I do NOT believe that the man should have slapped the little girl. However, I so think the mom should have got slapped for allowing the child to sit there and scream without trying to quiet her down. The woman's behavior was rude towards the other customers, they shouldn't have to endure a spoiled kid screaming while the mom ignores her.

After the guy slapped the girl. I kicked him in the face. I had to run out of Walmart before I got in trouble.

I tell you right now if someone walked up and tried to punish my child they wouldn't be walking away......they would have to be carried away!

I bet you don't have kids. Not all kids who throw a fit are spoiled, they are learning their boundries and some kids take longer...

Hey John, I take it you don't have any kids? Or you might realize that that's what kids do....they cry. This child is two years old, do you not think that you didn't cry as a child......would you like YOUR mom to have been slapped for not being able to control you. Punk!

Don't "PUNK" me, loser. I see what most parents do when they are shopping. And Yes, I do have kids, probably more than you do, but I don't allow them to disrupt everyone's day because I won't take care of them. I still stand by what I said. I see to many parents that are walking through a store and their child is throwing a tantrum and the parents simply ignore it. To me that is being disrespectful of the other people. It is just plain ignorant. And you all are probably those same kind of parents who sit there and let their kids throw their fits while other people are being irritated. What ever happened to pulling the child aside and setting them straight? That's what is wrong with the world these days, inconsiderate people that don't give a crap or have any respect for anybody else. Go whine to your mommy. Quit being sissies.

I take it back ......maybe your mom did a good job of "setting you straight" Although, I think she shook you a little too hard! As far as having lots of kids........doesn't make you a good parent! It just means that at least you can do something right....keep it in your pants! And keep the self-righteous preaching to your self.....now go slap your own wife...or kids.

Have you ever thought that perhaps this child had a developmental disability such as autism and was over stimulated??? when my daughter became upset to the extent of disturbing others, I left the area while explaining my apologies. How did the man get close enough to the child to hit her, who knows..that wouldn't have happened in my world...His ass would have been on the ground before his hand could get close. shame, shame, shame on him...good luck in the pokey, he's gonna get his.

Bryan, it sounds like you need to keep it in your pants, lord knows we don't need anymore people with your mentality running a muck. let me tell you what. All of my kids are well mannered. I am not saying that the guy was right in what he did. in fact he should be in jail, for a long time. Personally I would not have even let him get that close to my kid. But my kid would not have been screaming like that either.
Mamaj I can understand your reasoning but there is no mention of that little girl having any kind of disability. I am just saying that the mother should have pulled the child aside and taken care of the situation before it got out of hand. There is absolutely no reason to allow a child to sit there and throw a tantrum in the middle of a store. It is just disrespectful.

John, you make me sick. I am so glad that I do not know you. I am sure watching you parent your children would give me a heartache for them.

Yes, some children run amuck and act out and need to be punished with a time-out, a stern talking to, or leaving the store. However, I doubt that you have ever read a single parenting book or visited a parenting website. First of all, a 2 year old child is going to cry sometimes. It could be a number of things causing this: she could have been teething and in pain, been tired and in need of a nap, hungry, or just trying to get attention. Secondly, if she was throwing a temper tantrum, the worst thing you can do is to cave into that tantrum and give the child what they want. As a former teacher I know that the second you cave in to that child, they will scream even louder and longer the next time because they know that it works. When my 2 year old starts yelling in a store and I try to quiet him, the yelling gets louder. Unfortunately, I have to ignore him for a minute or two, and then when he stops, I give him attention and presto-change-o, he acts appropriately. A child of this age is too young to understand explanations. If the man didn't like it, he could have gone to another aisle for awhile, or complained to an employee. He is an abuser, and you sound like one, too, although I hope that you are not.

I understand that a 2 year old is going to cry sometimes. Pull them out of the situation until they stop. I agree that you shouldn't cave into them nor should you beat them either. You are all misunderstanding me. There are methods for getting a child to stop that are productive, not abusive. I have never had to hit any of my kids and I never will, that is not a productive way for children to learn. None of you know what I have gone through with my children and I am sure that none of you, God forbid, have ever had to experience the loss of a child as I have. But there are ways of taking care of kids in these situations that can be productive and that will help them out later on as they grow older. For all of you, I have never, ever, had to even spank any of my children, I don't need to. My kids are fun loving, well mannered, and respectable.

So its okay to hit the mother because her child is fussy. You make no sense John. Its obvious that abuse is okay to you. Just because you dont agree with how the mother treated the situation does not make it okay to slap her. Your opinions are ignorant. So do you slap your wife when she does something "rude". And whos to say the kid was "spoiled". Maybe next time when you post a comment it will be more tasteful. And maybe put some more thought in it. The fact that you made it okay to slap the women is foul. Learn some etiqutte and your silly name calling ("loser") is for the children of myspace and facebook.

Some parents that I have seen could use a good slapping. I normally do not condone abuse of any kind.
So it is OK for someone to call me a punk? Whatever.
All any of you have done here today is confirmed my research regarding how ignorant people are in the world today. Thank you.

TO BE HONEST THE MOM SHOULD HAVE GOT OFF IN HIS ASS WHEN HE SAID "YOU BETTER SHUT THAT CHILD UP" WHEN HE SAID THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE JUST FUCKED HIS OLD ASS UP. THATS HOW I SEE IT AND MANY OF YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME BUT THAT'S FINE AND THE MOM SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO QUIET THE CHILD DOWN BUT THAT'S HER CHILD AND HER RESPONSIBILITY NOT NOBODY ELSE AND FOR A STRANGER TO COME UP AND BE DISRESPECTFUL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CUE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS AND THEN HE GO SAY "SEE I TOLD YOU I WOULD SHUT HER UP" I WILL SAY THIS AND BE DONE, IF IT WAS ME OR A BLACK MOTHER OUT THERE, HE WOULDN'T BE GOING TO JAIL HE WOULD BE VISITING THE MORTUARY AND I WILL BE GOING TO JAIL BUT HE IS GOING TO GET IT WHEN HE GET LOCKED UP AND WHEN HE GET OUT SO HE DONE JUST DUG HIS GRAVE

John's a troll, he or she's just trying to get everyone angry.

