Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-11-30
PUBLIC FEELING.

The shooting of Joseph McMurrIn by
Deputy Marshal Collin on Saturday
night is an affair to be regretted, whatever
may be the truth of the matter OF
whether the account of the one or the
other is true. That occurrence, with
which the public is familiar, indicates
better and more sadly than anything else
the state of public feeling. 1t shows
that the feeling between Mormons and
non-Mormons in this city is intense, and
that things are on. that strain that it will
take but little TO lead to riot, and perhaps
to worse things, and eventually lead us
into civil war The shooting on Satur-
day night was the outcome of this feel
ing Taking the account of this affair as
given by young McMurrin as true, it
clearly shows that he was the aggressor,
and an aggressor without provocation or
jua fcation. That he disliked Collin and
h.. grudge against him was no excuse
fo 'saulting him. If, on the other hand,
v Collin says is true, that there were
or four in the lane, and
pounced upon him, he
certainly did what ninety-nine men
out of hundred would have done. Ii
the account, of young McMurrin is true.
Collin did what ninety-nine men out of
hundred would do. Collin was on his
way home, he living in the lane, which
is dark and narrow, when he was set
upon by man very much his superior
in size and strength, and he defended
himself as best he could. Another
thing must be looked at in
connection with the Collin case. 1t is
but week or two since he was set upon
by another man, a man very much larger
and stronger than himself, and was
knocked down. Collin then made no
attempt to shoot, but very properly
left the law to deal with his assailant.
But that occurrence was in broad
daylight and on public street. Yet
how different were the circum-
stances when he was attacked Satur-
day night. He was proceeding home
and was just entering the lane in which
he lives, when he was attacked without |
provocation of any kind Ii there were
but the two men in the lane, Collin was |
the man who was assaulted, and consid- |
ering the time and the place he was fully
justified in resorting to the use of firearms
to protect himself. If there were others
with young McMurrin and they attacked
Collin, there can be no doubt but that
they intended to heap some indignity
upon him, to mal-treat him, or to
murder him. Ii such were the case, then
Collin behaved in brave and almost
heroic manner, and his assailants but cot
their deserts.
At present it is impossible to know the
actual facts in the case, and the state of
excitement in which the public mind is
at present makes it impossible to learn
the truth, Or, if learned, TO pay it just
regard. Thus far opinions formed as to
the cause of the quarrel; whether the
two men met by mere accident; whether ;
the assailing party was there by :
intention whether alone or in !
company, have been based almost solely :.
upon sympathy for one or the other party, !;
and the political affiliations of the persons
forming such opinions.
This affair, rs we have said, shows the t
public feeling here more clearly than !;
anything which has yet occurred. 1t t
shows in what fever of excitement the t
public mind is over the enforcement D
'f the Edmunds law, and that. it #
would take little to bring about
It = Of affairs little less than anarchy.
lch times it behooves all to discour- o.
'nything tending to make the excite "
It more intense, the feeling more bit u
Few can desire bloodshed, yet the o
Sise action of a few might lead to an al
rned conflict that would necessarily re- ca
ult in very great bloodshed The state ca
feeling is such that if two persons of az az
ifferent sympathies should happen to !.
leet and have an alteration, or in o.
ne excitement of the moment use o,
OF words, such persons are very apt to ec
esor to the use of deadly weapons. Ia
urely, then, moderation and cool COM III
ION sense will best become all under the or
rcumstances, and will in all probability lll
the means of avoiding many sanguin- M
y encounters. We trust that modera- az
on and cool common sense will have
way, and it is to the interest of ali per- ar, an
ms and the general welfare that they me
lould. on on
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