Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-08-08
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Yesterday the number oflittle knots
of people, with determined looks,
who were holding aside conferences
particularly confidential was very
noticeable. They were of such fire.
ouent occurrence as to even cause
comment, and finally venture was
made, at the risk of impertinent med
ding, to ascertain the cause, when it
vas found that the subject of revi-
wing the organization of 6O1 was un-
der discussion. There are in the city
set Of men who do not care for
legal proceedings. They laugh at
the idea Of being tried in court.
They have confederates enough to
swear them clear and juries are not
always just. The argument is that
these desperadoes can be reached in
no other way so readily, effectually
and cheaply as through the 6O1. They
sllege that since the shooting of citi-
zens has been revived it will 60 on
raising horror upon horror, unless
some means be devised to check the
rise and flow of the billow of crime
now while it is comparatively small
and easily stayed. We cannot agree
with the necessity of such proceed
ings on the part of our citizens; yet
one thing is sure: there are ceratin
persons in this community who had
better go slow, or they may be snuffed
out ere they are aware of it and in a
manner wholly Unexpected Enter
prise, Aug. s.
We fully agree with the ENTER
prise in raising its voice against a
reorganization of a vigilance COM
mittee" at the present time, though it
Is true that there is now "billow of
crime" rolling over this section of
Nevada; but every good man should
join hands.in helping to put down
tho lawless men who have undertaken
to inaugurate reign of terror in our
midst. The officers of the law should
be encouraged to do their whole duty
faithfully, without fear or favor. En-
couraged. if need be by muscular aid
whenever there is crime committed
and arrests are to be made. The dis
graceful scenes which have lately
been enacted in this and Storey coun-
ty, must be met promptly and the
perpetrators arrested and made to
realize that they cannot run this part
Of Nevada with their six-shooters and
knives. To deal with these roughs,
as Kelley was dealt with in Virginia
il shame and disgrace to the Courts
of that county, and it is wonder
that when Justice Cox fines a would
be murderer the paltry sum of $40
and sets him again afoat on the com
munity to kill whoever crosses his
drunken path, that the avenging angel
OF insuled Justicet does not reach
down from Heaven and snatch the
imbccile magistrate bald-headed for
the offence. When prisoner de-
Iaands a jury trial, and the Prosecu-
ting Attorney and Court do the best
they can to present the law and testi-
nony, if they secure a conviction the
people have right to expect that the
sentence Of the Court will be COM
mensuratc punishment for the heini-
GUS crime committed; and not that
justice and law shall be burlesqued
by the Court. The loss of a trivial
sum to the prisoner does not put him
in awe Of the law, but is rather an
encouragement to further crimes. We
should much deplore the necessity
for o vigilance committee in this or
storey County, but if the officers Of
the law do not do their duty, the citi-
zens will at last feel compelled to or
ganize for protection against murder
and theft. A mistake is frequently
made in making the complaint "dis-
turbing the peace" or assault and
battery" when it should read ''draw-
ing deadly weapon" Whenever a
man pulls out his pistol or knife, save
in self defense, he should be arrested
on the charge of ''drawing deadly
weapons" and if found guilty should
b sentenced to the extreme penalty
Of the law. This is the only way to
check the lawlcssness which is now
Icing carried on here and in Storey
county Robberies are of almost
daily occurrence, scarcely q week
passes but that we hear Of some per-
son being shot and MANNED or killed.
The case Of Kelley and the deliberate
murder of corcorsn, in Virginia, and
the murderous throat-cutting which
occurred at the "Stone House" in
this city on Friday night, are crimes
that should receive the fullest inves-
tigation, and if quilts shown the Of
fsnders should be meeted out SEN
tsnce that they will not soon forget.
She reorganization Of the "601
would be deplorable in a community
like this. but if there il no other