Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-27
THURSDAY FEnnuAaY y. 1918
FACTS ~ M As PTED

nj unsigned communicable from 40
unknown writer. apparently coiored
person. declaring that John Snowden
aa innocent Of THE murder for which
he il condemned 10 Ole somorrow.
gacls d letter. even lhough signed
aad written By. responslble party,
could have no possible weight with
thinking people II Ii i quite simple
matter for anyone 70 express his con-
: gackion 81 d thing merely as 8 con-
victiou another thing entirely to Of
fer convincing proof that he II right.
Fortunately, Judges and iuries are not
governed by their personal COMIC
lions. therefore they often ina YER
diet ot guilty against those whom they
had believed innocent before they had
heard the evidence ID the case. and
vice versa
John Snowden has heen found guilty
q Og The nnurier Of Mrs Brandon and Ii
u pay for the crime with his own life
tomorrow morning. There seems 20
b no question but That snowden had
Eair trial. and that the Jury which
rendered the verdict against him Ii
one mon which there has keen No
bFoath of suspicion caat us regards
bias or undue influence Ii III Il part
Of orr national moral law as well as
= part Of our constitution that every
man charged with crime shall have
fair hoaring. John snovden has had
ali og tllss
Hnt John Snowden has had more.
81 II rarely that IA unknown Negro.
with few friends even among his own
sace. with no claim b respeetahility
AMI with no points 81 character 10
commend him 10 the white race. may
expect to command tlse interest and
snort which have been expended In
his catiae b. white people az high
EtaniiFig. snoWsien has had the sery-
vices ot the best legal talent of the
city and, recently, that Of unqnestion-
I'll talent from elsewhere This skill
and EFFORT have been devoted assid-
Moualy tp tncarthtng new evidence
which would Justify Goserner Har-
rlngton Iii I Communication 81 sentence.
o. i repFieve
Efforts ID produce new evidence og
any really important and eredlhie
character seem h have met with faii-
nre. Governor Aarringtoa mas De-
clined ID consider anything IN the way
ot new evidence which was not based
uron gacts which might be proven.
IIs has rot been presented with any
new evidence which appeared ma
tagIai: nc Is convinced Of die guilt of
Sllomdeu Ii Is his sworn duty a. an
executive ID order that The scntemce
IL me court Do carried out. IL Ii VI
gerly wrong lo expect the governor sn
ttisregarti hts oaen convictions and the
judgment of the court. hence lie should
not be criticized FOR his refusal to
grant clclnency
AS II appears nov John Snowden
Will expiate The crime tomorrow OF
which the courts and the evidence
have declared him guilty There ii
nothing more 70 be sid iii his behalf
lie uaay walk 10 the gallows protest.
ing his Innocence 81 the crime a
aaere protestation of innocence. how
ever guised Is sincere II may De, Ii
rot and should not Be cause To doubt
gaiit The guilty rarely confess and
many 81 the eonlest murderers have
gone to meet their God with lies on
their lips
Courts, Oeing human. nany, and nm
Qaestionably do err. inst Is ali man
made justice errs, and Just IS indi-
slaaals Id the zeal os their unreason-
Ing convictions often err But ID the
caae of John snowtsen the courts and
JURY have given their veraIcts III &C.
cordanee with the evidence, and no
man white or black, high or humble.
has right IL expect more than that
Therefore. The execution at dawn to-
norrow of snowden must be accepted
as thing which Justice and society
demands Critlctam az officials who
have had . part III this conviction and
execution should cease also. the no
less harsh criticisms De those honest.
Neli-meaning people who have sought
10 save the man should not again be
heard
Unfortunately, there II some inlfaxn-
maEory talk being iadaaged ID today.
Tais appears to eEnanate from white
people rather than black. 50 far 81
has been observed, and Al 10 BE re-
GREETED The coiorea peopls of An-
napolis 90 not appear aisFp0sed q
ske racsal ueasson d This cass ii