
community Maryland il and must
remain.
~ - "a