San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-08-09
An Unsay0ry Judge.

corruption among judges as well as
other officials. Our constitution and
laws have wisely made them elective,
and we have no patience with the
bosh OF which we hear 80 much about
tho danger of such elections by the
people. Such stuff always recalls to
our mind the query of Jefferson to
the old Federal politicians who .ques-
toned the peoples full right of self
government: "Where," said he, "shall
we find angels to govern us?" The
ordering of the vote for president
through the machinery of electors,
and of the United States senator's by
the state legislatures, etc, showed
this old Federal influence and their
dlstrust of government direct from
the people. The result as to the
senate, which has bscome fortress
OF millionaires, setting tho popular
voice at defiance, we should think
ought to satisfy everybody as to the
consequences of this undemocratic
policy. What is wanted is not to
remove officials further from the juris-
diction of the people, but to lay
broad and deep tho foundations OF
universal education, and then make
all officers directly elective by the
people. Even now this course would
be found the less OF two evils, for the
people are at least honest, and have
the good of their country sincerely
ut heart, which is more than can be
said of many of their public servants.
But we did not start out to write
an essay on this subject so much as
to illustrate the truth of what we
have said by an example. If the
truth is told, or even the half of it,
of certain acts of our court OF up
peals, some changes, at least, are i'm
demanded in it. We allude
more particularly to the notoriety
it has acquired in the way of cheating
red-handed murderers of thor just
deserts. The Brennan Banner says:
When the Democratic nominating
meets in Dallas it should
take particular pains to reform the
court of appeals by nominating new
men out and out if necessary. AS at
present constituted, the court is an
accessory after the fact to some of
the most important crimes committed
in this state.
The above charge, it is claimed, is
more especially applicable to Judge
Hurt, one of the judges of said
court. The Waco Advance charges
that he was instrumental in admitting
to bail j. NJ Drake, the cold -blooded
murderer of Prof. Quinn of that city,
who had been condemned to death,
but the case was reversed by this
court of appeals. The Advance says
Judge Hurt there appeared on the
bench manifestly intoxicated; also that
he has himself "killed his man" This
is not all, Tom p Varnoll, who at-
tempted to outrage n young lady and
when her father came to her rescue,
shot him down in cold blood some
years ago, in Hill county, has been
liberated on $4,000 bail. After
years of effort in some way to screen
him from punishment, jury was
into giving him ten
years in the penitentiary; but the
court of appeals reversed the cnso,
and he is now out on bail. Yet
amazing to tell, the Democratic con-
of McLenan adopted a reso-
luton endorsing Judge Hurt and
asking for his denomination.
All, however, are not made of such
poor stuff We quote few express
sions of the press. The Whitney
Messenger says:
Judge Hurt says: while the act of
Varnell was morally wrong, OUTRAGE
Gus and INFAMOUS, still he was guilty |
Of no offense against the law of the
state" II murder is not an offense
against the state will some one please
tell us what it is! Judge Hurt is
himself notorious for such
decisions, and the people are firing |
Of them, and in several places taking
steps to have him removed.
To which the San Augustine
Boomer adds:
The best thing for Texas is to have
,everser Hurt removed. Hurt is no
potter, not so good rs Varnell.
And the Houston Age says:
The decision in the Varnell case
vas the act OF the court of appeals,
md we do not know that Hurt is
moro to blame than the other two
judges. But, it is n decision ut which
Justice shudders; and brutal ruflian-
sm, rape and murder exult.
The Hubbard City News says:
The Democratic party Of Texas
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