I personally can say I've been on both sides of this debate. I am not condoning what this man did, he acted very inappropriately and should have some kind of punishment for it. I can tell you he's lucky it wasn't my kid though. If it were my child I would have knocked the guy out the first time he touched my kid, he definitely wouldn't have continued hitting her. Next I'd probably be in jail with him because I wouldv'e become violent.

But on the other hand I am in agreement with him saying something to the mother. I drives absolutely crazy to go somewhere, be it Walmart, a restaurant, a bank or anywhere, to hear a child screaming on and on. I feel that as the child's parent you should excuse yourself and your child and do whatever needs to be done to quiet the child. I don't care what the reason, a child should not be throwing a tempertantrum in public.

I have 2 daughters and ran a daycare with many others for several years and can honestly say that I have never subjected the public to rediculous tantrums. My daughters have NEVER thrown a fit in public, they know better (it NEVER works and they have heard me get frustrated with other parents who children who do). My daughters are 7 and 8 now and I can tell my children no without whining, begging or screaming and always have. But at the same time if one of my daycare children started the trip was over and everyone knew who to blame. But once again like John pointed out this SHOULD be common courtesy and not an everyday tolerance.

As for everyone nagging at John, please back off. He's right, although I'm not in agreement with slappping the mom. But the mom really should have done something to become in control of situation and got the child to behave properly.

I don't mean that someone should literally "slap" the mom, well maybe some should, but she should have had the common courtesy to remove the child from the situation.
That old boy needs to be slapped around though and he probably will be where he is going.

ANYONE WHO WOULD HAVE SLAPPED MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WOULD NOT NEED A JAIL CELL....HE WOULD NOT EVEN NEED A DOCTOR....HE WOULD NEED A MORTICIAN. A parent does have the responsibility to attempt to quiet a squalling child but it is by no means this man's authority or anyone's authority to enforce REGARDLESS. He was not even stuck with the child on an airplane. Just walk away.....simple.

I agree with J.T Tha Champ. The kid's mother should not have even taken that man talking to her the way he did. She should've jacked him up, at least verbally.

I would also like to point out, that as far as conviction goes they will probably plea bargain down to a lesser crime.

First off the courts and attorneys won't see this as a high price crime that needs a high price tag which includes attorney's for both sides, the court's time, money and personel, and they probably won't see it needing much more attention than it has already received.

Chances are it'll be pled down to a misdemeanor assualt charge with a fine, 30 days in jail and community service. But that's the way the system works and right now with the economy being what it is, they are releasing prisoners that are considered "rehabilitated or seen as low risk". So we'll see what happens.

Parenting styles aside. The man should have not touched someone else's kid. I have two and one is autistic. But even when he was throwing a fit if anyone would have ever tride touch him I would have crippled them istantly. And yes I was spanked and even slapped by my mother when needed. It made me a better man. No spoiled children here.

Everyone has an opinion but the truth of the matter is no one expressing their opinion was there. John doesn't know if the woman had tried to quiet her daughter down or was doing her best to get out of the store as quickly as possible. I think we can all agree that the man had no business touching the two-year old and should have taken a different course of action (like leave the store or at least not follow the mom!) No one was there to witness the interaction between the mom and the man either and if my child is screaming everyone else can go to hell. Do you really think she's going to take the time to put the beat down on the man when she has a two year old that obviously needs her? If you're being annoyed by a screaming child, see if there's anything you can do to help because you never know when the parent of that child is a single or part-time mom or dad, a new widow(er), or just having a really bad day and cannot deal appropriately with the child at the moment. Don't judge the mother because no one knows what the mom was doing.

If that would have been my child, it would have been "ME" making the news story for an arrest for attacking some "beastly self centered old man". Where my "babies" are concerned, I would have been arrested for murder or attempted murder. Yes children crying can be annoying. As a mother we often have a deaf ear to what we do not feel is a "real" cry. To think a trip to Walmart is going to be anything less than annoying is unrealistic. I truthfully know I would rather hear a baby crying than hear the rants of some old miserable MEAN man that would hit a child. I bet he would push an old lady out of the way for walking too slow. I hope if he is in jail that they put him in general population and then maybe he will get his just deserves!!!!!

John, you seem to have anger management issues.

We are talking about a TWO YEAR OLD here...not even a tween. Two year olds cry. That is what they do, at least sometimes.

Secondly, we have no idea what the child was doing besides crying. We don't know how long or how loud. All we have to go on is that a man who is so mentally stable that he first threatens a woman, then assaults a child thought the kid was crying too loudly for too long. Not exactly the best of references.

I get your attempt at a summary point - that people often allow their children to behave out of sorts in public because they are too lazy to parent. And to a lesser degree I agree with your finer point that people owe it to others to remove their children from the situation for a "time out" when they become an annoyance or distraction to others. To simply ignore a child that is behaving out of sorts to the point of distraction or annoyance of others is rude...I agree. I experienced this yesterday in fact at my neighborhood coffee shop...a story not worth telling.

All of that said, you have no idea what ACTUALLY took place here beyond what was reported. And I think it is telling that you seized to opportunity to soapbox rant on what bad parents other people are...while pointing out what a good one you have been...while tossing in the unrelated "I've lost a child" comment to illicit sympathy.

So your opinion was that the aunt was somehow in the wrong.

My opinion is that you probably need to spend some time on someone's couch....

Now in regards to MY own anger management issues...I am with other who said dude wouldn't have rolled up on me like that in the first place...and if he had touched my kid, i would have ABSOLUTELY caught a case. I say dude doesn't have any "mental issues"...you see he didn't pick any kid with their DAD to slap....

Sorry but for most parts I agree with John the "slap" part was prob literally. I'm 50 and have 3 children, 4 godchildren, raised another 3 nephews and 1 niece as my own, now have a stepson with 4 children a son with 1 child and a stepson and another 2 boys that also call me Grammie. I treat them all the same and they range from 17 to 2. It is not uncommon to see me with a couple others that are spending the night, weekend or week. Everyone knows if ANYONE makes a scene or throws a tantrum we are ALL leaving immediately,. people often comment on how well behaved they are. Too often I hear people say they just don't know what to do, sorry usually they are just too lazy or "don't want to be the bad guy" people wake-up if your a parent act like it...be their friend AFTER you have taught them the things they need to know manners, respect to name a few. I wonder if maybe there wasn't something the matter with the old man????? (and the mother!) And by the way Marc that was a real responsible way of dealing with this...good example for any child who saw your NO better than the old man!

