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“Last
week’s Shelbina Democrat, in an editorial upon the
lynching of Abe Witherup makes statements which we believe
are erroneous. The following words appear: “Every man’s
life and property is less secure now than it was before * *
*.” The News believes the opposite is true. Those
who might be inclined to assault or murder will not so
easily persuade themselves with the belief that they can get
off by a change of venue, postponements of trial until
interest is worn away, or the accused paroled as was done by
the judge at the last term or Circuit court in Shelby
county.
Also
“The crime committed by the men who took the life of
Witherup is greater than his was. These men are more
dangerous citizens than is the common murderer * * * They
are murderers and deserve the contempt of every good
citizen.”
The
News made its position with reference to lynchings
and mobs, and repeats that such acts are a stain upon the
community and it is, indeed, an unfortunate occurrence. Yet
they are, seemingly, a necessary evil at times. There is
nothing so convincing as going right home with a matter of
this kind, and deal with our native county and some of the
best people we ever knew. Let’s see what has been the
attitude of some of Shelby county’s citizens with
reference to lynching and see whether or not the facts bear
the Democrat (put) in its statement that those who
participate are the bad and lawless element.
Something
over twenty years ago ‘Big Pete,” a burley negro, was
working for a farmer in Shelby county, near Hunnewell. One
Sunday he wandered off to the neighborhood of Florida and in
broad day light entered a farm house, badly frightened the
inmates and took a lot of clothing and such food as he
wanted. He was arrested at Hunnewell, tried and sentenced to
term of about a year in the Paris jail. While in jail he
sent word to several of the best citizens in and near
Hunnewell, asking them to bail him out. They had no doubt of
his guilt and of course ignored his request. For their
refusal they were marked by ‘Big Pete’ and threatened
with death upon his first meeting them, also others, against
whom he had grudges. When he finished his term in jail he
was liberated and with his liberty came new threats.
Something like thirty ot forty good citizens of Hunnewell
and vicinity, the threatened and others who had the welfare
of their neighbors at heart, joined in a search for Pete
which lasted about two weeks. The last moments of the search
were spent under the branches of a big oak tree upon banks
of Salt river at the historic Narrows, a few miles from Old
Clinton. “Big Pete’ made his last appearance on earth at
the end of a rope. A brush pile covered the place where he
disappeared from view. The hunting party returned to their
respective homes and it was reported that Pete had ‘left
the country.’ This is the first time this matter has been
made public and it may be read with interest and surprise by
certain ones. Were these men worse that “Big Pete’? and
was ‘every man’s life and property less secure’
afterward?
Another:
The sleeping apartments of Miss Harriet Grout of Shelbina,
were entered by a negro who chloroformed her and robbed her
of a gold watch, jewelry and money. There were strong
threats of lynching the negro. Who were these people who
were so worked up and threatened to take the law in their
hands? Many of the best men of Shelbina – business men,
most of them. Not a tough character among the number.
Another:
Judge Hunolt was murdered. At the preliminary trial it was
all the murdered man’s widow could do to stay the hand of
the good old farmers who knew all parties, and whose
neighbors they were. Were they men who make life less
secure?
An
unmentionable crime was committed in Shelbina and negro Bill
Saunders strongly suspected. He left town ahead of a posse
of men who had a rope. Bill has never been back. Who
composed the posse? Not toughs; toughs never oppose such
crimes. Would life be more secure with Bill’s presence in
Shelbina?
Other
cases might be cited and in almost every instance those who
were aroused to action are the best citizens of their
communities. What law-abiding man is there who would not
feel perfectly secure in a home among people who so regard
the purity of a home and the sacredness of life that they
will promptly mete out punishment of the guilty commensurate
to the crime?” |
