Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-01
THE CAUSE OF THE SILENCE.

OK TUESDAY afternoon, near tn,
Warm Springs, Gustaye Eckman, 4
prisoner at work with the city Jai
gang, attempted TO escape. He wal
stopped by two workmen in The
vicinity who held him pending the
arrival OF the guard. The latter on
reaching Eckman struck him q
blow on the back of the head. The
shock produced insensihiii;y and the
injury was Of such a nature as to
render recovery doubtful. The I'M
fortunate man was taken to ST.
Maryis Hospital.
1t is but fair 10 the officer that IN
qualified condemnation of his con-
duct, which on its face appears to
have been uncalled for, be withheld
pending an investigation, providing
anything OF that nature is intended.
There may be some circumstances
connected with the incident not yet
shown that made the application Of
violence iustifable. In any event
hasty denunciation Is not commend
able.
a notable feature Of this circum.
stance Is the oyster-like dumbness of
the anti" Mormon press in rela-
ton 20 it. This silence is all the
more conspicuous because Of the
striking change that has occurred
regarding the treatment from that
quarter OF matters Of like nature.
For instance. several months ago
couple Of officers had occasion to
visit n house to arrest a youth whose
career for years has been Of the
worst possible description. be,
with 4 gang Of accomplices, had
bsen committing a series of burglar
les, to the great annoyance and loss
ofanumber Of citizens. The police
had been abased and ridieuled by
the portion Of the press referred to
because forsome time they had failed
to discover and secure the guilty
parties. Finally, as state /, they did
locate the leading chronic thief. but
when they attempted TO arrest him
his father, fellow named Paddock.
& violently resisted them. The result
was that in order TO effect their pur-
pose one Of the officers struck the
beliigsrent Paddock with his fist and
knocked hini down.
Then the anti-"AIormon', press
was not silent, but fairly shriexed
sunier weight of heavy headlines
about the brutality Of the ssAIormon
police" ''Alormon thugism,' y and |
uttered many other characteristic |
compliments.
The two officers were arrested, |
and were examined before a Q. s.
Commissioner, who, while almost |
admitting that there was hardly any |
ground for his proceeding held them |
to await the action Of the grand jury. |
There vas an impression that this
magistrate, who usually aimed to be
fair, WIS actuated by some feeling
OF fear Of the journalistic whip.
The grand jury, as in duty bound |
by the Constitution and bylaws OF
anti-MOrmon methods, found a true
bill, and the case against Messrs.
Pratt and Cummock, the officers who
arrested young Paddock, Is on the
docket for trial during the present
month.
Then Why Is the anti" Mormon,
press silent regarding the affair of
Tuesday? The reason IS obvious
and notSrious-Mr. Lyon. the
guard who struck aud injured Gus
tive Eckman, is Gentle. This
makes all the difference in the
world, for in the ordinary manipuIa-
ton Of matters, the question is not,
"What is the nature Of the deed
That is done?'' but 'sWho is the in
dividual who did It and what are
his religion and politics?''
We share an opinion that We be-
lieve to be universal with every OBJ
servantPersonin this cityto the effect
that had Mr.. Lyon been a "Aior-
mon" he would have been under ar
lest a short time afteI he inflicted !,
tht Injury upon Eckman.