Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1928-01-20
WHAT'S THE MATTER IN
SUSSEX!

Sussex County, Delaware, nave tall-
ed to realize responsibility they
owe to the balance of the State, as
to individual responsibility for en-
forcement of all the laws, and re-
straint of the criminal class, as we'll
as the younger elements among the
people of the entire county that is
responsible for all kinds of crime,
from petty larceny to highway rob-
berry, and from assault to murder.
In almost every case that occurs,
where murder is the result of this
lawless element, there is deep re-
luctance manifested by those who
could give leading information to
aid running down the guilty, which
has become almost the common ex-
perience, to refuse to testify on the
part of those who could give infor-
nation that would help officers to
uncover the truth and bring the
guilty to justice. In the past few
years a half dozen of prominent
cases, where men and women have
been murdered, no evidence has
been given that would bring the
guilty to punishment. Men and
women in communities where intel
ligence and respect for law should
be strong factors, to bring forth
truth and facts, close up their
mouths and hinder attempts to get
at facts by the legal authorities.
Sympathy for the criminal overshad-
ow that for the victim. This has be-
come so fixed as a custom in the
lower part of the State of Delaware,
and possibly in all parts of the state,
that only great shock will arouse
the people-even the most christian
and supposedly law abiding in the
communicable the fact that they
as individuals are responsible for
this failure to punish crime. A let
ter last week from a highly respect
ed citizen of the southeastern part
of Sussex, addressed personally to
the Editor of the Milford Chronicle,
pictures the situation very clearly, /
and he said:
I can't understand why the Mil
ford, Delaware, people should
send $500 reward to California
for the arrest and punishment of |
the murder of little girl; 1 adj
NIT that it was the right thing to
do, but, one of our own boys here
in Sussex County, and ON the pub
lie highway, was hacked and kill
ed, so that a surgeon had to take
about two hundred stitches to get
the body in shape for burial. Yet,
not one penny as reward by the
State, or from any individual has
been offered. Is everybody asleep?
These things should not be, so let
us hear from you through the Mil
ford Chronicle, as to why this at
titude of the people exists in
county where education and social
morality should cause earnest
prosecution and punishment of all
kinds of crime.
Yours, etc.
GEO. H. TOWNSEND,
Millville, Del
In our opinion the root of the !
trouble lies at the door of those who
should individually help to protect
the good name of all of Delaware, as !
well as of Sussex county, through
courage to make charges to the Off 4
Gals, charged with the enforcement v
of. all laws. 1t makes no difference O
what the Offense may be against the
peace and comfort of all the people, Y
every man, woman and child is re- s
sponsible for its punishment to the =,
extent of calling attention of en- !,
forcement officials to the offense, T
and then giving evidence to back up F
heir efforts to maintaining law and Il
order. -
In view of the repeated escape of a
even for murder, in Sus-
lex county for lack of evidence, from r.
hose who could aid by giving infor- al
nation, to work out clues, con- 81
lition in the public mind has grown II
nto public opinion, which will re- HI
ult ia the enforcement of law by h,
lynching" of suspected criminals. as
his is a condition that should not d
xist, and yet it does, and it is til
irect result of the failure of the cit E
zens of the county to perform a
uty they owe by active help. If ce
he people of Sussex in the case re-
erred to by the writer of the letter, in
ad promptly offered a reward, re- 81
ardless of the action of the State fir
an interest would have III
zen aroused, which would probably Ill
ave brought the criminal to justice; fri
would have been a deterrent to the CT
,wardly thieves or potential MUIR MI
rers. Our correspondent has ans ~
cred his question, and shown that we