Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1888-08-01

is piled in on Tuesdays stage. Ofsourse it seems to be of little use for the people of this territory to ask for anything from the post office department as it IS work Ing to make a record of economy and at the same time expending all the availa- ble funds of the department possible ID the southern states. What is needed here is daily service via Black canyon by which mail can be sent right through without delay, and tri-weekly. as at present via Wickenburg.
 Dr. H. C. Yarrow, of the Smithso- nian institution, of Washington, after various experiments with the Gila mon ster (Heloderma suspectum) has finally decided that it is a non-poisonous rep tile. The experiments reaching the con- clus,on were made on rabbits and chick ems. which in each instance were severely bitten, but beyond slight lameness no evil results followed. Asa number of deaths have occurred in this territory which were ascribed to this reptile, 1t would be interesting to have this scien- tific gentleman pursue his investigations still further by trying the bite of one on himself.
 Brother Bagg, of the Tombstone Pros pector says: "The infsmy which IS about to be consummated under the guise of law, of throwing into prison a citizen of the United States for express ing his opinion of recent decision of Judge Barnes, is without exception, the most damnable outrage that has ever been perpetrated in this territory, if not in the United States. The craven cow ard who made the order and then ad- journed hls court, an hour afterward left town, this man who has not the moral courage to administer the law in opposition to the wishes of corrupt ring of political adventurers, should re- ceive the denunciation regardless of party affiliations"
 The Arizonan gives the following as the words conveyingthe alleged contempt of court for which the editor of the Tombstone Prospector was fined $500 : "We take our medicine with a good grace and we hope the honorable judge and honorable board of supervisors will not make any grimaces in taking the pills which have been prescribed fUr them by our editorial surgeon" We agree with the above paper thnt the public will naturally regard this as a trivial cause for such punishment, and that Judge Barnes acted hastily in the case, if we may judge. The extract is not of a character as would seem to justify such harsh measures. Neither the standing of the judiciary of Arizona nor the general reputation of the terri- tory will be approved either at home or abroad, by sending MT. Baeg to prison. The freedom of the press is as sacred as the inviolablllity of the courts.
 The JoURNAL-MINER has always en- tertained high opinion of Judge Barnes both as an individual and judge, but his action, in 6ning s. C. Bagg. in the sum of $500 for contempt of court, for the mild criticism which appeared in the Prospector, is outrageous. The official actions of judge are just as much a subject of legitimate criticism by the press and people as those of any other official and no matter how conscien- tious judicial officer may be he is liable to err, and being possessed of the same fallible judgment and the same passions as an ordinary citizen he does err. It would not be doing magma luminous act, but an act of justice for Judge Barnes to remit that fine entirely, or if he feels still after the cooling down of his passion that the conrt has been brought into contempt he should reduce the fine to about -four bits." That would enable the newspaper man to meet the fine, and at the same time would be big compensation for the alleged contempt. Take it of, judge.