Every one is hung up on the fact that it was a two year old crying. I have stood in line at Walmart and heard adults with foul langaue, loud music, and just plain nasty unruly behavior. Wonder if this man would have the guts to slap them. I'll bet not, a bully usually doesn't pick on some one his own size. He committed assult, jail him and throw away the key.

im telling you if i was that mother of the child i wud of turned round and gave that man a right punch to the nose.

I understand that we don't know the whole scenario of what took place. The old boy should have just walked away. He sounds like the one with anger management issues.
Those adults that use the foul language, loud music, and plain nasty unruly behavior is the result of the parenting that I am talking about. Disrespectful! I used to drive truck for a while and I use foul language sometimes, but not when I am in public because I have respect for others around me. I just think we need to get a hold of how these kids are acting and we could start changing this kind of behavior. It all starts with the parents.
And I do not see where I personally have any anger issues and I never said that I am a perfect parent by any means. I just have my tactics or methods for raising my kids, that's all. The reason that I mentioned my son that died was in regards to the fact that by losing him, I have grown to appreciate my other children even more but that doesn't mean that I should allow my kids to become jerks because of it. I still have the responsibility for properly raising my kids, not to gain sympathy from anyone, don't need it, don't want it. This conversation thread is starting to get out of hand so I apologize if I have offended anyone.

"Anonymous" has a good point. Would anyone have objected if the "old Man" had slapped someone using foul language.....acting belligerent.....or just rude in general. No, in this case we all would have said that they deserved it. Too bad this wasn't the case, it may have set a precedent. But this is a child......in a store.....not in a restaurant, or library.....it is a public place. All children cry.....most responsible adults will try and mitigate the issue. But this is walmart, there is no place to go!! Is she just supposed to leave her shopping cart and go outside, no.... fact is we all here in this forum have no idea what she did or didn't do. The fact is babies cry, nobody likes the sound.......sane, well adjusted people deal with it and move on. Those of you here that condemn the mother for not trying to do more speculate that she didn't do anything. The fact is that you don't know. What we do know, and I don't think there is any argument here, is that someone assaulted a CHILD! Circumstances do not matter! And as for the comments on blaming the mother, what is wrong with you people? When is it ever morally, ethically, or legally your right to dictate what someone else does? This country is still a free place, if you can't stand the noise you have the right to move on.

i dont think that the guy should have done that to the little girl, and you probably dont understand the whole thing. i bet the mom was trying to calm down the girl but little kids have a mind of there own. i just dont think that you have the whole story.....but he was in the wrong for doing that to her.....Shame on that guy

John,
Personally, I think you need some representation here. I 100% totally get what you are saying about rearing a child to be respectful and that you don't have to abuse your children to teach them proper behavior.

You and I, unfortunately, are the minority in America today as evidenced by the mobs of people so eager to rant about your opinion on the subject. truely, there is no point in trying to get them to understand your thoughts. I have a quote I am fond of and I think it applies here:
"Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." I don't know who to credit for that saying but it has saved me many times when frustrated that my logical perspective on a situation was met with unparallelled opposition from what I can only surmize ignorant miscreants. An unfortunate byproduct of Liberals and Psychologists in the 70's trying to tell parents that discipline will destroy your childs self-esteem. Now those poor souls errantly believe that allowing a child to act beserk is actually correct parenting! They have the gall to flame you for being the voice of reason.

John, don't let it bother you, These ignorant folk are the ones that will reap what they sow and their children will be the next generations incarcerated population that we normal, level headed people will have to support. My children are well behaved because I love them enough to enforce BOUNDRIES to their behavior.

Letting a child run wild is actually teaching your child more fear than you think. A child that knows the bounds or right and wrong behavior, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable subconsciously feel more at peace because you are meeting a pyschological need of theirs. Children at this age (2) are just starting to understand that they have the ability to control some functions of their bodies and that they can influence their environment through their actions and voice.

Naturally, they test how powerful they are and what they can achieve and do not know (unless taught) what society agrees is acceptable behavior. There are limits to the control they have of their budding perception reality. As truely selfish, self-absorbed entities they are unaware that there are rules that govern what we should or shouldn't do.

A child left without boundries will grow up with a disregard for others, and can and will act out in so many different ways I can not list them all here! they act out because they are actually insecure in the difference between where their 'self' ends and that which we can call 'other' (or Not Me) begins.

Now for those of you reading this and getting your keyboard all heated up ready to slam me... let me save you some time. don't bother telling what a punk you think I am. I don't really mind you having your opinion, and I don't mind you stating your opinions. However, that being said, I have seen your children in Walmart, and Target. I have watched you drag your kid along at the mall as they scream bloody murder all pink-faced. Everyone within ear-shot is turning to look at you and your lack of parenting skills. You continue on, pretending to be oblivious to your childs tantrum. Sadly, you think if you ignore it, they will stop after they realize they don't get their way.(god forbid you actually give in during a child. then you are just really ignorant and deserving of the heartache you get when they are teens) But as you so clearly don't understand is that your childs tantrum is actually a CRY FOR HELP!! They might as well be screaming " Mommy!, Daddy!, this is a scary new world I see all around me, what do I do!? Give me some instructions! Tell me what is right and what is wrong!" Because many times when they are overwhelmed with their new found power of influence they are scared (not in a literal sense maybe) but they need to know where their abilities end. Every childs reality begins with them being the center. they are God-like in their universe. It's natural for humans to evolve as they age to understand that they are not the center of the universe. What they do, or don't do in life has very little meaning in the grand scale of life. As we mature we realize more and more how insignificant we really are. a vapor in the winds of time. This can be terrifying and as parents it's our JOB to love them and show them how to navigate this cruel scary world...

Kind of got off on a tangent there. Anyway, John. Keep up the good fight! You have at least one other parent that knows what you are saying and agrees. The representation on this news article is a frightful example of how our society was negatively impacted by the new age child rearing advise of our parents. Truely frightening! These degenerates are the idiots who voted "for change". Ignorantly they voted for a socialist, and if you haven't gathered from the past 9 months, America is in trouble. God help us now. These degenerates that don't believe in disciple and common courtesy are probably a major factor in the death of The Republic. Go read Glenn Beck's "Common Sense".

Have at me!

I neglected to include my name on the 6:12 pm post where I apologized.

Tito, thank you for your post. I just feel that most people do not understand where the underlying problem exists or they don't want to accept responsibility for it.

