The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-03-17
The Mesquite Indignation Meeting
OIL Poured on the Tronbicd waters.

A little after dark yesterday about
two hundred people assembled ~ tn,
church house at Mesquite. Colone
w. l.. KNOX was elected chairman, ant
j. &. Rigbe chosen secretary. The
chairman having explained the obJec
OF the meeting, Judge West was IN
vlted TO address the audience in refers
ence TO the Duok-CreeksCollins" af-
fair.
Judge West, in clear, calm manner
proceeded to explain the supposed mys'
terry which had attached to the Collins
affair, and entered fully into the facts
of the disposition Of the Collins cases
In bis court. The judge alluded to his
judicial career, and not only invited
but challenged the most rigid criticism
OF his course and conduct since he has
been upon the bench.
Mr.. =. ii. Form, one OF the defend.
ants in the libel suit, replied to Judge
West, claiming that the judge had full
power over the case, jury, witnesses
aud attorneys, and should not con.
fine his actions to his judicial powers
General Rains, of Kaufman county,
then appeared, and said that the law
OF 1870 required justices of the peace
to open their courts at 10 O'clock q m,
and that his honor, Judge West,
should have done the same thing In
the county court, and thought Judge
West did wrong In not being guided or
controlled by the justice Of the peace
law. He said he was citizen OF
Kaufman county, the Duck Creek
citizens knew his friends, and knew
Judge West only from reputation.
Mr.. Brooks, from Dallas, addressed
the assemblage with prudent and
wholesome advice, suggesting the i'm.
propriety and danger of rash and
| i'll advised action upon the part Of the
meeting, and vino eating the general
and uniform bearing of Judge West,
both as a citizen AID as a judge, and
also the personal and official conduct
OF Captain Cowart.
Major Kearby being called upon, an.
neunced that while he took no part In
the matter under their consideration,
| he would in response to the call, de
clare to them his candidacy for county
attorney, and his willingness to accep'
their support in the November cleo.
ton; that he had expected to meet
some Of his opponents, but was happily
disappointed.
Al the close OF Major Kearby's re-
marks, the committee on resolutions
announced their readiness to report,
when resolutions endorsing the action
of the Duck creek meeting were read.
The chairman then asked what dis
pOsiticn should be made of the resOlu
ton, and after u long silence he asked,
would any one move the adoption oil
the resolutions.
Immediately thereupon about two
thirds of the audience went out of the
house.
Mr. Smith, having moved the ad0p
lions of the resolutions, announced tine
startling fact that he had lived In Dial
las county twenty-five years, and that
at least one murder year had beer
com United In the county during thai
period, and only one man had beer
hung for the crime, and he was ne
gro. He called upon the people to de
mand more rigid enforcement Of thu
laws.
A vote was then taken on the adop
ton OF the resolutions, when abou
twenty voted yea out OF about sixty II
the house, the balance remaining
silent.
The meeting then adjourned sin
die.