Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-01
STILL EXCITED.

The city continues to be excited over
the CollinMcMurrin affair." Great indig-
nation is expressed against Marshal Ire
land because he did not surrender Collin
up when the warrant for his arrest was
served upon him. BY many it is held
that the Marshal was justified in holding
Collin because Collin was already in the
custody OF the law, he having surrendered
himself to the Marshal. This opinion is
entertained by many members of the bar,
and is probably correct. That Collin will
be produced at the time OF trial no one
doubts.
Consequent upon the excitement there
have been many rumors, and the rumors
have been more wild than the excite
ment 1t is possible there may have
been threats Of lynching Collins, but we
do not believe the threats were very cx-
tensive. Another rumor that became
current yesterday, and which received
some credence, was that the city author
tiles had determined to take Collin from
the Marshal, on the warrant which Mar
shal Ireland refused to obey, cost what it
might. This same rumor said that for
the purpose OF accomplishing the arrest
OF Collin large posses OF men were
sworn in, and that bodies Of armed men
were coming in from the country to assist
the officers. And rumor assigned this
as the cause for the removal OF Collin to
Fort Douglas. So far as we were able to
learn, these rumors are without founda-
ton. Very likely the city authorities feel
that Marshal Ireland was wrong and that
he had no authority for his proceeding,
but they would scarcely be so foolish and
utterly devoid of common sense rs to un-
dertake II forcible rescue OF Collin from
the United States Marshal. If they in.
tended to take Collin, in all probability
they would have gone before the District
Court and tested the validity OF the war
rant OF arrest and the right OF the Mar
shal to hold Collin in defiance OF the war
rant. We do not believe there was the
least necessity in the world for taking
Collin to Fort Douglas, although it
is plainly the duty OF the Marshal to
protect his prisoner. The taking of Col
lin to n military post for safe keeping
seems to us to border upon the sensa-
tional and alarmist. We trust there were
better grounds for taking him there than
any we have been able to discover
The manner in which some of the loca!
papers have spoken Of the affair merits
the severest condemnation, for their
language is calculated TO inhame mems
worst passions, and to make bad matters
worse. The News of last night, in its
editorial columns, speaks OF the affair in
most disgraceful and incendary manner,
and ends its articles with these words,
"And of course the assassin is to be
screened from arrest and lied out of
trouble. How much more will the peo-
pie here have TO bear with patience"
Such language is decidedly out of place
under the circumstances, and its only re-
suit can be evil.
This whole affair should be thoroughly
,sifted, and no guilty man be allowed to
escape, no matter who he is or
whence he came.
In conclusion, we would suggest that
United States Attorney Dickson and City
Attorney Richards visit the wounded
man with magistrate authorized to take
dispositions, and take another ante-mor-
tenn deposition, for now young McMurrin
is in better condition to make one. As
the affair has assumed almost political
importance, it might be we'll to have the
Governor and Mayor present on the oc-
casion OF again taking deposition.