Butts-Spalding-Carroll County GaArchives News.....Alfred B. Doyal – To Be Hanged June 15 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 April 3, 2004, 1:50 pm Middle Ga. Argus – Week of June 15, 1882 Alfred B. Doyal – To Be Hanged “HOW LONG” Alfred B. Doyal was convicted in Spalding superior court, of murder, and was sentenced to be hanged on the 29th of June. At the prisoner’s request the Judge changed from Friday to the Thursday preceding: the condemned man expressing his unwilling to be executed on the same day with Guiteau. Yet, in what respect was his crime less heinous, unless exalted position makes a human life more precious in the sight of the all just God? It is the same oft told tale. Doyal was drinking. The firewater in his veins intensified the spirit of revenge which he cherished against the officers who a week before the terrible crime, had arrested him for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. The policeman was performing his sworn public duty. This guardian of the public weal – this husband and father - was shot down in cold blood by the prisoner for doing what his oath as an officer compelled him to do. We have no idea that Doyal would have done the bloody deed but for the diabolical inspiration of whiskey. But if he could have been absolved from the crime because he yielded to the temptation to commit another, viz, that of getting drunk, then this prevendent(?) could be plead in all similar cases; and if one wanted to shoot down his fellow man for some fancied or real wrong, the only requisite condition of acquittal would be so imbibe enough of the poison in him for the act. Every man who surrenders his reason to the fascination of the cup is liable, while under the fatal influence, commit any or all the crimes enumerated in the code, with out being able, in that event to offer a valid plea before a court of justice. Drunkenness does not excuse. And yet, with all the examples of terrible woe before their very eyes, lawyers who plead, jurymen who convict, judges who condemn, and citizens who are the spectators of these trials, vote to license these saloons, thus keeping alive the demon who dethrones and destroys all that is fairest and best. Poor Doyal! His recking soul must soon go before his righteous Judge, but the sins of those who by their example of the vots made possible his mortal crimes, have already gone before to judgment. In Carrolton and in Griffin Jails lie the hopeless victims of intemperance. “How long, O Lord, how Long” shall the cry of woe be unavenged before Thee? This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb