The Press., 1886-07-08

ssOH, that mine enemy would write Q book.n Sheriff West has explained 7 and we give his statement in full, as copied from the Holland County Leader, also from the Rockville Journal He says that "Westcott stayed in Holland previous to the settlement of cases, had room and LeValley sampled his whiskey for number of days from Vest cott's private bottle" We'll, it seems that he had not in that time made his face so familiar to Westcott as to be recognized by him when he paid his official visit But if Westcott, while awaiting trial at Holland under criminal charges, kept ssopen house" and liquors for the use of officers of law, and such officers as knew of the fact, knew that they were very liable in the near future--were altogether likely-to be called upon to serve processes on him, if they felt that acceptance of his hospi- tality might be a bar to the full discharge of their duty thereafter, they should have kept away. It was certainly in very bad taste for any officer of the court to accept of MT. Vest cott's hospitality under the circumstances, es- pecially if feeling about it as West intirnates that he would have felt. In fact, it was little
 
 the sheriff if he insisted upon the impeach- ment of every court officer who 80 sinned. But LeValley was not removed for that act, but because when papers were placed Tn hls hands for service, he remembered his oath of office and did his duty. This was his crime We have nothing to do with LeValley's de- fense. He must look to that himself. But suppose that Sheriff West himself had gone to Westcott's room and drank (of course he wouldn't have done it, knowing how his fine sense of honor would thereafter have stood in the way of his official duty, but we will sup pose the easel, and it had afterward been made his duty to search Mir. Westcott's place, which would have been the s'ronger-his sense of duty with his oath of office behind it, or his sense of honor? Which crime would he have committed perjury or the ''con- temptib1e meanness' he deplores in LeValley Accepting, without question, Vests state ments, which was the most honorable course for Levalley-to have performed his duty when called upon, or to have declined for the reason that he had been bought up by ga 8 of whiskey? ..,- -.t .r-. ...-4ss.ss q..
 We have no patience with maudlin sympa- thy with law breakers. The people of Staf- ford have by vote made rum selling 8 crime in Stafford. They have spent money freely from private purses to put down hellish traf fic, and close the traps set to ruin the rising generation. What they think of officers of the law who use their positions to abet crime will be demonstrated later. The rum power has gone too far this time.
 If LeValley had gone into Westcott's, and after being served with drink, had said Gas we have heard that an officer did once say to an illegal seller): 1T have 8 warrant to search this place, but ain't going to be so d-d mean as to serve it now" he would have just nit the ''settled principle among decent men," If he had been given papers to serve in October, and had not served them until April, he would have honorably discharged his duty, no doubt, according to the ideas of 'tdecent men," .... s..-...... ..