Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-02

The courage Of a southern Illinois
jury. which decreed the hanging of
Charles Burger for the murder of
Mayor Adams of West City, is the out
standing fact in this gangster case, as
viewed by the American press. The
conviction of the gang leader was &C.
companied by verdicts carrying life
Imprisonment for his associates. Ma
tional significance is given to the
case as bearing upon crime condi-
tons.
The verdict, in the judgment OF the
Terre Haute Star, Should mark the
emancipation Of southern Illinois from
a murderous band whose record has
long been a disgrace to the State and
the Nation, The bloody feuds
of earlier days in Kentucky. in COM
harrison with those Of Illinois, were
waged in a righteous cause, for they
were based on a distorted conception
of family honor. The laws OF tne
state and Of decent society were Vlo-
lated in Illinois for money. Whlcn, ~
turn, was obtained through the Inc,
liquor trade. 1t has been sorolu
drama. and, unfortunately, the BlrgeI
verdict is not likely to be the maj
curtain. 1t is at least gratilylns 70
witness the temporary supremacy VI
tho law" The Fort Worth RECORD.
Telegram sees another illustration OF
the majesty Of the law, theoretlcaily,
and it's application to our democratic
form Of government.
* y \ \
"The whole Nation joins in the nope
that the gangs will be broken up anu
permanent peace brought 10 heriiI
and the rest of that section, says
the New Orleans Item, whlle the
Racine Journal-News expresses INC
hope that "the good start inaoe 40
FRANKLIN County will reach into the
ne;rhhoring County of williamson
and the Fargo Forum holds that "the
yvav is now paved for restoration OF
law and order and for regaining some
| of the losses which Herrin and VIII
hanson County have suffered. Inc
| Chattanooga News concludes: Ihere
| ia still a. saving element of decency
! in the State of Abraham Lincoln: IN
| the face of the fact that the regularly
| organized legal machinery would 90
nothing. certain of the taxpayers
themselves prosecuted a suit against
the governor and forced him to make
| restitution of funds he had seques'
| tered. He returned sum of $650,ooo:;
| The trial and sentence OF Burger ana
! his partners indicates purpose also
| to give some potency, at least, TO the
| criminal statutes" >,
1.-THE important fact in the case,
declares the Waterbury Republican,
lis that a jury, having been con.
WINGED beyond a reasonable DOUBT OF
the guilt Of the gang leader, has had
the courage to impose the supreme
| penalty. That is good omen, regard
less of the ultimate fate of the par
ticular defendant involved" The st.
Joseph News-Press points out that
Burger had made his boasts that no
law was strong enough to hold him, .
but that thus far in this shocking
| case, at all events, the agents and
/ the processes Of the law have not
been found wanting" and the Hart
ford Courant is impressed by the fact
that the conviction sis a noteworthy
| step, even If the higher courts fail
to affirm the verdict, for it shows that
| it is possible to select a jury in the
section, the members Of which have
both spines and consciences." The
Rock Island Argus states, "A few
moro verdicts OF this sort and the
district viii undergo q transforma'