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Editorial
October 21, 1947
Event 1 of 2
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Editorial condemns Sheriff Chapman's report suggesting Negro men sought to lynch accused rapist James Davis, warns against implying racial lynching, urges strict law enforcement against assault and lynching regardless of race, rejects mob justice as it breeds crime.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
This is Event 1 of 2. The full text below covers all events in this component.
Planting A Bad Suggestion
The white daily press on October 20th carried a release from the United Press in which Sheriff C. C. Chapman of Houston County stated that a group of 10 to 15 Negro men came to the jail at Perry, Georgia Saturday "and begged us to turn him (another Negro, James Davis, who was charged with criminally assaulting a young Negro girl) over to them." The sheriff is also quoted as having added: "If we had, that bunch would have lynched him in no time."
In the first place, if the group only "begged" the sheriff for the prisoner they would not have committed the extreme act of lynching which is simply murder. On the other hand, if the group was menacing it seems to us it was the duty of the sheriff to arrest them.
But on the basis of the reported facts, we think it was bad judgement for a sheriff and the news agency too that circulated it to suggest that Negroes are going to take up the lynching evil. Or was the sheriff in an indirect way trying to justify the lynching of Negroes by white men?
Lynching is the greatest evil of our civilization for numerous reasons which we have stated many times previously. By no means should its spread even be suggested.
On the other hand attempts at it should be vigorously resisted and suppressed
We have also previously stated our desire to see all those charged with the crime of criminal assault speedily prosecuted to the extent of the law. We have on the statute books adequate laws to deal with rapists and lynchers, or murderers, too, for that matter.
What is needed is vigorous enforcement of the laws regardless of the racial identity of those concerned. In this latest case, let us hope the law will be observed.
We can understand how the passions of men can be aroused especially when assault has been committed on a girl. But mob law is never justified. It only begets more crime and eventual disrespect for law.
The answer is vigorous prosecution of men charged with the heinous crime of rape. But never mob law regardless of the charge.
The white daily press on October 20th carried a release from the United Press in which Sheriff C. C. Chapman of Houston County stated that a group of 10 to 15 Negro men came to the jail at Perry, Georgia Saturday "and begged us to turn him (another Negro, James Davis, who was charged with criminally assaulting a young Negro girl) over to them." The sheriff is also quoted as having added: "If we had, that bunch would have lynched him in no time."
In the first place, if the group only "begged" the sheriff for the prisoner they would not have committed the extreme act of lynching which is simply murder. On the other hand, if the group was menacing it seems to us it was the duty of the sheriff to arrest them.
But on the basis of the reported facts, we think it was bad judgement for a sheriff and the news agency too that circulated it to suggest that Negroes are going to take up the lynching evil. Or was the sheriff in an indirect way trying to justify the lynching of Negroes by white men?
Lynching is the greatest evil of our civilization for numerous reasons which we have stated many times previously. By no means should its spread even be suggested.
On the other hand attempts at it should be vigorously resisted and suppressed
We have also previously stated our desire to see all those charged with the crime of criminal assault speedily prosecuted to the extent of the law. We have on the statute books adequate laws to deal with rapists and lynchers, or murderers, too, for that matter.
What is needed is vigorous enforcement of the laws regardless of the racial identity of those concerned. In this latest case, let us hope the law will be observed.
We can understand how the passions of men can be aroused especially when assault has been committed on a girl. But mob law is never justified. It only begets more crime and eventual disrespect for law.
The answer is vigorous prosecution of men charged with the heinous crime of rape. But never mob law regardless of the charge.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Or Punishment
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Lynching
Mob Law
Sheriff Chapman
Negroes
Law Enforcement
Rape Prosecution
Racial Justice
What entities or persons were involved?
Sheriff C. C. Chapman
James Davis
United Press
Negro Men
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Lynching And Suggestion Of Racial Mob Violence
Stance / Tone
Strongly Against Lynching And Mob Law, Advocating For Legal Prosecution
Key Figures
Sheriff C. C. Chapman
James Davis
United Press
Negro Men
Key Arguments
- sheriff's statement implies negroes might lynch a fellow negro, which is bad judgment and potentially justifies white lynching
- group only begged for prisoner, not menacing, so no lynching threat
- duty of sheriff to arrest menacing group
- lynching is the greatest evil and should not be suggested to spread
- attempts at lynching should be resisted and suppressed
- speedy prosecution of criminal assault under existing laws
- vigorous enforcement of laws regardless of race
- mob law is never justified and begets more crime
- answer is prosecution, not mob law