The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-02-28
For the Advocate.
R1uGwAY, Feb. 10th Il

RIuGwAY, Feb. 10th 1867.
Mr.. Editor :---.' NJ - in the last issue of
AdUocd,e, attempts the "pen censorious
in his article on the immortality of the Age
| freely admit that the late war has been
detrimental to society; and believe that
nine-tenths Of the outrages, murders, in
cendiarisms, robberies. etc. are its legiti
mate consequences. War is, of necessity,
demoralizing, and strikes at the root Of law
and society. But NJ " not content, with
giving your readers his terse opinion as
above, must needs turn his lash upon the
county officers Of Elk. Even in our own
little county, within the past year, says
IN, " there have been two cases Of man
slaughter at least of which no notice has
been taken by the authorities. &c. Indeed
and when pray, did Mr.. IN " become the
repository Of the proceedings Of the Coun-
ty officers! Probably it would be better
to keep such measures as may have been
taken, for the apprehension of the often.
ders, secret. Or, would M " prefer that
SUCH steps should be given to the public.
in order that criminals may be informed of
them. through the columns Of the AdUocdte
Which seems TO be the better mode after
due reflection VI But before proceeding
70 his severe castigntions it might be well
for " VI TO inform himself correctly. In
both cases referred TO by an, - there was
an inquest held and both inqucsts made
returns upon which no bill Of Indictment
could be found. II is true that upon in
formation made before Justice Of the
Peace, q warrant could, and would be is
sued for the apprehension of any person
charged with, or suspected of having COM
mitted the manslHughters at least" of
which M so eloquently and pathctically
speaks. hut as in neither case information
has been made, he fair inference is that in
neither case was - mansluughter at least "
committed. LEN.
Lex. appears to be hurt by our ar.
ticle in the A0pocate Of the l4th inst.
Well, we cannot helpit, We did not
suppose when we published it that the
shoe would not iuG wearer, and as
Lex has some inclination to martyrize
himself in defending the wrong side, we
cannot say that we have any serious OBJ
jections to him doing so, as it will the
better enable us to discuss the matter
more freely. We know that in one case
there was An inquest held by the Coro-
nor, and verdict rendered in accor-
dance with the facts. We refer to the
killing of Cotter, at Wilcox, last June.
In that case the inquest found that the
deceased came to his death by the hand
of Elijah Darril. Before the inquest
was held this man Elijah Darril gave
himself up to the Justice of the Peace,
who, after a short hearing allowed him
to depart on his giving his word to ap'
pear again when called on--tut since
then nothing has been heard of him.
Though not versed in legal lore NJ
thinks that upon the finding of the in
quest as we'll as upon the returns Of Con
stable, Justice Of the Peace and Grand
Jurors, an indictment might have been
framed and bill found. Had bill
been found, then the County Commiss-
toner's would have been justified in off
ering reward for his capture. If no
such findings and returns were made
then the said officers neglected their du-
ty. If they were made, then somebody
else neglected his,