Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-02-18
Trouble at Dry Valley.

At Dry Valley, in this county, and
ohout ten miles from Phoebe, quite set
,,ament is formed OF the employees OF the
Meadow Valley Mill and Mining Com
many. Among Others there domiciled
and in the employ of the company are
Charles Cory and G. NJ. Delahante.
Cory il n married man, he and his wife
residing in the valley. Some time ago
4 scandalous and defamatory letter was
sent to Mrs. Cory, and the fact coming
To the knowledge of her husband, he set
parties to work to ferret out the author
Of the scandolous letter, and according
TO Corys testimony, he found evidence
sufficient to satisfy him that Delahante
was the guilty party. II should be stat
ed in this connection that there was no
other testimony introduced to connect
Delahante with the disgr4ceful affair.
With the evidence satisfactory to him
self, Cory presented the defamatory let
ter to Delahante and demanded that he
give written acknowledgement of his
guilt, which, according to Delthante's
testimony, he gave through fear of his
life. Delahante procured warrant, upon
which Cory was arrested, and the case
was heard by Justice Van Hagen yester-
day. Delahante testified that Cory
showed him the letter, and, pistol in
L. II.
the authorship, and that he (Delahante)
denied ever having written or iustigated
the scandalous letter. Cory denied having
q pistol, but admitted that he compelled
Delahante to sign it, believing that he
tDelahante) was too great coward to
refuse his demand. Cory also told Del
ahaute that according to the custom of
the country he had forfeited his life by
his conduct. We have only given an
outline of the testimony, but we believe
enough has been said to give the reader
fair idea Of what occurred. Owing to
the conflict IN the testimony, the Court
was in doubt what course to pursue, but
finally discharged the accused. Before
dismissing the case Justice Van Hagen
referred in commendatory terms to the
moral courage of Mr.. Delabante in bring
ing the matter before the Court. The
Court was fully right in that respect, and
we will say now and for all time to come,
that he who brings his grievance before
an impartial tribunal is a better citizen
aud displays more moral courage than
one who takes the law into his own
hands.
The case has been judicially disposed
OF, and as much as we respect the in
tegrity and wisdom OF Justice Van
Hagen, we are constrained TO say that
we think he committed an error. From
all we can gather about the parties, Mr..
Cory is a worthy man, and the defama-
ton OF his wife by an anonymous letter
was an act Of unmitigated infamv-an
act which should consign the perpetrator
to eternal detestation; but when be saw
fl to accuse Mr.. Delahante (who has oil
the appearance of gentleman, and is
regarded as such by those who have been
acquainted with him for years., and to
extort from him confession of guilt
whether with or without deadly wea.
pons) was very great moral and legal
wong. Mr.. Cory. in view of the great
wrong he has suffered. would be held
blameless by all good citizens if he took
the life Of the vile wretch who,
afraid to strike openly, seeks to
injure lady in the most cowardly
manner. But before making an
accusation Of SO damaging nature as
that which he made against Delahante
he should have been not only certain in
his own mind, but able to make good
his charge before any tribunal or at the
bar of public opinion. We claim that
Cory was wholly wrong in extortipg a
confession from Delahante without Civ
ing him an opportunity to explain away
anything and everything that pointed to
his guilt. A confession which is no,
given voluntarily and without fear oil
favor is ho confession in law, nor should
it be regarded as Of any effect in morals
To sum mp Cory has been deepl!
wronged, but in seeking redress he has
acted hastily. although conscientiously
and by his hasty action has drawn al
entirely innocent party into very EN-
barrassing situation. So far as we are in
formed there is nothing but Cory's be
lief tending to implicate Delahante il
this disgraceful affair. and as he stand
well in the community, it is a fagran
outrage upon him to harbor suspicio
of his guilt.