Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-26

During his onicial career thus far
there have been one hundred and sixty
arrests Of persons charged with crimes.
Of these eighty-two were convicted Of
the crimes alleged, having been sue
cessfully prosecuted. In only ten cases
was the prosecution defeated, the re-
naming cases were minor in character,
such as assault and battery, or other
small grievances, brought, in many
cases, for revenge, for real or imagin-
ary wrongs, because the parties can
have their personal grievances redress
ed at the expense Of the public. These
cases having been investigated by the
prosecuting attorney were dismissed by
him either before the trial or upon the
examination Of the case.
1t has been Mr.. Sawyer's custom TO
examine cases without partiality, and
to urge convictions only where the pub
lie good or the rights of the injured de-
mand it. He has sought TO discoun-
tenance the bringing of cases from mo-
tives OF malice or for insufficient
reasons, and has saved the county many
hundred dollars by crreful examination
and rejection Of cases that had no good
grounds upon which to base prosecu-
tion. While he has thus sought to dis
courage prosecution in cases Of this
kind he has never shirked his respon-
sibility in the prosecution of cases
where good and sufficient reasons were
TO be found for prosecution. AS mat
ter of course refusal to prosecute such
trivial cases often gives offense to the
interested party, but it should be borne
in mind that it is the duty Of the pub
lie prosecutor to serve the public rather
than to crafty the personal spite of
private parties.
The Palmer case affords the public
an excellent opportunity to witness
| MIR. Sawyer's capacity to act efficiently
in an emergency. In this case from
meagre and widely dispersed scraps of
evidence available he succeeded in
weaving such a net work Of circum
stances as to SO completely mesh tn,
accused as to make it quite impossible
for the best legal talent to exricate him
1t must be admitted that this case wa'
ably conducted, and since the people o.
Alma regarded this crime as SO afro
cious it must be very gratifying to then
to know that the wretched, brutal mur
derer is receiving the punishment he 81
Justly deserves, and that through tn,
earnest, energetic and persistent labor
lof B II. Sawyer. Thus we argue tina
Mr.. Sawyer not having failed to do hi.
duty in every single case, and having
done so signally we'll i'll this case wher
the public felt such deep interest is JUS
ly entitled the cheerful and hearty sup
port Of the voters of Alma and vicinity
Let no Republican fail to accord to hin
what he so richly deserves.
1t is important that the prosecutin
D attorney be man Of keen observation
[ quick to perceive with such persistenc
!, OF purpose as not to be easily swerye
0 from his course when after careful
! and Deliberate examination Of all tn
j circumstances in the case he has ono
I entered upon it. Such man as b. II
Sawyer. Another very importan
+ qualification for this Office, and Of whic
Mr.. Sawyer is the happy possessor, j
: such a ready familiarity with lega
forms as to enable him so to draft tn
necessary legal papers in cases comm
s into his hands as to avoid the della
and additional expense arising in case
: where the papers areimperfectly drawn
Mr. Sawyer's large experienc
should be considered an import
T ant factor. In his qualifications TO
: this responsible Office, one in whicl
$ the public are so largely interested
That he has served the public well i
: the past is pretty good guarantee tina
he will render good service in th