Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-11-21
eureka Dailp Gentt,lel.
THE EFFECT.


On the ground that the Eureka papers
were '~.curiously reticent' in regard to
the Reek- Anderson shooting affair, the
Virginia Enterprise took upon itself the
duty Of enlightening the world upon the
merits Of the case. One OF the imme-
date -que of its constituencies
attacks upon the SENTINEL, the officers
of the law. and the community Of Eu-
reka by indirection. will be seen in the
following article from the Bodie Free
Press. ordinarily a fair-minded and con-
sentative Journal, which, in this instance,
however. with extraordinary lack OF
discretion, follows in the wake Of the
Enterprise:
The Virginia Enterprise denounces
the killing OF James L. Anderson, editor
OF the Leader, at EuTeka, as "a political
murder. and charges the SENTINEL and
Justice of the Peace Harmon, who dis
CHARGED Reek, with shielding the muir
dareT. 1t sits down the evidence, and
shows tolerably clearly that it was Reek,
aud not Anderson. that fred the first
shot 1t also calls attention TO the fact
that certain important wltnesses-Mr'
ToDgahaagh. Mrs. Senator Baker, Thomas
Robinson and N. D. Foley, the last OF
whom had a conversation with Anderson
Immediately before the s~hooting-were
not called to testify at all. Neither was
any ante norton statement obtained
from Anderson, as i, usual IN such cases,
though some ghouls endeavored to pluck
ont his political secrets while he was on
his deathbed.
The charge that the SENTINEL shielded
Reek is utterly false. The SENTINEL did
not utter a word OF comment on the
case until the defendant had been dis
charged by the Court. 1t then stated
that Reek was vindicated-which was
but the publication OF a naked fact. As
to the Justice OF the Peace, Harmon, 1t
was his province to inquire if an otense
had been committed by the defendant,
and to order his release if he found to
the contrary. The statutes define his
duty plainly. On the fair presumption
that he had acted intelligently and
honestly. the SENTINEL predicated Its
statement OF Reek's vindication. Should
Justice Harmon's decision be proved in
correct in some future course OF law
(which is not within the range of prob
ability the SENTINEL Will still have
the right Of it, nevertheless, as there
is no better criterion Of a mans vim
d~ication known than his release from
custody after a judicial investigation, th'
regular legal jurisdiction OF which is t
determine his guilt or innocence.
The Free Press should take anothe
look at the evidence given in the pre-
limiuary examination before it stays by
its assertion that "the Enterprise proves
tolerably clearly that Beek, and moi
Anderson, fired the first shot" The
evidence of W witnesses is point
blank that Anderson tired the first shot
while there is no witness for the pros
ecution that saw the first shot fired
This is the long and short OF it.
As the SENTINEL has shown before
the testimony of Mrs. Geo. W. Baker
Mr.. Longabaugh, Mr.. Foley and Mr..
Robinson is immaterial and valueless, al
the three last named saw only the out
come of the fray, and as Mrs. Baker sa"
nothing Of the shooting at all.
As to the ant ,mortem statement
every effort was made on the part OF dis
interested friends OF the deceased, a
well as by the District Attorney anC
his deputy, but without avail, the dying
mar refusing to make the statement.
The "ghoul" story is another fabrioa
ton Of the sensational Enterprise man
We have it. as heretofore stated, uPor
the word of a lady who watched witt
him continuously until he lost con
seriousness, that no inquiry was made Of
him with regard to his politics; no efforts
made 'to pluck out Of him his poLtica
Secrets"
It would be better and fairer for our
contemporary, the Free Press, to analyze
the testimony adduced in the prelim'
mary examination for itself, and not
follow blindly in the wake of the Terri
torial Enterprise.