Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-10-28
The Amite County Case And
State Law Enforcement

The announcement from Washington last week by the
Attorney General of the United States that he had
thorzed Mr. Toxey Hail. United States District Attorney
for the Southern District of Mississippi to turn to
the Ame County Grand Jury the evidence gathered by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with
the Staying of the 65year-od Negro preacher the
town of Liberty last March, by four white in an at
tempt to take possession of the valuable track OF ano
owned by him. and which had descended ummpaired down
through generations the family preserved and develop
ed and improved by their TOLL thrift and industry can and
should be regarded nothing nor less than giving
the law enforcement authorities of Amte County and OF
the State the opportunity though the action be great
w beated this and thus the state ana
lis dominant people from the permanent disgrace resulting
from one of the fragrant outrages against humanity
law and ORDER and common decency OF any period In the
That the dominant people must suffer permanent dis
grace for the failure to apply the proper and adequate
punishment in this case though those guilty of such
acts we'll as those who are not concerned ABOUT e
strict enforcement of the laws of the state in such cases
are way representative of the majority is true De
cause the Negroes the state deprived OF the rgn 10
vote are in no way responsible for the type OF law en-
forcement officers elected for the operation of the law
enforcement machinery. :,
The Negroes of the state however, have been and
will continue watch the outcome of the Amte County
case particularly now that the Amte county crane
rv has the evidence of the FBI which heretofore has
been pretty reliable in establishing the facts OF case
In watching the Amite County case Negroes of the
state have already placed it side by side with the Shubut
incident the Jones County ynchng trial which turned out
to be farce and number of other Incidents some OF
constant in violation OF all rights OF tne Negro
as man and citizen evidence of complete break
down of law enforcement and justice in the courts as Tar
as such may concern Negro , -,
The feeling the part of Negroes that there mas
been complete breakdown of law enforcement ana JUS
ce in the courts where Negro is concerned oferng no
other comparable alternative has caused thousands OF Ne
ges to leave the state and is causing other thousands
to make ready to leave. conditioned that may IL
not arrested greatly effect the economic Industrial and
agricultural life and development of the state
In turning over the evidence in the Amlte TasT
revolving the Attorney General of the United States was
in all probability moved by the fact that even though
federal indictment was possible under the federal clv
RIGHTS statute the basis for such Indictment the punish
men indicated would not be mete for the crime recogz
ing the greater facility of the law of the state TO reha
rendering of such Justice the courts of the
also Giving to the Aple County Grand Jury and the
much concern to nearly half it's people, whose attitude may
he Of deep and far reaching significance respects the
future of the State.