Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-25
THg sSOWDEN CASE

meaning may have been the efforts Of
those who appeared before the COVER
nor BIT the State House yesterday for
the purpose 81 influencing the execu-
tive 10 grant cIsmency. or q reprieye.
10 John SnoWden, the fact remains that
certainly no good purpose was served
and that In all probability only iii re-
suited.
Id lB wonderful spirit of brother
hood which leads men and women to
give OF their time, means and energy
10 cause without nope OF compensa-
ton other than that which comes Of
the consciousness Of having perform
Cd what they regard as their duty 10
the hest 81 their ability No one can
question the honesty of the motives Of
most Of those who are taking promi-
aeni part ID the effort 70 save John
snowden from the gailows next Fri-
day: II could hardly seem possible
That they could be actuated BY any ui-.
terror motive for there seems absolute
~ nothing OF personal gain 10 them
even should they succeed In their ef-.
forta
But the meeting Of yesterday was
undoubtedly fruitful of no good and
III wisdom Ii TO be questioned. There
was a display Of feeling where cool
judgment should have prevailed Goy-
aTnOr Harrington sensed spirit Of
antagonism In the meeting. whether
rightly or wrongly, and naturally. felt
hostiiaty toward movement or people
seemingly intent upon demonstra
tom having for an object the presenta
ton ot pressure TO induce change OF
unlniOn. In short, Governor Harring-
tson undoubtedly felt that he war sto be
hadgered feeling 90. Il vas but ne =
or course, there was no intent to
present d hostile air on the part Of
fasoae most directly interested iii the
gase; the leaders relied upon . presen-
aation OF facts 70 obtain hearing at
their views and unQnesttonabiy had
40 intent 10 stage demonstration.
vet the air was charged with feeling.
and. under such circumstances, II
Was Impossible that dispassionate'
Judgment could prevail
III the Evening Capital today is
prlnted resume Of the evidence in
she Snowden case, prepared for the
press by Governor Harrington In
conclusion Governor Harrington states
With fnality that ne will not interfere
Id the case. There also appears In
aia evenings isaue = statement BY
Mrs. Grace Hunliston. the New York
lawyer interested In this case. In
which she presents what she alleges
30 be new evidence OF Importance
Both Of these statements are printed
b. the Evening Capital lii desire to-
Be fair to both sides In the controv-
arsey and both statements should have
the most careful and unbiased reading
uf every one who cares In the least
about the Justice of the case Unfor-
snnately. il Ii TOO true as Governor
Harrington stated yesterday. that peo-
pie make up their minds about this or
khat case and SIT In Judgment On III
without having heard or read the tes-
tsmony or having given consideration
10 the evidence We are too much
moved hy impulse; We jump at con-
ciusion. We condemn or commend By
reason Of our sympathies Or our pas
aions; these are our first convictions
and We dislike 10 change them so We
refuse to be tolerant Of the views Of
others OF the presentation of any testi-
mony which does not accord with our
Predetermined views.
The judicial mind ii not given to ali
OF as and there are few not
yersed IN the law who could render an
absolutely unbiased opinion on mat
Ter which had ben predetermined BY
as even after We had heard or read
such evidence ar should properly
shake orr convictions 1T is for this
purpose we have our courts, And the
judges who sit III them are as nearly
unbiased ii their opinions as ii ii hu~
manly possible TO be-
Without in the least attempting Ia
try the casesof John Snowden, with no
thought OF passing upon his guilt or
Innocence, we must deplore such as
semblages IS That 81 yesterday which.
although unquestionably not intended
IS such was really demonstration
Whatever ot further action may be-
tnEan tTi tha cnnVgvSan raaa Rhnf.id ha
taken earnestly and quietly III the
aaEosts "a save his life, or ID secure 4
Esprieve, are unavailing there VIII be