Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-23
sn Unfair Criticism.

We regret to notice in ibis weeks issue
of the Yaukton Herald, an article reflect.
ing severely upon the police force Of our
city, and more particularly upon Sheriff
Baker in his official capacity. The criti-
cisms INDUCED in by the Herald are given
IN connection with an account Of the per.
foHnaGces OF the Innate Clark, at the Mer.
CHI MIS- hotel, on Thursday morning, and
The direct charge of cowardlce is made
against Sheriff Baker and lis assistants be-
cause they did not enter room number
nineteen and arrest or slay the mailman in
the face of his own fire from a well chosen
and well protected position. AS we re.
marked a day or two ago, there are always
plenty OF men ready to make suggestions
III cases like this, and generally their adj.
vice Is Of a most sanguinary nature. They
want to see carnage progressing, but it
most always happens that they are particu-
larly DESTROYS that some one else than
themselves should furnish the material for
the various piles Of mangled human re-
mains and the flood Of blood and the gobs
OF gore which their fancy fixes up as fitting
accessories to the occasion. This is one Of
the Weaknesses of human nature, and orr
contemporary has got hold of some of it.
1t is a vain effort fer the Herald to decry
Sheriff Baker. He is known as a man
wholly fearless in the discharge of his duty.
and The people of Yankton county, demo-.
Gratis and republicans, would vote for him
every month in the year if their suiirages
were necessary to keep him in office. They
want him, and they are going to have him,
and petty partizan attacks like this only
serve to strengthen him in the estimation
OF those whose interests he guards so well
Those of our Citizens who watched the
progress Of affairs at the Merchants hotel
last Thursday morning, are well satisfied
With the work done by the official force.
and with the result of their efforts. Sher
i'll Bakers desire was to get possession OF
the crazy Clark without bloodshed. He
counsel with numerous citizens of
Iankton, and all agreed that his plan of
operations was a good one. 1t succeeded
too, and there is nothing more successful
success. Clark was closely guarded
In his room, and was prevented from ac
comprising harm until a lucid interval en-.
sued, and then he opened his door, walked
forth, delivered himself up, and told his
that he was subject to such spells
dis ammunition was not exhausted, as the
Herald says, but he had enough to last him
through a day of siege, Under the laws of
.he territory Sheriff Baker had no right to
arrest MI. Clark, and even now is holding
lim without authority. His business is to
secure criminals, or suspected criminals. {
Under the authority Of warrant. But in /
he capacity of a peace officer, for the sake
if protecting human life against the de :
%tructive work of a mailman, he confronted .
VT. Clark in his ROOM, in the darkness of
he night, and well nigh gave up his life by :
he act. Hoping TO intimidate the man and T.
nduce him to surrender, he fred his own J
against the brick wall OF M /,
'lark's room. II didnot succeed, and then
heriH Baker proceeded to accomplish bv Il
atient work, that which it would have "
cen foolhardy to further attempt by force. Ia
lie succeeded, and we cannot see where !,
lere is any opportunity for complaint, un. :,
the Herald wanted him killed and laid q
the sod, and feels bad because he al
asn't. But Yankton county cannot spare Ii.
m yet. His chief offense in the estima. i.
OF the Herald is that he is a republi.
n, out no n else has ever discovered h'
at his politics untitled him for his official in
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