Well sometimes i wish i had the same guts to do that to all of those stupid parents that allow their kids to cry and do whatever they want in public, not the child but the parents need some slapping for being stupid at parenting. and yes i do have two kids and when they cry i take them out of the store and if they continue to cry i just leave, after all if i am in the store it is just to buy something for them. I am the father an dif they make a fuss about anything my kids will pay the prize and get nothing of what i was supposed to get from the store. Why? because i control my kids not my kids control me! I do not believe in violence but when it comes to stupid parenting we can do an exception.

there should be designated slappers at Walmart for crying babies. who does this guy think he is? he's trying to muscle in on someone else's possible employment! maybe they can hire him to slap women and men who are grouchy and just like to complain...

I have a 21 month old. He has sensory issues and because of that, he can be a bit fussy in public places. I rarely ignore his outbursts and do my best to keep him calm *content.* I have a hard time with parents that ignore their children in public, but I would rather be locked in a room full of screaming babies then to see anyone ever hit my child. They would be dead. I would gut them from elbow to butt-hole. I wouldn't even think twice about it. It takes a real piece of trash to smack a baby. It takes a bigger piece of trash to defend such an action.

I don't think anyone here is trying to defend the old bastard for slapping the child, it should never have happened. I applaude the parents who are willing to take the situation under control and deal with their children in an appropriate manner.

I have yet to hear about a child that STOPS crying when someone hits them! Someone that would THINK of doing that could possibly do something even worse; and that is scary. I hope he doesn't have any children or grandchildren! I am SO annoyed by this and I don't even know them, truly I feel he needs to be jailed and this needs to be considered child abuse. Even a parent is not allowed to do something like that to their own child!

THINK HYE "OLD MAN"BEFORE TAKING THIS CRUL STEP WHAT WERE U HAD DONE WHEN U WERE ONLY 2YR OLD
U MIGHT HAVE PISSED IN THE LAP/ON FLOOR SOME WHERE
HAS ANY STRANGER HIT U IF NOT THEN Y U HAD DONE THIS
IF YES THEN U WERE SAME AS THIS CHILD
IT IS NOT FAIR
"CHILD R COPY OF GOD"
LOVE THEM NOT PUNISH THEM
MOM MUST HAVE TRIED HER BEST TO KEEP HER BABY HAPPY
IF NOT THEN ???????????????????????????

that person( not a man) had no business raising his hand to any child, as a Mother, Grandmother,Greatgrandmother, I have taken kids to Wal-mart and if they screamed or had a tantrum then I would deal with it, sometimes they will scream and cry for whatever reason and I will either leave the store or calm them in my own way, but if ANYONE came up and said if you can't I will . I would say to them, when you pick yourself off the floor ,the cops can have you. thanks

Obviously, many people have forgotten what two year-olds are like. They are often frustrated because they often cannot verbally communicate yet. It is difficult for a two year-old to sit in a cart for what seems like an eternity to them. I am by no means a perfect parent with perfect children, but I am certainly not going to barracade myself and my kids in our home. If this man didn't like the screaming, then why didn't he just choose to walk away. My 5 year old Autistic son often has behavioral problems, but I still have to go shopping from time to time.

I think parents who let their kids scream in a department store without even trying to calm them down should be fined. That goes for the knuckleheads who allow their kids to misbehave in movie theaters and restaurants as well.

Why should everyone else have to be subjected to their poor parenting skills?

I have an autistic child, and I still go shopping. If my child is unruly, I take them outside, or to the car until they calm down/behave. If they don't, we go home and try another day. If something is critical I have the spouse pick it up. Am I saying I'm a great parent? No. Im saying there are common sense alternatives that this woman rudely ignored. Do I think this man slapping someone else's child is right? No, but I believe the mother contributed as much as the old man. Do I agree with John? Mostly, yes. Does what I proposed make too much sense? Most likely and I expect a bunch of bleeding hearts to flame this.
ps Do I expect most replies to this to be delivered by someone with room temperature IQ or lower... oh, heck yeah!

I say slap the bawling brat ! if the parents don't have enough sence to quite their brat, I'm glad that man srepped up to do it. everytime i go to a major store,be it walmart type or walgreen's I always come across this out of control brats running all over the store throwing balls, playing with all kinds of toys, opening up bags of snacks and eating them without paying for them,, and all with their parents concent ! if this parents don't control their kids, other people should make it known to the parents to do so.most of the time the employees tell me that the mgrs. have told the staff not to tell the out of control kids anything ! even if they tear up more than they buy,and most of the time they don't buy any of the toys that they were playing with.wake up people ! it's time to put dicipline back into all the kids ! as a matter of fact, some,,or rather most kids doing this desruptive acts don't need to be slapped !,,, they need a good punch in the face ! that will get theirand see if they do that again ! attention !

The little child was probably needing a nap and the mother selfishly just kept on shopping. Children usually like to go to walmart. If they are unhappy it may be they are tired or hungry.

I say slap the bawling brat ! if the parents don't have enough sence to quite their brat, I'm glad that man stepped up to do it. everytime i go to a major store,be it walmart type or walgreen's I always come across this out of control brats running all over the store throwing balls, playing with all kinds of toys, opening up bags of snacks and eating them without paying for them,, and all with their parents concent ! if this parents don't control their brats, other people should make it known to the parents to do so.most of the time the employees tell me that the mgrs. have told the staff not to tell the out of control brats anything ! even if they tear up more than they buy,and most of the time they don't buy any of the toys that they were playing with.wake up people ! it's time to put dicipline back into all this brats ! as a matter of fact, some,,or rather most brats doing this desruptive acts don't need to be slapped !,,, they need a good punch in the face ! that will get their attention !!! see if they do that again !

OK,,,,I take it back, they don't need a punch in the face,and they also don't need a slap on the face either,,,,,,what about 3 or 4 good slaps on the face ?????that will let them know that Mom and Dad mean business.

THe old guy got it wrong. He should have slapped the mother. Of course 2 y.o's have tamtrums. But for a parent to let the child carry on without some effort to control it? Unthinkable. Flat out RUDE. Have we as a society forgotten about manners? Being considerate to those around us? You have no more right to let your kid make a scene THAN I have a right to shop (or bank, or travel on a plane, eat in a restaurant) in relative quiet. If you can't keep your child under control (or at least attempt to), then get a baby sitter.

