Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-01-06
The MART|N-BR0k
-wHoLEsA1.E-
Dry Goods, Notions, Furnish
BOOTS, SHOES AM
Fort Worth. Texas

and apueal to the state for help ny inst
All kinds of local Disturbances which
might and should be met and con-
uuered by the communities where
they originate. the state mas no
,,oWer--as have often before had oc-
rasion To my--to interfere in the exc
cution of the law anywhere by the
aid of its military forces, and can only
aid the civil officers in legal way To
arrest criminals, aud any attempt on
my part officially, rs the representa-.
tive of his excelleucy, the governor,
in the military branch of the state
government. TO stretch or strain the
law Ia suit individual cases of even an
extraordinary character, would not
only fail, probably, to accomplish the
object hoped tor, but would lac danger
Gus in its immediate as we'll rs re-
mote consequences. Any number OF
statutory enactments against IA par
ticu ar crime or crimes viii tie of no
uctt al ar practical value unless strong
" aud warmly supported by public
sentiment, and made Effective 10y bold,
vigorous aud determined action on the
part of peace oflicer-, courts and citi-
Zens, and in the absence Of such public
sentiment and such Efforts on the part
of local officers and people, the hands
of the state are tied except in cases
where lawIessness assumes an open,
defiant phase, and stands out 80 that
lis supporters and perpetrators may bc
known and found.
In the par,i ul,r disturbance in your
own county and section, what efforts
have been made to arrest any of these
law less men? and why il il ii forty or
fifty men can be found TO openly and
boldly violate the law, That hundred
coed men cannot be found and sum
moned To arrest and bring 10 punish
ment these ffeuder>. II the criminals
are not known, or If known aud public
sentiment will not favor their arrest
ani punishment, what Is IL that you
hope tudo oy the presence ana Effort
of the state troops? The rangers cam
not arrest unknown parties, anr
if known can only assist the peace
officers of the county in arresting
them, and their punishment must
come from and through your own peD-
pie and courts. The rangers cannot
stand guard over all the pastures in
the state, nor lawfully over any of
them, and il this could be done II
would be of no real value, as II guard
of three or four, or even fifty men,
stationed in or auout IA pasture of 30 =
poD 10 $4,000 acres, would oe "a farce 50
far as Keeping he fence from being cut
at r. mote points, several mites away
1t cam u be supposed that rangers,
if detailed 10 guard pastures, would or
could be uu horned to shnpt any one
found cutting the fence, u this wou'd
b. murder and they could only arres,
4, al
applications sent here for help no one
has suggested III what way it is pro-
posed 10 conquer or quell |
these troubles 10y the presence
of 4 few rangers, am
left in doubt AS to what il wanted, tx
cept simply that the states supposed
10 do something in some unlocked !
for and m stcrious way To be able to |
accomplish what local oiiic ais and
community assume in advance 20 be
unable to do.
This Is "a l.msntabe stQte of affairs,
and the governor, as well As ms self,
fully recognizes II such, and will help
in every case where aid is ayailabie or
can be of any possible benefit, and
in the present Instance may
say that detachment of state troops
will be- sent ~ soon az practicable TO
scout Wilson county and to arrest any
one vinlating the law, if such can be
found, and tn report upon the 'situa-
ton and necessities ot that section.
Tue ranger force il small, and the
demand or their services il constant
and widely extended, aud it is impos-
stole for me to render aid 10 all
mt once, however willing
| may be and how
ever valuable that aid might turn ont
TO be; and ! therefore suggest and re-
! commend that your good cittz-ns
/ come together and determine to stand
I by each other and uphold the law. ana
go work tn get proof to arrest and puu-
! lSh all violators, and when this l. done
! II combinations of law breakers openly
| defy the authorities and ale too strong
for ordinary method, then the rau-
/ gers can do you good service AMI will
be sent il IL cessar> in force sufficient
( to overcome the opposition.
Very Respectfully,
( w. II. KING,
Acknowledgement.