The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-18
ASKING FOR JUSTICE

nj ORTIZ Carolina Is rousng herself to save from
Y the electric chair negro criminal convicted of
the murder Of white man. The governor Of the
state Is being overwhelmed with petitions insisting
upon Communication Of sentence
North Carolina has not always shown especial
sympathy for the negro. and has never before asked
for clemency for negro murderer, but in this
lnstapce1t seems to be the sentiment Of the white
residents Of the state that honor will suffer- and the
scutcheon of North Carolina be besmlrched IL the
criminal is executed, and the public outside the
state will beyond doubt sympathize with their
attitude.
Tho negro in question was tho tool OF white
man and white woman who employed the poor
wretch to Kill the husband of the woman The
negro was mentally deficient, had been crippled by
cotton gin, was broken in health. Ho stood
before the Jury, his franc drawn by rheumatism
his darkened intellect showing In his expression
his crippled body minus one arm, and the common
wealth attorney himself was chilled at the thought
OF holding this man for capital punishment while
the man and woman who urged him to the crime
escaped with life imprisonment. North Carolina
governor refused to commute the death sentence at
the instance Of the commonwealth attorney who
plead magnfcently after the sentence that equal
punishment be administered to all three of the
criminals. The governor refused to see the point
which he claimed not an equality of justice but
an equality OF injustice; however he granted a
reprieve OF thirty days and during these thirty daya
the people Of North Carolina are swarhptng the
mails asking for mercy for a convicted murderer.
Unless tho governor intervenes tho negro will be
executed March 26.
There is no getting around the fact that the
letter of the Law sometimes metes out anything else
but Justice and this North Carolina situation is
good instance Of 1t. 1t Is hardly likely that the
governor Of that state will ride over tho aroused
sentiment and allow the poor tool of vicious white
couple to be punished more severely than the ones
who used him for commission OF crime which
their cowardly hearts would not permit them to
attempt There is no doubt In the minds Of tho
people that the situation as it stands now ought to
BIO exactly reversed and II the man and woman who
nstigated the crime were to be electrocdted March
26, and the negro sentenced to life imprisonment,
there would not be hint Of dissatisfaction, nor an
effort made to commute the sentences.
The letter Of the law is a cold. unbiased,
impartial fiat, but the law itself has been
established for the single purpose OF securing
justice to ALL When tho law defeats Its own
purpose to the extent Of demanding human life.
surely 1t is time for the public to act So long us
human feeling exists recognition Of extenuatIng
circumstances will be observed Stickler though he
be for capital punishment for murder it cannot be
conceived that Governor Morrison will SO far forget
the fundamental reason for Law that he will refuse
to hear the petition Of his people who, in this
instance, are only asking for justice.