The St. Johns herald., 1889-12-26


 nelling of the grand jury was a challenge to the Mormons who had been summoned. This was made by E. $. Stover, who was the author of the famous Stover bill disfran- chising the Mormons in Arizona, passed by the 18th legislature. He had been bound over for assault with a deadly weapon and made the challenge on the ground of the gen. eral prejudice of the members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, stating that orders had been issued by the church to indict him if pos sible. The challenges were denied, the Mormons all saying no such prejudice existed in their minds, and no such orders had been issued
 The above is an extract from a communication from St. Johns to the Albuquerque Citizen, dated De- cember 2d. That copy of the Citi- zen was mislaid, and we did not get to see it; but a friend sent us a copy, calling our attention to the article.
 The action of the grand jury in the case against "the author of the famous Stover bill, proved that the Mormons told the truth when they said "no such prejudice existed in their minds, and no such orders had been issued" The evi- dence clearly and unmistakably showed that Stover was guilty of assault with a deadly weapon" Through compassion, sympathy, or from some other cause, the grand jury reduced the offence from a fel- ony to simple misdemeanor Not withstanding this exhibition of clemency on the part of the grand jury, showing most clearly there was no prejudice existing in the minds of any one against Stover, he went into court with a sworn af- fidavit, asking for change of venue on the ground that he did not be- lieve he could get justice at the hands of his neighbors and fellow citizens.
 In the somewhat famous libel proceedings against Judge R. k. Morrison for an article published in The Citizen two years ago, on his own motion Judge Wright con- tinued both the criminal and civil eases indefinitely, saying some oth CT judge would try the same. This in all probability, is the end of a matter which has caused more ex- citement than anything which has occurred for years, and Morrison was undoubtedly in the right.
 Another extract from the same communication. The author of the article quoted is not possessed of. that high sense of honor which would enable him to understand or appreciate the motives of Judge Wright in continuing the eases of Judge R. E. Morrison. The social relations existing between Judge Wright and Morrison are of such a nature that the Judge did not care to hear the cases, for fear of doing injustice to the defendant or, in his anxiety to do him justice, he would go too far, and do an injustice to the Territory. In other words, on account of the feeling existing be- tween them, Judge Wright was fear ful he could not hear the cases with that fairness and impartiality which has characterized his rulings in the past, and had the moral courage and manliness to say so by declin- ing to hear them at this term, and 10 swap off with either Judges Kib- bey or Sloan at the next term. The writer of the article did not believe the matter would end at that. There was never a more deliberate libel published, and a clearer case was never submitted to a jury than the case of Johnston vs. Morrison. We venture the assertion that when |