Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-17
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Editors Press DC DdkotaIan The arrest
of Frank Mcmahon, charged with the lar
ceny OF a horse belonging TO Judge Z. G..
| Shannon, committed in April last, has again
provoked a ripple of criticism in certain
| circles because of the expense necessarily
| incurred. Some time ago an article ap-
neared i'll your columns condemning the
mistaken policy or economy of neglecting
to enforce law against violators of penal
statutes, referring particularly to the action
of our county authorities in declining to
send for Hackenburg the would be murder
err, then detained at Springfield, Ohio. 10
that case there was some excuse for the
passive policy Of our county officials, no
Indictment having been found against the
offender within three years.
10 the case of Frank McMahon, the cir
cumstanccs arc altogether different. Sheriff
Baker last week received a telegram from
Council Bluffs, Iowa, apprizing him of the
fact that McMahon was in custody He
Immediately telegraphed back a request
that Mcmahon be detained until a requisi-
ton could be obtained. Sheriff Baker then
consulted with the district attorney, who
proceeded to make out the necessary papers
for a iyquisjtion, filing the complaint before
Justic f. T. White. Secretary Hand PROMPT
ly granted the necessary requisition upon
the governor of Iowa. and with this 6ocu-
mcnt, Sheriff Baker, in the faithful ard
1 energetic discharge of his duty, succeeded
{ in landing his prisoner in Yankton Jail on
! last Saturday evening. In this connection
$ it is true that Judge Shannon knew moth
{ ing whatever of the steps taken to arrest
Il Mcmahon untilhe arrived from Hutchinson
t county, where he had been holding court
e It was not done at his instance or roquest
y Now, i few idess, jqst here, may he
e apropoS. In the first place the citizens ol
this community in con mon with the ci,i-
Ie zens Of every law abiding community, nav
taxes. Wty 90 they pay taxes? The
answer is to insure the protection atforaec
by law TO person ard properly, withou
IN which worldly possessions become Simply
Id invitations to tbe hand of the thief and tn,
er blndgeon of the burglar. This is f|prtainl,
av one of the reasons why we paw taxes {,
st, Fred Schnauber, and we have a right Il
he expect in return that those charged wi
ass the duty of enforcing law will not prov
~recreant to their trusts and solemn respor
We sibilities. We do not put money into th
a county treasury te be boarded up like mi
ers' gold in iron boxes, hidden deep in dar
vaults, to grow mouldy with the rust
aecumulating ages.
That would indeed be a mistaken polio
lal of economy which would tend to open o,
~ " prison doors merely to save county exper
Of ses. In that event every man would
Job obliged TO secure bis personal goods
strong locks and iron bars. We as citize
wonld pay nothing TO the county. and t
county would pay nothing to us. We wou
of say mildly TO the criminal, "if you kill
man or steal a horse ia Dakota for Heave,
sake get over into Nebraska as soon as p,
sible, and then Wen not have the trout
:" and expense of trying you
{ In enforcing law sometimes considerat
!, expense is incurred. But in such cases t
money so expended is stributed to office
Jurors, witnesses, &c. 1t comes from {
Golfers of the county and is put into cir,
: lation, going again into the pockets of t
tax payers from whence it anne If c
and commissioners instruct our executive O
in GERS to perform no duty in suppressi
that crime. unless at trifling expense to
county, we may soon expect to see in {
midst, instead Of law and order, a parad
for thieves, outlaws and murderers. r.
u :" community is indeed, in a condition of r
. tilent chaos where law is disregarded, q
IRIS where every man, either with the daggt
Ono point or the deadly bullet, becomes the
,ess bitter of his own rights.
roof Instead of criticising our officials for
ozen resting thieves, and making an effort
lived discharge their duty faithfully, becal
g. forsooth it costs money, we should hold
their hands. If they do not do their du
q at then cease 10 elect county officers, ard
rect, stead set up q dozen manikins or GO,
crows" and label one of them sheriff
other county attorney" and another
0. justice of the peace" &c.
Let criminals be punished and law rig
ly enforced. This is true economy il
Is. civilized community. LIE,