I love all these comments. "if he hit my child I would hit him back or worse." No you would'nt.

You would stand there, like, probably, everyone else in the near vicinity did, mom too, like a deer caught in the headlights. In shock at what you were witnessing.

Him slapping this toddler four to five times, probably, lasted five seconds. SLAPPING THAT CHILD WAS WRONG!

Now, mom had been warned, prior to, she was probably texting or talking on her cell, rolling her eyes at this old man, trying to quiet or soothe the baby, I doubt she was.

I bet, anyone who was in ear shot, was saying under their breath, in their minds. "Yeah, shut that baby up!"

That's when she should have launched into action. Threatening my child? I would not threaten to hit him, however, I would tell him, "Sir,you are out of line and if you do, you can expect a jumpsuit and handcuffs. I will do my best to quiet my child. Have a nice day." If my brother were with me; he would have gotten the living daylights beat out of him, for disrespecting me.

My own daughter has done it. In the middle of an aisle at the grocery store,at three, because I would not purchase something "she needed". Threw herself to the floor, screaming. I walked by her, like I did not know who she was.

Yep,I left her in the aisle, to stew in her behavior. Why would I leave, when I needed to shop for her, so she could eat, because she was being rude and obnoxious? Not going to happen. She would quiet down and it was over.

Those fits, stopped by the time she was five. So there were, many, more. While waiting in line, I would give her, what she now calls, at fifteen, "the look", and she would quiet.

Did I spank her? Yes I did, swat her behind, not enough according to my grandmother. There was two to three inches of padding on her bottom when I did.

Children need to know there are consequences to their behavior, their actions boundaries. I did not let her stick knives in the light sockets, because it could hurt her.

We can see the results of different parenting styles in elementary, middle and high schools,colleges, and in our corrections facilities.

That's the problem. When we witness bad behavior today, we don't confront it.

"Those adults that use the foul language, loud music, and plain nasty unruly behavior" are the result of poor parenting, that is the truth anon.

A child that has sensory issues? Why would you put them on sensory overload in a public store? That's kind of abusive, I think.

I cannot wait to see the interview or to get more information on the mother. I wonder what her parents were like.

This man will be punished, no doubt about it. And he should be.

BTW, Samantha, "My daughters have NEVER thrown a fit in public, they know better..." Where did you get these children? Not even at the terrible two stage, they NEVER threw a fit in public? Seriously?

First thing,I agree that what this 61 year old man done was legally wrong,and he did overstep his boundry when he stuck this 2 year old. However,Ihave worked in the retail for over 6 years and can personally tell you, I can not count how many times I have seen this scenerio and simular ones play out on a daily basis.Most of the time the parent is too busy on their cellphones or too concern with the latest fashion's deal to even recall they have a child much less stop one from crying. I have seen children hanging on the carts and under the carts where it plainly states on the seat is NOT ALLOWED and to fasten the child in the seat and not to leave them unattended but it happens all the time..In fact there was a woman who left her child in a cart unattended to and crying that looked to be 2 the other day and the poor child felled out of seat unto the floor and when a worker went to pick her up and to see if the mother wanted medical care for the child all the mother said was" Oh she okay and continued to shop as if nothing had happen. I have seen children sit and scream their lungs out because they wanted candy or a toy and their parents are ignoring them. In my opinion, what he done was wrong but walking around with a child who is screaming and crying which is annoying other people is neglectiful, rude and also very wrong. Walmart is a 24 hour store..if your child needs a nap go put them down for a nap, you can come back. if they are acting out and you can not stop them in the store then remove them from the situation, you can come back in when they are calm down. Honestly, how many times have you been in a long line and heard a child crying and throwing a tantrum and said" That child need to be disciplined or I'd spank mine if they acted like that. Or if they had better parents they wouldn't let them act like that in public." Now be honest how many of you have ever thought this or said it to the cashier or person in line behind you or in front of you?

First thing,I agree that what this 61 year old man done was legally wrong,and he did overstep his boundry when he stuck this 2 year old. However,Ihave worked in the retail for over 6 years and can personally tell you, I can not count how many times I have seen this scenerio and simular ones play out on a daily basis.Most of the time the parent is too busy on their cellphones or to even recall they have a child much less stop one from crying. I have seen children hanging on the carts and riding under the carts where it plainly states on the seat is NOT ALLOWED and to fasten the child in the seat and not to leave them unattended but it happens all the time. It's like their parents can not read or don't care about their own children's safety. How often have you placed your child in the cart unfasten or in the part where the food is to be placed or allowed them to ride on the bottom of the cart where it is easy for them to smash their fingers or get hurt and went on your merry way?In fact,the other day, there was a woman who left her child in a cart unattended to screaming and crying that looked to be 2 the other day while she went 2 aisle over to look at a HBA product and the poor child felled out of seat unto the floor and when a worker went to pick her up and to see if the mother wanted medical care for the child all the mother said was" Oh she okay and continued to shop as if nothing had happen. I have seen children sit and scream their lungs out because they wanted candy or a toy and their parents are ignoring them.Again In my opinion, what he done was wrong but walking around with a child who is screaming and crying which is annoying other people is not only neglectiful to that child,it's rude and also very wrong.F.Y.I Walmart is a 24 hour store..if your child needs a nap go put them down for a nap, you can come back. if they are acting out and you can not stop them in the store then remove them from the store, you can come back in when they are calm down.Bottom line is SHOW RESPECT! Honestly, how many times have you been in a long line and heard a child crying and throwing a tantrum and said" That child need to be disciplined or I'd spank mine if they acted like that. Or if they had better parents they wouldn't let them act like that in public." Now be honest how many of you have ever thought this or said it to the cashier or person in line behind you or in front of you?

I have a confession. About 8 years ago I was standing in line at the lay-by counter at Target, minding my own business. A little boy of about 5 years old was roaming the aisle by himself with a pacifier in his mouth (don't even get me started) and as he walked past me he put his little arm out and gave me an almighty punch with his little fist. He didn't even react to what he'd done, and just walked on as if absolutely nothing had happened.

At first I was too shocked to do anything. I just stood there flabbergasted, trying to comprehend if that had really just happened. Now even though that child obviously had psychological issues, and has by this time probably made his way through about 5 schools, I was seething with anger and left the lay-by line to hunt the little b*stard down and show him how it felt to be punched. Luckily for him I couldn't find him, and in hindsight the person in need of a punch was his absent mother who, for starters, felt comfortable letting her dysfunctional pacifier-sucking 5 year old roam a department store, and secondly, obviously didn't teach him a little thing called discipline.

