The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-26
THE VALLEY TRAGEDY.

The awful affair at North Point is bad
enough from whatever standpoint it may
be viewed, without dragging the bloody
details into the al ena of politics, as at least
two of the local prints have already en-
deavored to do. Whatever defense there
may be for GILLMoR should properly be
developed in the courts, and in the mean
time, all the press have to rely upon, and
all they should comment upon, is the case
as it stands with reference 10 the public.
This only goes to show that man was
killed at certain time, that another man
killed him, and that coroner's jury, from
the evidence before them, say upon their
oaths, that the killing was without suffi-
Gent provocation.
The taking of human life is matter not
to be lightly discussed nor triflingly dis
posed Of In all frontier towns, mining
camps and railroad settlements the rule is
otherwise: human life is invariably held as
a secondary consideration to property and
proprietary rights, and even miserable
squabble or a feud that could be amicably
adjusted elsewhere is made a justification
or at least is often the reason for taking
life arbitrarily and without warning. 1t is
this justifying of such crimes by certain
portion of the press and public that causes
US to retrograde and get down to the new
mining camp level.
1t makes the case all the more deplorable
that differences of opinion regarding GER
tain social and political questions should
be dragged in when the case is
discussed. Why not let it stand
upon its merits! Are the Liberal press
and their political bunco steerers so greatly
alarmed lest they lose one of their flock
and favored one at that-that they must
needs rush to the front upon the first an
nouncement of a homicide with defense
for the perpetrator, which defense, in the
| light of the facts so far as received, seems
to be wholly fictitious and based upon a
desire to once more-for the hundreth time
show that the killing of Mormon by a
Gentle is a justifable act
Desperate means require desperate ends,
but surely there are few Liberals who
are not willing to have their names con-
nected with such campaign procedure as
the shedding of blood in order that they
may carry an election. Of course it is not
claimed that the North Point killing was
for that purpose or that it had any purpose
beforehand, but it cannot be denied that
since the tragedy the defense that has been
raised has brought up the whole question
which now divides the political parties in
this territory.
For any newspaper or any man or any
agency to commence the construction of a
certificate of good character for such as
GILLMoR is an absurdity if not deliberate
outrage. He is too well known, and those
who know him best have least to say in his
favor. The evidence that he has always
been handy with his gum is too volumin-
Gus and too accessible to need dwelling
upon; whereas, on the other hand, if there
be anything detrimental to the character
of his victim, it has not yet reached US.
In view of all these circumstances, there
fore, and for the sake of common decency,
we would respectfully suggest that such
circumstances as may be in mitigation OF
the offense be not curtailed of their effect
iveness by being pushed by the Liberal
press or otherwise.