The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-26
Further Pardons.


As in the HICKMAN case, so i'll this
case have the republican prints filled
their columns with coarse and unjust
abuse of Gov. CLICK.
AS we stated last week, GEO. W.
CLICK has made the best Governor
Kansas ever had, and his action Ill re-
gard to the Saline county pardons was
the result of careful investigation.
\ petition signed by 1900 representa-
tive voters of Saline county asked for
the pardon of the six men. These pc
titioners stated that the trial was con-
Quoted unfairly and partially end that
justice was wilfully perverted by the
Judge. GEORGE I. SUPPLE, register
of deeds of the county, stated explicit
ly that the Judge acted the part OF pros
ecuting attorney and prostituted his Iu-
dicial powers to obtain heavy convlc-
ton in each case. G. y. DAVIS, county
superintendent, a republican and
christian and scholarly gentleman, wrote
to the Governor that where the prose-
cutting attorney failed to bring out the
desired information he (PreScott) would
question the witness. Motions and OBJ
iections made by the defense were III
variably overrrlled by the court. These
men have been shamefully dealt. with,
and if ever men were worthy of pardon
these are
OLoF FORssE, sheriff of Saline coun-
ty. testifies to Judge PREsCoTT's arbl-
trary bias and fanaticism, and second
petition, signed by fifty-two citizens OF
Salina. testified that "the conduct OF
said Judge and the attorneys for the
prosecution was such as to cause almost
universal comment and remark, that
said Judge was partial and prejudiced,
and ruled i'll such way and manner as
to practically aid the prosecution in
packing a jury for the trial of said cause
and to assist them in obtaining convic-
ton. 1t was generally felt and eX-
pressed that the said defendants had no
fair showing before said court and jury
on account of the courts and jury S
prejudice"
Here was indisputable evidence from
the best authority in the county that
Judge PRESCOTT had prejudiced the
cases before him and had denied the
defendants the right of fair trial.
! Nineteen hundred citizens of the cOm-
ty, a majority of the voters, support
the testimony. What was Gov. CLICK
to do? Manifestly, it was his right and
duty to exercise his pardoning power
and relieve citizens of his state from
convictions unjustly and unworthily III
flicted upon them.
Those prohibition papers that are sup
porting JOHN \. MARTIN for Governor
and declaring that they do not want
prohibition put into the state platform
should be little cautious in denOunc
ing and abusing Gov. CLICK for fear
lessly doing what he BELIEVES to beright
He has a principle and lives up to it
Can the same be said of his traducerS
1t is well known fact to impartia
observers that the Judiciary in man,
parts of the state perform judicial du
, ties in line with politics and not in
: line with justice. This is PARTICULAR
so as regards the prohibition question
, Trials are conducted by many judge
= with political aim or ambition i'll view
and Justice and law are overlooked an,
ignored. 1t is humiliating, but
f is true that the Kansas Judiciary con
tains many judges who prostitute fail
g ness and judicial honor to party beheSts
= fanatical sentiment and the ignoble
S base and venal pursuit of political pre-
D fermentS and emoluments. 1t is flu
time that GOV. CLICK exposed thes
0 shams, these hypocritical pretenses t
n virtue, this trampling of law and ind
}, vidual rights under the fanatical het
: of political eXpediency.
Who is the greater criminal agains
the constitution of the state, Judg
PRESCOTT, who violated his oath G
office in interfering with the rights G
e the defendants before him and prejuds
: ing their cases, or Gov. CLICK, VIII
T steps forward and says to the Judge
g You shall not take from these me
X the rights which the constitution an
T laws of the state guarantee to them?
T What will you answer?
: Gov. CLICK will not be frightened b
It the hue and cry which is raised agains
k him by irresponsible papers which occl
# DIV no dignifed nor consistent positio
on this question. He will keep on d.
ing his duty, and if it becomes nece
g sary to grant further pardons he wi
l. grant them. IN the first place, the pr
It hibitory amendment and law are FRAUD
6 and denominations, hateful to a larg
e majority of the people of the state.
: is bad enough that Kansas should |
" so disgraced in her constitution an
e statute book, but it is intolerable
is have an obnoxious law arbitrarily pushe
1t down the throat of the people by hyp'
a critical and venal Judges.
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