I agree that the man in Walmart shouldn't have done what he did, but I can understand that nerve-rattling, shoulder-hunching sensation that he would have had upon listening to the child scream endlessly.

My mother started wearing a hearing aid at age 43 due to a hereditary hearing condition, and she says everything sounds tinny and awful like it's coming through a poor quality microphone. She adjusts the volume so she can hear regular sounds at a regular level, but when we're shopping and a child starts screaming I see that look of pain on her face as she rushes to turn her hearing aid down, and I hear the hearing aid itself screaming and whining because of the loud noise. It's for this reason that I don't blame her or get embarrassed when she hisses at the parent "for god's sake will you shut that bloody child up".

Parents: I don't doubt that you love your children more than anything in the world, and you think they're adorable and precious and a true gift. But other people don't love your children. If they are well-behaved children they go unnoticed. If they are screamers (and remember this next time you are in public and your child is carrying on incessantly) then you can 100% guarantee that most people around you are mentally shaking their heads and thinking you are a bad and annoying parent, a lot are also thinking that your child is a monster, and I'd bet that quite a few (and myself included) are having a quick daydream about walking up to your child and giving it a good whack upside the head. The difference between us and the old guy in Walmart is you know it's just not acceptable. A girl can dream though...

if we would just get it over with and burn all of the blacks in ovens, then we wouldnt have these kinds of problems

first, the man should have said in a loud bellowing voice, LETS WRAP IT UP! and then put a pastic bag over the kids head..then the women should of hit the man over the head with the very same shopping cart with kid and all,.like a cartoon. thank you in advance.

I think this is outrageous! This man should be jailed. What he did, if done by a parent, would be considered child abuse. I am not unrealistic, I understand the frustration of being in a store hearing a child having a temper tantrum. This child was 2!! They cry, they whine, and sometimes just because they don't know what else to do. I have a 16 month old. I don't let her disrupt everyone in the store, but she does cry sometimes. And before anyone gets going... NO I am not on my cell phone, or not paying attention to her, or just letting her cry-- I Do try to calm her down, but sometimes you HAVE to get what you are at the store for and NOTHING you do makes the child calm down--it happens, they're children. I agree with the annoyance of seeing the kids running around the store, yelling, etc etc. But this was a 2 yr old who was probably just having a bad day.
As far as the man getting close enough to touch my child, it NEVER would have happened! If I don't know you, and you don't talk to me about(not TELL me you're going to do whatever)touching my child--- you WILL NOT touch my daughter. I had to make this point once or twice at Walmart, in fact. An elederly lady walked up to look at my daughter who was cooing and smiling. She reached her hand out to touch her and I looked at the lady and calmly told her I didn't like strangers to touch my daughter. I'm sure I offended her, but It's my responsibility to protect , care for, and teach my daughter.
I don't feel like this lady was a bad mother, maybe as someone else said, she and her daughter were having an off day. I think the man maybe has some mental issues to make him feel like it was OK to do what he did. Maybe he was just a crotchety old man, who knows....

If a complete stranger came up to me and said they would shut my kid up he would be shut up. No way that guy would get a chance to say another word

He should have slapped the mother!
Come on lady. If your kid is screaming in a public place take him or her out to the car until it quietens down.
Dr. Spock had it all wrong and admits it after screwing up millions of children in the 50's and 60's. Don't make others pay for your poor handling of your kids.

Even if it was not my child and I witnessed what that jerk said to that mother and then he slapped her child I would beat his ars to a pulp.

He should have slapped the mother. Why should others pay for her poor handling of her child. Come on lady. take the child out of a public place until it stops crying. I spanked my kids for acting out in public and they turned out fine.
I don't believe in A.D.D. I think it is just a way to sell drugs to kids that need a good butt warming.

Sham-wow call 911 for a stretcher to carry this man to ICU

Hope he gets put in jail with the "right" kind of guys who will give him a little bit of justice

People, who have children that disrupt other people , need only ask the Question" Would this childs behavior bother me if it were some other person child?" Not even grand parents like to be bothered.If your child acts up, do something about it....

I'm not saying let the child go crazy and disrupt everyone, but the child is 2. A 2 yr old is not able to be reasoned with like an older child-- they can't even communicate why they are upset sometimes. We don't know exactly why the child was crying or whether the mother was trying to calm her down... I don't believe in letting your child throw fits or temper tantrums, but a crying 2 yr old is not neccessarily a temper tantrum..

I cannot tell you how many times I have been in a store and there is a baby crying continually. It is my opinion that some of these children are tired and need to go home. It is not right to make other people listen to your crying child screaming at the top of her/his lungs-you need to take them home. As to the customer slappping the child -that is wrong. I am sure the gentlemen has mental problems. But I have seen customers get into arguments over crying children and it could have turned violent.

I am the mother of two kids, and my children have never behaved like that in public, if the child was sick, then she should never had her child out late at night to begin with... that mother is a big part of what is wrong with our society of disruptive youth who are ignored by ignorant lazy parents who do not believe in taking control of their child... these kids nowadays are coddled, spoiled, ignored children being raised by parents who do not give half a crap and are far too lazy to discipline their children... you have to be involved with your kids, listen to them and spend time with them... and when they do wrong you have to follow thru and not sit on your arse hoping the problem with solve it self, instead they decided to give the child a label such as ADHD and pump them full of drugs in order to ignore the true problem... when i was growing up, a stranger, neighbor, family or friend could discipline us, bring us to our parents and we would get it from our parents as well... discipline and a good old fashioned spanking, I WILL STAND BY IT TO THE END... and i have two great, respectful, straight A, teenagers to prove the method works...

To open everyone's eyes to the state of children these days, whether you have them or not, try substituting at your local schools (K-12) for a full school year. There are excellent children that are well behaved, and there are those that are the result of parents who enable bad behavior. Walk away from unruly behavior if you can, and certainly don't hit anyone..child or otherwise. But also, be a village and raise children...don't for one second think that everyone is great at being a parent. Lots are great at spreading their seed.

