The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-09-19
THE SUPREME BENCH
4 Pierce County Candidate Is Charged
With Embsnlement.
There should Ne Ne Question A. 20
the Integrity % the Mems
bsra - the Bench.

Grave charges are being made BY Tho
Seattle Morning Journal and other papers
regarding the character Of 7. L. Stiles,
who was nominated by the republicans
for one Of the judges Of the supreme
bench. The Journal goes into details
and cites the court records to prove tho
charges. While the accusations made
carry with them the appearance Of truth
the court records will occasionally eiye TO
a litigant q character which his actions
do not justify, and In this instance Mr..
Stiles may be guiltless Of the charges
made against him, but be that.as It may,
the people cannot afford to place on the
supreme bench Of this state maA who is
arraigned for 50 serious crime as embez-
element or against whom there Is the
least question as to his honor and integ-
rity. The following Is from a Tacoma
correspondent Of the orting Oraels:
HtheTe Is any department Of the state
government which, above another, needs
to be kept clean and pure, II is the judici-
ary. In the conflicts and contentious a
political organizations, factions and ieuds,
the people have turned.to the Judiciary as
the final arbitrator where right may be
maintained and wrong repressed. The
subservience Of the executive department
or the debauchery Of the legislature, while
dePlorable, Is easily remedied. Not 90
with the Judiciary, for here the moral or
social taint permeates the whole body and
destroys the framework Of the body poli-
tic. The Judiciary In its very nature
should be non-politial. No man, simply
because he has q party label attached to
him by a political convention, should be
elevated to judicial position. No party
has q right to demand Of its members
support for an unworthy nominee for
judge. Loyalty to the public welfare
should be above party fealty.
VI the names presented to the public by
the Walla Walla convention for support
as judge Of the supreme court, one there
Is who cannot expect the suffrage Of those
who esteem an honest Judiciary as Of high
er importance than mere party success. :
In the district court there Is now pend
ing against 7. L. Stiles, one Of the can
didates for supreme judge, two very ugly
cases. In each Stiles Is charged with
having done certain fliings which, in the
eyes Of the public, constitute no less q
crime than that Of embezzlement. They
charge him In these cases with having re-
ceived at sundTy times while residing in
Arizona large sums Of money belonging
TO the estates Of James H. Toole and
Hudson 4 Co., and that he converted the
same to his own use and now has the
sum Of 10000 or more In his possession.
The conversion Of a trust fund by the
trustee is nothing less than embezzle-
ment, and before Mr.. Stiles mounts the
chair Of justice he should make clear
these charges In Starts and Samaneigo's
complaints.
Judge Barnes, Of Arizona, In q suit tried
before him, In which stiles was defend
ant, found and adjudged that Stiles bad
received and misapplied over 5000 be-
longing to the James H. Toole estate and
ordered him to repay the money, but
Stiles failed to comply with the orders Of
the court aud quietly left Arizona and
came to Washington Territory where be
now lives in ease. owning considerable
property that he purchased soon after his
arrival in Tacoma.
A few days before the republican prim.
aries were held IN Tacoma, Thomas L.
Nixon was actively pushing Stiles for
judge Of the supreme court, but the odor
Of Arizona matters began to arise when
Stiles friends withdrew him. The ring
gang, marshalled by Nixon and his ward
did better than they hoped for.
As Jecoy they gave out that Judge
Evans was to be the candidate for
supreme judge and with this understand
Ing they went to walla walla. True to
the instincts that actuate men Of no prin-
riple, the gang no sooner reached Walla
Walla than they dropped Evans for a
more plant tool, and Stiles name now
appears on the republican ticket.
Il remains now to be sesn whether
or Americanism rules the peo-
pie Of the new state. No man with the
breath Of suspicion upon him should ever
reach the honorable POsition Of judge Of
lhe supreme court.
Republicans cannot afford TO ehooss a
dishonest man for judge. Better none
han 4 man Of Questionable character.