Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-10-17

The Ind1esnene Of Commlssfoner
William Arlington.

The Ind1eemens Of Commlssfoner
Wanianm Arlington.
We use the word indictment because 1t
brings out the idea more fully, and
because in this instance. it is Synonymous
with presentment, except as TO the penalty
involved. The moral effect Of the two
actions on the community is the same
They are both loathsome. They both set
the brand Of dishonor upon . man among
his neighbors. The question 30 far is moi
Is to the guilt or innocence Of the accused.
It does not matter particularly whether
the accused is found guilty or not. The
recognized rule is that the guilty escape.
An acquittAl in the Courthouse exempts
the accused from the penalty Of the law.
The people have no confidence in the ad-
ministrstion Of justice. An acquittal
after trial by jury is about Is valuable Q
certificate of character as restoration to
citizenship after q term served in the
State Prison. The innocent and the
guilty are undistinguishable, for the rule
is that they all escape punishment. The
innocent are almost as likely to be con-
VlCt0Q ~ CLlul0 tuulO86 tuoy MO AACh ~
powerfully as the guilty are. Accused
branded alike, whether guilty or innocent.
The best Judgment is to be had outside
OF law and the Courthouse. The people
sit in judgment. They know the scoun-
drels, however cunning they may think
they are in running to cover. Like the
ostrich, such rogues are able TO hide only
their heads. while their hinder parts are
exposed 10 the popular gaze.
A Grand Jury (petty il Q better name
for both sorts) may besmirch n man or
two while it lets villains slip through its
fingers. OF course, what is laid to . mans
charge by this relic Of barbarism hurts.
So does miserable gossip.
A mans reputation, however, may be
i~mpregnable. He may have lived long
enough in . community to tower so high
in honor over the heads Of some members
Of . Grand Jury that their alleged opinion
OF him formally presented to Q District
Court makes them odious rather than him.
The people OF Eureka County believe
VIM. Arlington to be an honest man, and
40 presentment OF . Grand Jury will infu-
ence them in any great measure to the
contrary.
They may believe he has done wrong.
We believe be has. The Grand Jury is
doubtless in possession Of facts to show
that he has done wrong, to show that GER
tain Of his official acts have been contrary
to the statutes and contrary to the princi-
Piles Of business judgment.
But that he has done wrong s'wilfully
and corruptly" the people who know him
will not believe. They may acknowledge,
perhaps, that William Arlington, on &C.
count OF age and the infirmities incident
thereto, is not the shrewd, competent OFF,
Ger that he should be, but this will be the
limit to the severity Of their criticism upon
his action a. a public servant.
Possibly men, good enough generally, 80
far forgot their obligations to their fellow
men and to William Arlington in personal
spite or prejudice (he has bitter enemies
on the Grand jury as to do him q hurt in
dishonoring themselves.
Whoever they are they have done him q
terrible injury. He is conscious Of inno-
cence and courts the fullest investigation
OF his acts. But for q man Of his mold
and breeding to be charged with corrup-
ton now for the first time in his life, after
his hair is whitened with age, and when
the greatest satisfaction possible for him
during the remainder OF his life is the re-
spect Of his neighbours and an unsullied
reputation, is q blow cruel and foul in
deed. There are those upon whom such q
charge OF infamy might fall as water upon
q ducks back, but they and he are men Of
different ilk.
The Grand Jury have struck him where
he is defenceless, and the effects OF their
blow can never be recalled.