The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-11-05
Is 1T TRUEe


It is said that in the First District
Court, Justice Powers refused to per-
NIT the Stock Associations lawyer to
assist the District Attorney in the pro-
secution of an alleged cattle thief. This
refusal was based upon the fact that
the government having employed an
officer TO prosecute such cases, private
parties were barred in the matter. The
story has not been verified, and We hope
it is not true, for if it were correct it
would be a departure from the practice
in Utah Courts that would bode no
good to law and order, but be hailed
with delight and encouragement by the
lawiess and criminal classes. From
time immemorial. the prosecution has
been assisted by private attorneys.
The railway companies, the express
companies, and individuals and assO-
Citations, have been in the habit of em-
ploying lawyers to help the District
Attorney in the prosecution of Offend
ers against them. Wells, Fargo
& Co.'s lawyers are ever more
active then the government attorney in
their efforts to convict persons accused
ofIcrime against their company. live
are not mistaken the Fish and Game
Society has employed lawyers to pro-
secute every offender against The game
laws who has been prosecuted.
Unless we are to have ADLER and purer
men than some who have held the Of
fee Ct district-attorney, it will be alb
solutely necessary that other lawyers
take part in the prosecutions if there
are to be convictions and the guilty are
punished. It is not so very many years
ago that thieves and scoundrels gener-
ally smiled at the suggestion that they
might be convicted the then District
Attorney having the reputation of
being no lawyer, and also the reputa-
ton of being susceptible 10 insults"
such as were offered to Poo Bah. one of
the lords of Titipu.- It was said
that the cattle thieves used
to understand that the prices
Of escape from punishment ranged
from $50 to 500. according to the
enormity of their thefts and the odious-
ness of their. names in the commun-
ity. It is possible. though happily not
probable, that a prosecuting officer Of
equal ability and no higher ideas of
morality and dHty. might come here,
in which event the thieves and Grim
mails would enjoy another period of
respite from the annoyances of indict-
ments and convictions.
In another column is q communiea-,
ton from DR.. Faust, president of the
Stock Association. In which the doctor
mentions that the society is being
constantly applied to for assistance in
the capture of cattle thieves. One of
the main objects that the stockmen
had in view when organizing their
Territorial and County Associate : ;.
was the detection, prosecution ana
punishment of thieves; the funds of
the societies are largely devoted
to that purpose, and much good has
already been done by these gentlemen.
They should be encouraged and aided
In their. laudable and legitimate efforts
TO free the Territory from thieves; if
they want 20 employ lawyer to help
the public. prosecutor. it occurs to US
that it viii be in the interest of Justice
and morality TO permit them to do so,
and ne fail to see any good reason why
they should be denied. especially as
they put neither the government nor
the accused to additional expense BIZ
reason of their action. We must
assume that Justice Powers is interested
III pun:shing the guilty. hence We are
at a loss to understand Why he should
object to any Legitimate proceeding
tending to.theten
We hope the Judge has been in
reported IN this matter.