Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-07-05
WEEKLY CITIZEN.
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1884

THERE has just been issued and scat tered broadcast a printed circular en- titled: "To the Tax Payers Of Pima County-An Appeal in the Interest ot good Government" It is well written for the purpose designed. Many excel lent and commendable things are ln- cidentally thrown in to catch the unwary, but the real kernel in the nut is an apol- ogy for the grand jury and an elec- tioneering document. The writer, who is one of the late special grand jurors, denies before he Is accused, that 1t Is an apology for the action ot the special grand jury. It defends the grand jury system with slight notifications. It goes over the different indictments of the several county officials, trivial Ill ex- tent as they are, the most IS made ont of then. Men in office fail to do what IS right. no matter how trivial, there can be no excuse; they must stand the con- sequeuces; but for grand juror to lndict and then in lawyer-like way argue the case before the public in hopes of catch ing the judges eye, IS to say the least, very bad taste and unfairly done. Though these men were charged of ten times the crime they are, we should de- nounce in unmeasured terms such acton as the writer's. Had he written an art lcle embodying such matters of good that should be inaugurated and carried out in our county offices We would have been glad to join him in the good work, but to seek to prejudice a court and a community before the par ties have had a chance to defend them selves is an unheRrd of proceeding. With such a document as thls sent broadcast over the county, what dliii- emit matter it will be to tud "compe- tent" jurors when the time comes to select them. The two grand Iurles cost the county between S3,00O and S4OOO. The trial and all its atten iant expenses will exceed that sum. All this expense to the county to catch what the special grand juror calls men guilty of maliea- sance and criminal negligence or lgno- rance. The sum involved or stolen, as claimed according to the statement of the grand juror, is S275. Upon princl- ple. If that amount has been stolen or wronpfully taken, is as criminal as II It were ten times the amount, but these men have not been proven guilty or the charge. Because the grand juror says so. and because he issues an edlct to that effect does not make 1t true. We agree with him that county affairs have not been conducted upon the same strict order as in old England, or m New England States, and We doubt II any Western town or county, investigated as this city and county have been, would come out even with as clean hands. We doubt If the private business ot the grand juror would bear daylight lnspec- tion under the microscope O. preJudleed eyes. If there is wrong hy all means wipe it out, but the mode the grand Ju- TOT has adopted Is the worst possible way to effect good. Public clamor and prejudice may be excIted for a moment, and scheming politicians may think they will profit by the tale told by the grand juror. xr- g1,ara 5- a papar leinu circulated in the county tn form |" now party. There is to certainty close connection between the paper and the circular. If such a paper exists. The officers smirchsd are mostly Repuol- cans and thIs circular by the grand iuror is a campaign document UT course Democrats are indicted also, or at least enough to make it appear that It Is not political move. But the fact that it is personal vindictiveness and political scheming to injure the Repuo- hcan party is now apparent to the most causual observer. If these men are guilty as charged the penalty of the law should be visited with its full force and power. They should be made to suffer- but 8 grand juror has no right to ndlc; and then argue his own case before the public to prejudice the minds O. the people. If his ca1se has strength m It, and he is right, he can afford to abide his time. The fact that he has made demagogicsl appeal to the people IS fact that his case is weak one. We are defending no one. We are only ask ing justice to all.