Paisleygirl, I am sorry but at some point (when they were smal) I'm sure your children cried in public-- all children do. The story did not say she was having a temper tantrum or whatever it said she was crying. It wasn't "bad behavior" it was a 2 yr old doing what they do... Also you said a stranger, neighbor, etc could punish you then take you to your parent.... NO ONE other than family or very close friends should be punishing your child(especially not a stranger!!). It's obvious this man has mental issues..No matter what... It is NOT acceptable to slap a 2 yr old in the face..

I agree with Michelle B. It is never O.K. to hit someone's child; if the child is annoying you, move to another area of the facility, or ask the mom if its alright to offer the child a cookie, maybe it will help calm her/him. This man's way is completely unacceptable, and I suspect he has other issues besides a crying child, such as mental problems or anger problems, which he should seek help for. I know if I were in that situation and someone slapped my child, that person would never again be able to slap anyone or even move his arm to wipe his butt, because I would break every bone in both arms, or break my own in the attempt. I need to hear that he not only apologized to both mom & child, but that he paid a big fine and restitution to them for the insult to them.

This is a 2 year old not a new born baby. Yes, its true that 2 year olds cry but they have more control over it than babys do. Parents are supposed to be there to teach their children that it's not ok to throw a fit when they don't get their way. The child should never have had a finger laid on her but the mother should have been doing her job and atleast tried to calm the child (not baby). I hate when parents just sit there and let their kids walk all over them and act a fool. It's rediculous. Who's the adult?

Did it ever occur to anyone that the mother DID address the child. Just because they did not witness the parent do this or because they are not constantly talking to the child does not mean the parent did not try. And after a certain point, there is no rationalizing with a 2 year old. All you can do is finish up your business. I am a mother of three children and there are times when a child is between 1-2 years old that they will have melt downs. After I "deal" with them and they continue to cry, me continuing to talk to them is not going to calm down. Yes, I DO ignore them because talking causes them to cry even more. After they see that they will not get their way when they melt down, they usually calm down after a few minutes. Yes, I'm sure its disturbing those few minutes to other customers but you people need to get over yourselves and stop acting like you are guaranteed peace and quiet when you go to Wal-Mart. Shop online if you don't want ANY disruptions!

I don't care what the situation was, how loud the child was crying, whether or not her mother tried to correct her or not, this jerk had NO right to talk to the mom that way and then walk up and slap someone else's child.

As another poster said,the child could have a developmental disability such as autism, which isn't always readily noticed or she could have autism and it had not been diagnosed as of yet. She could be getting sick or could have just had shots; there's any number of things that could have been going on. Or she could have been just being a 2 yr. old. The old jerk nor any of us know exactly what was causing the child to cry.

The bottomline is this jerk had NO right whatsoever to slap a child. He could have walked off and gotten away from the situation. The old geezer better be glad it wasn't my child or he'd been picking his old ass up off the floor. He might have walked into WalMart but he'd have limped out!

John - anyone who knows anything about child psychology knows that in order to NOT have spoiled children, the thing you are told to do is ignore them when they are having a tantrum. If you acknowledge them in any way, positive or negative, you are just adding fuel to the fire. So while it is very irritating when someone has a screaming child in a store, blaming the parent for ignoring the child is ridiculous because it sounds to me like the mother was doing exactly what she should be for the child. Of course, in a case like that, if the child continues to be a nuisance it would be fitting for the mother to remove the child from the premises until she can get the situation under control. I have a granddaughter who is going on two, and sometimes she just spontaneously has a little tantrum for no apparent reason. She can be sunny and giggling one second, and the next, BOOM, she is having a complete meltdown. Luckily they don't last long, but I always tell my daughter "Oh no, she's one of THOSE kids!"

First of all, this guy belongs in jail. He had no business talking to the mother like that and he had absolutely no business slapping that little girl. I have a 2 year old daughter and guess what? She cries and throws little tantrums. She has done it in the store. Sometimes, you can excuse yourself and sometimes you can't. And yes, the best way to deal with a temper tantrum is to IGNORE it. I'm sorry but it is. I agree with Mary. Any positive or negative attention is going to add to that tantrum. This guy is a world class loser and violent to boot.

John, I don't see how you can say the mother's behavior was rude. I'm sorry if a man approached me and said that, I would ignore him too. For all you know, she was trying to quiet her daughter. Maybe her daughter was tired or experiencing an all to normal evening meltdown. The press didn't give all the facts in the situation but given ALL the other customers there were outraged, I would say his behavior was more out of line than the mother. You made a judgment of the mother based on very little factual information. We can't say whether or not the mother was trying to calm her daughter down, so to make that judgment against the mom is preemptive at best. When I go to walmart and I hear a child throwing a fit, I get more sympathetic than angry because, like her, I have BEEN there. Kids go to Walmart with their parents and sometimes they throw fits. And I don't how you can say that parents are lazy or the kid is spoiled when their kids are throwing tantrums. Every child is different and every parent has their own parenting method. What works for you may not work for another parent. For me, simply ignoring my daughter will get her to stop in 5 minutes or so. Parenting does not come with instructions and we all do things a little differently. My oldest daughter (I have 2 daughters, 12 and 2)threw fits like that when she was little. Now at almost 13, she is a well mannered and respectful young lady. I ignored her temper tantrums too. Sometimes, taking them aside and talking to them, doesn't work and can make it worse, especially with a toddler who may not fully comprehend what you are saying. Sometimes, you have to let them work it out for themselves, as most child psychologists will tell you.

And yea, I'm with all the other parents, that man is lucky that wasn't me. I would slapped him in the face a few times and probably kicked him in his old wrinkly balls. Discipline is a parents job. Not a complete strangers. Of course, he would pick on a mother with a young daughter whose husband/significant other was not with her at the time. Only a real loser picks on someone smaller and weaker than himself.

John is spending more time trying to justify himself than is necessary as he "ignores" his own children. Dude, get a life or better yet, stop hitting your own kids. Christ, you sound like my Grandmother who had her own soapbox to preach from before she passed away.

I gotta agre with John. When I was a kid, and got out of line, I caught a swift a** whoopin' quick. That's what's wrong with kids today... idiots giving them and thier lousy parents excuses like "developmentally disabled" or "hyper-active"... what they really mean is "retarded" or "undisciplined brat".
C'mon parents.. drop a pair and slap some sense into your kids when they need it... isn't it better you hurt thier little feelings now with a slap of your hand, than a police officer with the slap of handcuffs later??

