The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-19
SALINE COUNTY WHISKY MEN WANT
GOV. CLICKS PARDON.

Topeka Daily Capital.
There have been many wonderful
trials recorded in Kansas, but that Of
Judge Prescott VS.. Governor Click
yesterday was certainly the most re-
markable. Under the guise of inves-
tigating the applications Of six law
breakers in Salina for free and full
pardon from the penalties fixed by
law, Judge Prescott, Of the Fourteenth
Judicial district. was subjected to
trial and found guilty of grave misde-
meanOrs in Office, even though he was
absent.
William Huebner. Jacob Mugler,
Gustav Behr, William Sweeney,
Louis Tressin and Peter Mugler, who
had been convicted Of selling liquor
in Salina, made applications for par
don, claiming that through q corrupt
court and jury they had been unjustly
found guilty; that they had been de-
prived unlaWfully Of their liberties;
that there had been a conspiracy en-
tered into between the court, county
attorney and Others for political pur-
poses, to advance which this six must
theoretically languish in the bastile Of
Saline county; that the jurymen had
been unlawfully selected from men
whose sole object was TO convict men
who had done nothing unlawfuily,
but who had only sold few glasses
of those moral advancing beverages
known as beer and whisky that they
have been deprived Of sundry and di-
yers other rights and liberties such as
every free born or naturalized Amer
lean citizen is entitled to under our
laws. To all Of this the six sWOre
under seal Of notary, but added the
saving clause which, by decision OF
the Supreme court, makes the whole
instrument Worthless-"T the best
OF my knowledge"
Mr.. MOhler presented this dOcu-
ment and a petition signed by almost
e thousand voters, with three or four
townships not represented, but which
also had petitions, praying for the
pardon Of these men, which reads as
follows:
To his Ereeliency Cor. Giiek, Governor
OfKdnsas, Topeka, Kan.
The undersigned citizens, electors
and taxpayers of Saline county,
Kansas, respectfully yet earnestly re-
quest and urge your Excellency 10
grant unto VIM. H. Sweeney, Gustav
Behr, Jacob Mugler, William Hueb-
ner, NJ. ]. Ludes and Peter Mugler
lately convicted in the District Court
Of Saline county, Kansas, Of viola
tions Of the so-called prohibitOry law
q full pardon for said alleged Ofi'enses,
for the reasons and upon the grounds
stated in the memorials Of the said
granting we will as in
duty bound ever pray, etc.
Court opened in due form, with
Judge Foster, erstwhile county at
tOrney, sitting near the Governor,
who was evidently prepared TO give a
fair hearing. Mr.. MOhler, on behalf
Of the prisoners, entered fully into
the grievances Of these men under the
alleged prohibition law, denOuncing
The partiality and prejudices Of the
Judge on the bench (PreseOtt), the
unfair manner OF selecting the Jury,
giving in full the examination Of w.
A. Addison, who was retained, and |
he dismissal Of one Thompson after
he first trial because he would not !
,Onvict Of the full number OF counts. |
The paper read by Mr.. MOhler fully |
Mr.. Mohler's weli-earned |
reputation for entangling a witness or |
uror, but In this case Mr.. Addison |
vas not crossed, and the Judge passed |
lim. Mr.. MOhler also charged that /
Judge Prescott and County Attorney |
Moore consulted with each other as 70 /
he fines that should be Imposed, al /
hOugh this was disproved in the
Dom. In no case did be claim that /
lis clients were innocent, nor that i
hey had even attempted to prove
heir innocence, but urged that the
entenee was damnable, imposed by q
,rejudiced and warped Judge, and /
hat they were suffering only for vio-
alton Of an alleged law. While not
lirectly making any charge against
he Supreme Court, he said "Only
hat the Supreme Court is q cO-Ordi-
late branch Of the Government with
our Exeellency, and do not desire
o create any feeling in your mind I
would express the contempt I feel"
With this strong language the gentle
nen rested.
Hon. Joe Waters, Of this city. fol-
owed In q speech directed wholly
gainst Judge Prescott and County
Attorney Moore, and defending John
foster IN the course he had pursued.
starting back twelve years ego, he
ollOWed the quarrel between these
WO gentlemen up 10 the last legisla-
nre, into the Supreme Court, aud
ven insisted on taking Il into the
'upreme Court Of the United States.
Ie dwelt on that dark, midnight
eed when Prescott made Moore
Ounty attorney In order 70 head or
be charitable and well-dispOsed Fos-
er, who had twice endeavOred to slip
is cases into the Supreme Court
Tithout the knowledge Of Moore or
Is attorneys. He passed the present
nd carried the case on into the fu-
lre when we would all be saints, and
ave a glowing picture Of how this
eed would look 10 those who would
ave no knowledge OF the political pr
esonal passions Of the present. He
losed without having said q word
bout the six men who nov languish,
herDretieally, ip jail, awaiting exec
ffwa olornoTlnV.