Year: 1875

GIVE HIM A FAIR TRIAL.

 Below we append an article from the Lewisburg State, on the imprisonment in Danville jail of D. P. Cloyd, former editor of our neighbor sheet, the Independent, and the crime for which he suf- fers confinement. From the way this article reads we might fairly presume that there has been an eff fort made to deprive Cloyd of a fair trial, by suppressing evi- dencc in his favor. This is q grave charge which tho editor of the State makes, for from the manner he speaks of it we may infer that he now has personal knowledge of what he writes, or at least, to use his own words, that he speaks ad- visedly.

 If such is the case, it is the du- ty of the writer to b. on hand when the case comes up for trial and to expose the attempted in justice.

 The enforcement of the laws against criminals is something that we have rigidly demanded, but we regard the guarantee of a fair and impartial trial of accused persons as one of the virtues of justice which should never be out ragged.

 We therefore hope Mir. Cloyd's s case will be sifted to the bottom when it comes up for trial, and if he is guilty of no crime that the shafts of persecution, if any there be aimed at him, may fall harm less at his feet.

 D. P. cLoTD.

 We have not hitherto mentioned the case of Mir. D. F. Cloyd, late of the Dardanelle Independent, though our near neighbor. We simply observed the rule set down at the start, not to speak of per sonal matters until we can do so aivisedly. We wish not to miti gate crime when committed, nor to fix it on the innocent.

 We now express ourself with reserve and with regret. 1t is announced that MT. Cloyd is in prison and in irons, whose offense was held to be bailable we know not, but we are sure it was unnec- essary in Mir. Cloyd's case. We do not know him personally, but he was a brave man, who never shirked responsibility. We be- lieve, from all that we have heard of him, that fifty dollar bond, or even his own bare recognizance, would produce him to answer the charges against him.

 Mir. Cloyd was, no doubt, indis- erect, in the opinion at least, that the word of a journalist would be sufficient to correct the morals of bad men. Out of all the rumors and prejudiced reports, pro and con, that have been afioat, these facts survive: That there was a determination on the street to suppress him. There was an al tercation in his office first, with painful results. Again it was re- ncwed on the street. It was known that Cloyd would fight. It was known that Wishard usu ally carried arms. It is prepos- terous to suppose that Wishard would, unarmed, attack Cloyd. The story of the derrenger and the hat was partly suppressed. That suppression was great crlme, an attempt itself to commit murder, in taking away from a man his just defense.

 We presume that Mir. Cloyds S council will be able to prove a justifiable homicide: and if the story of that hat and pistol is truly as reported, we should not wonder if they obtain indictments against other parties for the crime of conspiracy against the life of Mir. Cloyd. In the meantime, Cloyd is in irons, his poor wife we forbear to write what we think and as near as we can tell, a large number of people are pnr. suing him with fierce animosity. We must leave him to the defense of his counsel and the judgment of an honest Court.

 Our face is against crime, wher- ever, whenever, and by whomso- ever committed; but our sympa-