Atlanta Daily World

They Averted A Stabbing

IN the alarming figures given out a few days ago relative to
Atlanta's colored homicides, one is left to wondering what will
curtail this growing menace. Long articles in the papers have
served to advertise the evil, to sermons from the pulpit have
not reached the masses engaged in bringing about these results and
the courts have only encouraged the practice in its light sentences.
failure to convict criminals and the public has not done its part
by its refusal to appear and testify against those guilty of murder.
It happened at a well established drug concern on Thanksgiving
day that two young men were marching towards each
other with long drawn blades. One was well dressed, while the
other was of the appearance of an ordinary vagrant, a tramp of
the street. The cause was not known and the incident did not
disturb the orderly procedure of the merry markets until all ex-
expensive show cases crashed under the force of one of the ad-
vancing stabbers. The clatter of the glass upon the cement floor
urged them on and as they were within two feet of each other.
the onlookers who had stood mute waiting for murder to take
place were disappointed when a thoughtful young fellow seized a
chair and steadily pushed it between the would-be stabbers.
When this was done two other young men seized one of the of-
fenders and shoved him to the sidewalk and shut the door. Others
took the knife from the well dressed young fellow. One of them
cut his hand severely but he had stopped a stabbing and what
might have added to our already mounting list of fatalities.
On numerous occasions our people stand by or run away
when they might be instrumental in stopping a brawl. Of course
at times it is dangerous play for one to intercede as many a well
meaning peace maker has been killed. But there are instances in
which one can, in time without any danger intercede between
striving parties.
As a rule, young people of Atlanta are quick to get offended.
They seek no guide or mitigation for their rising tempers. For
the most part idle and without anything at stake, they roam the streets
at will like mad dogs. Many of them never held a job in their
lives. Armed with a pistol, and the pick or big knife they are po-
tential murderers. Ready at any mistake to whip out a revolver
or knife and slay their brother. You mounting newspaper records
many an incident of murder and stabbing that could easily have
been averted by proper action on the part of some one present
While we do not advise the ruthless rushing in of by-standers to quell a riot at the risk of their own safety, we feel
that the fine feat of those young men in restoring peace and
quieting these young men is due for an ovation.