The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-17
YOU CAN ALL WEAR SILKS

convinced that his client is guilty b does not
turn and say ''you are guilty" lnsezd d that
he insists that the man should haves sf trial
to the end, and he would stand by him and ~
that there was no form of law violaisd In
the trial, because all are fallible and It ID p0si-
bic that we may be mistaken. For hundfeds 81
years that has been the law in every EngIish-
speaking country. And in that consist he
safety and protection of every innocent maa IN
the land 1t is true, at times, that evil-do<n
and criminals take advantage OF this, but nav.
ertheless this Is necessary for the safety Of I'll
men. 1t is this that can prevent men from KID
mapping you or any other man in the community.
The prosecuting attorney said to Mr.. Albert
son, on the stand, why did you not inform upon
this man, and every one in the courtroom who
was looking at the witness must have observed
the look of horror which he gave when asked
why he had not become an informer. In every
race and in every cline, the word In
former is considered base. The In
former everywhere under the sun
is held in execration, and rightfuIy ~
This, no doubt, is carried too far, but ct The
same time l defy any rightfully construed
man, Wien it is suggested to him to become an
informer, not TO have a feeling of revusion at
the thought, and Mr.. Albertson would be the
last man, being of an inpulsiye nature a. be Is.
to consent to become an iniormer. 1t has been
suggested that this was proof overwhelming
OF guilt. If that be so, il is singular that Mr..
Preston should not have thought Of informing
upon this man. l do not believe this would
have occurred to me, nor do I believe il would
have occurred to my learned friend ! wish to
have observed the distinction which make
Every good citizen is obliged, when be knows
OF the commission of an offense, to inform the
proper officers and to that he Is properly pros
ecuted, but this is not such case. There are
circumstances in this case that seem to me
TO furnish proof clear and strong a. can b
possible of the absolute innocence of Mr.. Albert
son. Had Mr.. Albertson been q guilty man, hb
conduct would have been in almost every pozf
the reverse of what IL was Had he oeEf
guilty man no would not have come 10 Tunt
TO visit that family. Had he been guilty nn
not single circumstance that has been felSA
here would have shown the light
day. Had he been a guilty man, .
would not have gone to his partnn
and told them in regard to this matte
Had he been a guilty man the very cfrcum-
stances that the learned counsel bases his Whoa
argument on, the receipt and destruction Of ne
letter from Edward Abertson, would never
have been known. His conduct at every point
is perfectly compatible with the conduct under
similar circumstances of an absolutely innocens
man. Now there ALWAYS must be some SOLD
grounds on which to base a charge OF this cnsf-
acter. My learned friend says that this crime
Was cOncOcleu Dy ROBERT Is. AIDertsons enu -
was 1t must have been in June.
Here Is a man who stands before this eoun
with an exemplary record behind him; an non
orable and upright life. He has not In yean
met this cousin, Edward Albertson. prooapv
more than dozen times; the last time ne ssH
him was when he came TO Seattle to transacs
some business with the Boston National BANK
in the spring of 1891, and yet We must believe,
according to the theory OF the prosecutor, tnas
in June or thereabouts, Mr.. r b. Az
bertson concocted a scheme when, =,
shown by Mr.. Edward Albertson In ma
letter to the Fidelity company, reads more Ike :
fairy tale from the arabian Night" than an
actual real occurrence happening in this nins
tenth century in the state OF washington.
Now, is it possible to draw on human eredni'y
heavier draft than that7 Is il possible iof
court In the state OF Washington TO take sucn :
thing as that as a basis for binding man over
as criminal to answer to the supfcns
court? If there is anything tnas
ever heard that matches the ehaS
ordinary tale of weakness exhibited
Edward Albertson in that letter, which
evidence. it would be the fantasticai tneoV
which has been suggested that the mattsf -