The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-05-02

49,
. House.
y NEoRo VS.. CHINAMAN.-Several days ag'
a negro named j. II. Baldridge-a thick.set
rather od.lOOking mulatto-was arrested
by the city marshal on q charge of rObbing
or stealing money from a Chinaman of thi'
citx. The culprit was subsequently turned
over to the Sheriff, and was tried before the
County Judge. 1t was shown that he had
.surreptitiously entered the dOmicil OF the
plaintiff, about midnight, and taken from
1be pockets of the Chinaman $500 in bull
Een-mostly god-and decamped. The
Court decided that the niger should give q
bond of $50 OF go to jail; and the darkey,
not being able to execute the bond, was
placed in one of the rooms of the Court
House, tor safe. excepting till morning; but
when morning came the all bird had flown to
parts unknown. Somebody during the night
had kindly raised the window and furnished
him with implements wherewith he struck of
his letters and escaped.
1t may not be any of our business, but we
cannot help thinking about the amount OF
the bond which the Court required the ne
gro to give-all of the enormous sum of six
t. dollarsi If the fellow could have given
the bond, he could actually have made mon
ey by failing to appear for trial and paying
the bond. Thus: $50 in gold will buy, at
u cents, Seyenty-two and 22-1O0th dollars
in greenbacks Leaving Sl2,22 in green
backs, or $3.50 gold as the clear profits of
robbery His honor actually required the
negro to give bonds in a sum $12,22 less
than the amount he stole from the China
man,-if we reckon in greenbacks, or $3.50
in gold. The Organic law of Oregon very
properly provides that excessive bail shall
not be required but such bail as that which
this sable robber was required to give is a
solemn mockery and caricature Of justice.
The crime with which he was charged is a
penitentiary offence; and it seems to us
that to require the culprit to enter into bonds
of q less sum than the amount he stole or
took by violence, is a l%eniency which, if not
criminal, is at least highly detrimental to
the public veal.
This ease illustrates how necessary it is that
Linn county should build a good jail. Sit
mated as this county is at present, no priso-
ner is safe, except he be guarded, day and
night by two or more persons, or committed
TO the Jail of some other county until the day
of trial. In either case the expenses are far
more than they would be if Linn county had
a good jail and it would in the end be the
more economical to Immediately assess and
raise the sun necessary for the erection of
such a public building.
ATHE RAILRoAD.-During the past few days
a party of "Levelers," in the employ of the
Oregon Central Railroad, East side, have
been in and around Albany ''leveling." and
taking other initiatory steps necessary to a
regular survey. As a consequence some of
citizens are having the railroad fever to
some extent.
We have no doubt now, from information
In our possession, that the efforts now being
put forth by this Company are in good faith,
and that the Road which they have just COM
will in due time be completed. We
have purposely remained silent heretofore,
because we did not desire to be instrumental
in deceiving and h~umbugging the people,
and we only come out now pointedly because
we believe the road is on such q basis that it
will succeed. And, as W 4kait De
convinced that the Road on the west side Of
the Willamette is genuine, we shall do what
we can to advance its interests. This Valley
will support one IN each side of the river
not, indeed, at the present time, but it will
by the time the roads shall have been COM
pleted and in operation. 1t is a great mis-
take to suppose that a Railroad should not
be built until the country through which it
is to run is able to support it. The
of Railroads proves that they increase
and develop the resources of a coun-
try to an almost incredible degree in a very
abort snaoa of time.