Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-05-05
Is MURDER EVER J JUSTIFIED!

brother has the right to take into his own
hands the melting out OF justice by killing
the offender when such onE has bllltlshlE
attacked one of the slayer's Womentolk.
This conclusion is Il natural one after OBJ
serving the manner III which large num-
Der of people have received news OF the con-
viction, on a manslaughter charge, at Homo
lulu, Of Lieutenant Thomas II. Massie, I.
s. n, Mrs. Granville Fortescue, mother OF
Mrs Massie, and two enlisted men. Follow
ing a conspiracy by these four people, one
of the five men accused of having attacked
Mrs Massie was kidnapped and killed. The
four mentioned have been convicted OF man.
slaughter for the deed
Theoretically no man has the right to
take the law into his own hands. Vengeance
and punishment for such bestial deeds must
be BY due process Of law, according to
theory But frequently-as everyone
knows-outraged and Mortified manhood
will countenance nothing but immediate
vengeance for the dastardly wronging of
loved one, with the result that the guilty
beast is murdered.
That is summary vengeance. The law
frowns upon it. Logically it must be adj
mitted that organized government cannot
permit private citizens to Wreak vengeance
for crimes even of the most dartardly kind.
Yet it is difficult for anyone to feel that
Massie should be much blamed for what he
did When ones loved one has become the
victim of such a horrible outrage it is Il
natural impulse for man with any mat
hood III his veins to start Immediately look
ing for the guilty wretch that murder may
be committed All the impulses Of ones na-
ture call out for vengeance at such time.
One must have good control Of ones emo
tions and actions at such times to sit
quietly by and let the law take its course.
On the other hand, there are those in
Honolulu who are taking al unfair attitude
following the conviction OF these four peO-
pie They are organizing a boycott against
the firms employing some OF the jurors who
sat on the case Evidently that is for pun
ishment because the jurors failed to free
the accused ones.
That is wholly unfair. Those L men
were sworn, on their sacred oath, to return
4 verdict according to the law and evidence
Massio admitted having killed the Hawai-
ian. The others were accomplices. The
Jurors were only doing what they eonsid-
cred their duty i'll returning the verdict they
1U. III
would be Il pretty condition Of affairs i
Jurors are to be inundated by the fear that
if they return a verdict contrary to popular
approval they or the men they work Tor Will
be penalized for it. Such a boycott As is pro-
posed in Honolulu is not according to the
rules Of Justice or fair play.
Rear Admiral William 9. Cole has ex
pressed sane view Of this distressing mat
ter. He said, III commenting on the con-
viction:
'srry the four attackers Of Mrs ITALIA
Massie first, then take UP the question q
pardon for Lieutenant Massie and his
three associates in the Honolulu killing
eve have in the trial of~lieutenant
Massie, Mrs Fortescue and the two seamen
had an exhibition Of the upholding Of the
integrity Of coldblooded justice.
s.What we can do for Honolulu and
Hawaii to bring conditions back to normal
should be done equally on a basis Of cold
blooded, abstract justice.
s'Let us bring the scoundrels who per-
petrated the attack upon Mrs. Massie tc
trial promptly.
''Let them be given the proper prose
cution. one that will fully consider the case
from the standpoint, not of the Hawaiian
point of view, but Of cold-blooded justice
.sThen abstract justice will show The
situation that has confronted Massie and
Mrs. Massie, and there will be ample OPP
portunity for the exercise of clemency
with perfectly good case in hand =
NORBECK AND THE BANKERS.