The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-05-22
SHOULD NOT TOLERATE LYNcHINGS
Lakeland Star Telegram)

From the reports published in the newspapers
and the statements coming direct from citizens who
witnessed the LaBelle ynchng, bunch of rough
necks have disgraced the state of Florida and they
should pay the penalty. Even the sheriff, learn
ing that the negro had been taken by mob, made
himself scarce and the city marshal stood right by
the automobile and with the negro begging for
mercy, saw him brutally tortured without lifting
his hand n defense. Gov. John Martin should
take the whole matter in his hands and that
justice is done not only the people of the COM
munity who law-abding and who do not APP
prove of the lawless element, taking the law in
its hands, but that the whole state as far as pos
sible looks with shame upon any element that
not and will not listen to
1t has developed now that the negro lynched
did not attack or attempt to attack any woman,
that the woman became frightened at seeing the
negro after dark, begged the mob not to lynch him
and that the whole trouble has been that the roagh
neck element in that locality, many of whom
in the mob was instigated because negroes had
been brought to that section to do the hard work
and work which that same lawless element would
not even attempt to do. The statement of the
cowardly sheriff himself is enough to convince
the public that it not attach upon
that caused the lynchng but that they just had to
do something to scare out the negroes who were
being brought into LaBelle by the white men and
the sheriff says they were taking the jobs away
from the white Even the woman editor of
the newspaper there threatened if she print
ed what actually happened, as she was one of the
witnesses to the mob, along with a number of
others. The rough element has sent its
cowardly warnings to others in the community who
saw the lynching but at the same time the better
element of LaBelle is fighting that same element:
they want to clean them out and protect the
honest, Woodworking man, whether he be black or
white, and the prosecuting attorney. the coroner
and the Judge of the court, along with the gov
ernor, should insist that every man connected with
the crime be placed behind the bars and this illegal
practice of jumping at conclusions and starting
mob by gang of hoodums. stopped at once and
If necessary the trials should be held in another
county where some justice be secured through
juries and witnesses. 1t is even claimed and it is
believed it be proven that at least two of the
men who were on the eoroner's jury were mem
bers Of the mob themselves. Is it possible that
white who claim 20 be American citizens are
getting 10 the point where they returning to
the Spanish inquisition and old-time torture and
mob rule and that the law is net being respected
and be violated even by the officers them
selves and approved by them, without danger Of
prosecution Governor Martin sent cat the militia
against the wishes of the sheriff Of that county
and he will receive the plaudits al the people Of
this state if he viii go little further and iko
the governor Of North Carolina pash the prose
cution Of the sayages Of LABele 10 the limit of
his powers.