John is spending more time trying to justify himself than is necessary as he "ignores" his own children. Dude, get a life or better yet, stop hitting your own kids. Christ, you sound like my Grandmother who had her own soapbox to preach from before she passed away.

Maybe Johns' kids are under control and know thier limits... ever think of that? I am sick to hell of you hippie ass, tree hugging, peace and love, save the trees and whales and cockroaches and cows bullshit assholes who think that hitting a child is a mortal sin. It's called DISCIPLINE folks. JWK and John are right. Kids are clay waiting to molded by thier parents. And alot of times that molding process ivolves a swift kick in the ass. I'm not saying the old fart was right for hitting the womans' kid, I, and Jwk and John are simply saying that child discipline (or the lack thereof) is an epidemic in todays society. If you let them be little screaming assholes at a young age... then thy will grow up to be big screaming assholes, and land themselves in jail or in a coffin. If mommy and daddy let them have thier way because they act like idiots, they naturally assume the rest of the world will follow suit... wrong. Start screaming and throwing a fit as an adult at a police officer... then write me back and tell me how bad 10,000 volts from a tazer hurts. Man the f*ck up people. Your kids need loving, caring, and smart parents. This involcves being hard and cold at times.
Look at the United States Marine Corps... drill instructors turn grown men around and turn them from the mush thier sissy parents made them, into the most feared killing machine in the world. Now that's being hard.. imagine what just a little discipline can do for your kids...

IF YOU HAVE EVER WORKED WITH CHRN IGNORING THEM IS NEEDED SOMETIMES IF THEY ARE NOT HURT AND THEY ARE NOE HUNGRY OR SICK THEN YOU CAN IGNORE THEM AND LET THME CRY AND IF HE SLAPPED MY CHILD HE WOULD BE GETTING UP OFF THE FLOOR WITH ONE NUTT IN HIS THROAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe John,JWK, and Jack are older... My mother has that mindset also..spare the rod spoil the child. I agree that sometimes you have to be harder on your children than you want to, but I DON'T believe you have to hit them to do that. I will give my daughter's hand a little swat if she's getting into something that will hurt her, but I don't spank. My aunt raised my cousin on spankings and worse and he still grew up and got into trouble. Violence breeds violence.. And think about this folks... when you are older and your children are taking care of you-- would you want them to hit you??? Just a thought...

Jack,
Well said my man! You took the "no bull-sh*t" approach to my maybe-to-long monologue up there. it's great to see, after my post, that some of the rational parents are still out there and perked up. These brainwashed, indoctinated yuppie-morons need to wake up. We have just crept into a very terrible new Era with Obama inviting Socialist revolutionaries into our highest government offices.

Maybe part of their approach was to dumb-down americans and turn them into a bunch of piss-in-their-pant p*ssies so they were too dumb to realize America is being dismantled from the inside out, top to bottom. And if we were smart enough, we were too chicken to speak up.

Well, that time is over people. If you still know and believe what freedom and liberty used to mean, it's time to (as a few have said already in these comments) man up! and Drop a Pair!

Consider a good portion of what you were told in public school and maybe from your own parents was pretty much bull-sh*t designed to make you passive, ignorant, income generating surfs to your government lording your prosperity and tossing meager scraps back to you to keep you alive.

And don't anyone call me Racist! I don't give a damn if he was purple with yellow dots. His "Race" to me is "American" and he's leading us like the Pied Piper into Socialism and the new slavery. Glenn Beck is getting heat because he has the balz to speak up and try to wake you people up! Americans! If you love your freedom, read "Common Sense" by Glenn Beck immediately. Realize what's going on right now and then call your Congress, Governer, Senator, and Mayor. GET INVOLVED, or else you won't have the right to speak soon.

sounds pretty alarmist, doesn't it? Don't write me off folks. That's just what you have been trained to do. Stick your head in the sand and say "man that guy is a fruit-cake" don't take my word for it, look for it. you will find that things are very wrong in this country. and we need to speak up now, or forever be silent.

This isn't political... It's common sense. You DO Not go around slapping 2 year olds in the face !!

I don't know where anyone got the idea that I "hit" my children. If you would reread the posts you will know that I have other methods for getting my kids to behave. They have been taught to NOT act out in public or they will no longer be able to go, where ever we are going. Some of you people slay me. There are times to ignore a child's tantrum but there are times to just simply remove them from the situation instead of annoying innocent bystanders that do not deserve to listen to your uncontrollable kids.
As for Steve, get yourself neutered or (a hysterectomy), or what ever you need done because Lord knows society doesn't need any kids with your mentality inhabiting this planet either. Don't sit there and preach to me when you can't even read everything that was posted.

Let's just say that it would not have been a healthy decision for him to slap my child. His face would have had the marks to prove it. Put your hands on my child....I can't begin to share how I would still be whipping his ass.

if someone even looks at my kid wrong i will flip out ,,,this old man is lucky he didnt fuk with me ,,,he would be brought away in an ambulance 4 sure .....children are innocent ..we were all little once ..

And as for annoying bystanders...if they don't like it, let the bystanders leave! I am not going to apologize for my child-none of that BS-again, he and anyone else would have a whipped ass for touching my child. And no, there is no rationalizing with me, no time out, none of this count to ten garbage-unleash the blows--IF HE CAN GIVE THEM OUT, HE GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE 'EM. PERIOD.

if someone even looks at my kid wrong i will flip out ,,,this old man is lucky he didnt fuk with me ,,,he would be brought away in an ambulance 4 sure .....children are innocent ..we were all little once ..

Slapping someone elses child is definately wrong. But, the parent shouldn't have been so oblivious to the child crying that she couldn't handle it. In general kids need to be punished a little harsher than normal these days. Kids are growing up thinking they own the world and that everything will be handed to them. There needs to be a stronger father role.

Out,,,

First of all that old raggity looking man had no business telling the mother of her 2 year to shut her child up or threatening to shut the child for her. Number 1,If I was either the mother or father of that child and he would have approached me in that matter,I would have told him to mind his f--king business and get the f--k away from me, If he knew what was good for him. And then to top if off,if he was to hit my kid like he did to that woman's child, he would first be going to the hospital and then jail. I would beat him like he stole something,he would never walk again after the a--whipping I would lay on him, he would have been sorry he ever let that thought enter his mind after laying him out ,and then justice would be served.