COURAGEOUS GOVERNOR
- Title
- COURAGEOUS GOVERNOR
- Source Type
- Newspapers
- Author
- N/A
- Publisher
- The Colorado Statesman
- Publication Place
- Denver, CO
- Publication Date
- January 23, 1915
- Transcript
- COURAGEOUS GOVERNOR. Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 7.-Declaring that the men composing the mob, which early on the morning of Jan. 4th, took two Negro prisoners from the Elmore County jail and shot them to death, had brought reproach upon the state, and that such men never hesitate to bring the blush of shame to every honest and patriotic citizen of Alabama, Governor O'Neal, last night, said that all of the power of the executive office, as long as he is Governor will be brought to bear in establishing the guilt and guaranteeing the punishment of the lynchers. The executive announced that he had as quickly as possible ordered a special session of the Circuit court in Elmore county to make inquiry into the lynching. Every possible effort wall be made to bring the guilty parties to justice, he declared. The Negroes were lynched ON SUSPICION said the governor, adding that there was not sufficient evidence for any jury to have found them guilty of participating in the assassination of R. A. Stillwell, in conection with which crime they were being held. * * * "These Negroes were lynched on suspicion, and so far as I am informed there was no sufficient evidence on which any jury would have convicted them for the crime of which they were charged. They were charged with the murder of one D. A. Stillwell, and were in custody of the law, and they were awaiting their trial." "There was absolutely no justification for this lynching. If those who were executed by the mob were guilty, speedy trials could have been secured and their guilt established under the due and orderly processes of the law. Those who have undertaken to perform the functions of judge, jury and executioner have brought merited reproach upon our state. The history of every state in the Union shows that mob or lynch law does not check, but only increase crime. There is absolutely no justification for lynch law in Alabama. Must Have Protection. "It is folly for us to expect those from other states or countries to locate in Alabama until we can assure every person within our domains of the just and equal protection of the law. If the sheriff connived at the commission of this crime I am powerless to punish him by impeacnment because his term of office expires in a few days. This dastardly crime, committed just upon the eve of the assembling of the State Legislature accentuates the importance of their making such measures as may be necessary to make the lynching impossible in Alabama. The men who lead mobs are generally those who have no respect for law or authority, who are cowardly and unwilling to face real danger, and yet by their lawless acts, do not hesitate to bring the blush of shame to every honest and patriotic citizen of the state. "The people of Alabama must understand that their protection comes not from a mob of cowardly lynchers, influenced by passion or prejudice, but only from the majestic supremacy of the law under which alone their rights of person or property can be protected. "I am gratified to know that the enlightened public sentiment of the state no longer tolerates mob or lynch law. If crimes are committed, they can be punished, by the courts and the administration of justice should not be entrusted to a band of cowardly miscreants, who are willing, in order to gratify their prejudice or passions to bring ruin and confusion to the state." - no longer tolerates mob or lynch law. If crimes are committed, they can be punished, by the courts and the ad- ministration of justice should not be entrusted to a band of cowardly miscreants, who are willing, in order to gratify their prejudice or passions to bring ruin and confusion to the state."
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