New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-30
A Iuaae b the Beaaer..

1
| Mr.. Beers is fhe detective who dis
tinguished himself some time ago By kid
mapping the Keifer family in Arkansas on
suspicion, charging that they were the
Benders who had been lynched mart
months before. Mr.. Beers received 4
great deal Of abuse for his exploit instead
of the praise and reward he was working
for BE was charged with blackmailing,
an intention to incite mob violence, to
again murder the Benders Ii. e. Keifers),
apd only escaped arrest by crossing the
Arkansas into the Indian Territory.
Judge L G. Parkeris is the judge of the
United States District Court for the west
ern district of Arkansas. He is the Judge
who rescued the Refers from the fate of
the Benders that Beers intended for. them
by maintaining the writ Of habeas corpus.
His judgment in this has heen applauded
by everybody except Beers. That doubly
misguided man rushed into print in the
Kansas City Times, and still claims the
keifers are Benders, and that he vas pre-
vented from bringing them to Justice by
violence.
Judge Parker then seizes his pen and
| writes to the editor of the Fort Smith
Ne,o Era. he settles Mr.. Beers' csse
easily by quoting his return on the writ
'fhat he had arrested them (the Keifers)
under the belief that they were the BEN
ders, but that he is now satisfied they
are not the Blenders, and he does not ask
that they shal be further held in Gus
| tody''
This should have satisfied Judge Par
ker, but he seems to regard himself as the
personal champion of Fort Smith, espe-
cially when the gage is thrown down by
Beers. The judges knowledge of law is
no doubt sufficient for that locality, and
his intimate acquaintance with the inhab-
itants recommendation in these days of
assaults on carpet-baggers. But he is
not brilliant letter writer. Except in
legal documents it is not good usage to
call an individual ''the party" though
this may be forgiven, as he refers to the
unfortunate Beers, He considers Beers q
credible witness, too, for he discharged
the Keifers on his return without further
testimony. Expressions such as ''story
made of whole cloth" and ''let Mr.. Beers
softly down" or ''base fabrication" and
ISLANDER" are usually to be found in the
writings of ordinary persons. From a
judge something better is expected. The
judges expressions may perhaps result
from the pressure of his legal labors and
want of time to devote to style. Even the
trainers of tho constitution suffered from
this, and it is to be forgiven. Our fore
fathers, however, were conscious of their
, defects and appointed q committee on
style, and the result of their labors hNs
been commended ever ainaa
E Judge Parker, ''conatrained to write, -
as he says he is, is conscious Of no De-
: fects, and writes his own letters in his
= own style. There can be no doubt of his
4 nativity after reading one sentence; ''Noa
this does not look much like Beers be-
r lieves they were the Benders." One other
n thing may be noted-it is not usual to
It call sherif's return to a writ of habeNs
j. corpus testimony, any more than it would
1 be to call defendants plea of not guilty
/. evidence. But the practice may be dii-
,s ferent at Fort Smith. Taken altogether,
N the judges reply to Beers is unworthy Of
n him. The object was beneath his notice
.e as a judge, and privately he was un-
l. affected by his article. It shows a per-
ts sonaI feeling which should be lacking,
and an unfamiliarity with the English
rs language which it would be prudent tc
rs conceal. 1t would have been better &c
,s have employed some one to write it fol
D him, and, as an amendment, put tie pro.
.s duetion in his waste basket.