Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-25

Attempts to prove that Sprague did not
murder More by elaborate disquisitions upon
the motives which led people to sign petit
tions for the Communication of the prisoners
death-sentence, and reckless assaults upon
the characters of all who have had any
thing to do with the prosecution, may APP
pear to peculiarly constituted minds in
the light of fresh proofs of the innocence of
the defendant. To us, however, such pro-
ceedings seem irrelevant and unconvinc-
ing The noise may deafen but it does
not persuade u.s. The original show
ings in the case, which appear to
connect Sprague with the murder in the
clearest and closest way, have not been dis
proved. Perhaps Mr.. Raymond may
really think that they have, but to those
whose only interest in the case is that of
lovers of Justice and friends of law and
order the contrary must still appear to
be the controlling view. We did not an
ticipate from this hearing of the case any
new developments, and principally for the
reason that if there had been any they
would naturally have been made before
now. This case has been three
years in incubation, and during
that time the most persistent and
strenuous efforts have been made to
procure the acquittal of the chief defend
ant. Unfortunately much bad blood has
been caused by the crime, and one result
of this has been seen in the personal char
acter of many of the disputes between
counsel since the present hearing began.
With these animosities the RECORD UNION
has nothing to do, however. Its sole de-
sire is to aid justice, and wherever possible
to prevent its defeat, no matter by whom,
or in whose interest. The More murder
was a peculiarly Infamous and cowardly
crime, and it is necessary for the preserva-
ton of order in society and for the protec-
ton of human life and property, that such
crimes should be punished. A chain
of evidence, circumstantial and positive,
has been discovered connecting Sprague
with this murder. Ii that chain
can be broken if its component
parts can be shown to be untrust-
worthy then, and then alone, will he
be a fit subject for executive clemency
If there is nothing more in the
hands of the defense than has been
brought forward thus far, we cannot see
how any doubt can exist as to the justice
of the verdict by which Sprague was found
guilty. We do not thirst for blood We
are not, like our contemporary, advocates
of assassination. But we stand for JUS
tice, as well for the victim as for the muir
ests of society can be advanced by allowing
mere sentiment, or rhetorical Furnishings,
to obscure the significance of positive evil
dence- 1t further appears to have escaped
the memory of our contemporary that it has
for months past persistently asserted the
innocence OF Sprague and assiduously
quoted from It's cotemporaries every ex-
preston favoring its own conclusions, and
all this long before any opportunity had
offered for the formation OF verdict based
on evidence. Its present accusation
amounts to denial of the right of any
one to form or express an opinion for the
people. If the exhaustive and impartial
inquiry prosecuted by the RECORD UNION
had resulted in producing a conviction fav-
orable to the absurd theory of Sprague's
innocence, we might have INDUCED in the
most dogmatic assertions of that conclu.
sion without mourning the liability of be-
ing charged with special blood thirstiness
or desire to forestall the Independent
judgment of the Executive.