New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-20
MARION COUYTY'S BEST CITIZENS"


The situation in Marion County, Texas,
which has lately been reported to the Depart
ment of Justice, and which both the Attorney
General and the public at large seem to be re-
garding with such composure, is quite as
serious as many that have excited the North In
former years The reports come from agents
of the Department and from private citizens,
and while they are not, OF course, conclusive
evidence-especi lily as the na hes Of writer's
are not made putlc for fear violence would be
done them by the best citizens" of Mario n
County-they make out a prma facie case.
The object of the best citizens" is to prove ut
trial of the Marion County election cases
next fall As vne means to this end, ex-Judge
Haughn, who was identified with the prosecu-
ton, was murdered at night on his way home.
Tue account that is now given OF the murder
the men forcing him to his knees, striking
matches to look at his face and see il they had
the right man, and then shooting hiai la cold
blood IN spite of his appeals to be spared for
the sake of his wife and child-is as dramatic
as anything in q The FOOLS Errand." The
attempt has been made to explain the murdcr
on the ground that it was an act of jealous To-
venge by negro, and the widow has made a
statement taking this view of the murder We
are inclined to think that this little circum-
stance gees further to prove that there Is a
reign Of terror 10 Marion County, AZ it is al
legged, than any other which has been brought
to view. If the charge against the murdered
u,an were true, it is almost incred de that his
wife, who had been living with him as wife,
should make it, If she was the first to blacken
the memory of her husband who had just been
brought to their home aud laid dead at her feet,
she is certainly an exception aInong women, 1t
seems far more probable, as the reports from
that region say, that the vile was threatened
and frightep ned into supporting the charge. and
the fact, If il is so, is picture in itself of the
state CT that community. After this it would
be easy to believe that the life of the United
States District Attorney for that district is not
safe except so long AZ he remains passive in the
election cases that "a citizens committee, with
which the law officers are in full sympathy,
carries on the rule of terror there ; and that
there are even extravagant threats that the
United States Court shall not be held. The
suggestion has been honestly made, by some
who doubted the truth of these stories, that it
seemed strange that the trouble should have
been taken TO commit murder when it was so
easy to accomplish the same end by fixing"
jury. Bnt it must be remem bered that mur-
der is surer, and furnishes mure amusement to
a certain ass of the boys"
1t is said that the Attorney General has re-
turned no answer to TIE appeals for instruc-
tons and aid that have been made to him, in
part by his own subordinates. There is not
much that he can DO at this time. Ii the State
Of Texas will not Dunish ex-Judoe Hauohu's
murderers, the United States Government can-
not compel it to do so. Bat the Govern voc mt
can make 1t clearly understood THAT il will pros
ecute offences against the Federal election
laws fearlessy and energetically. 1t cannot
shirk this duuy because rufians in Texas may
conspire to prevent conviction.