The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-03-12
Is 1t Not Time?

and Owyhee County in particular real
ize that it is their duty to see that tht
law is enforced and strict justice meetet
out to offenders? The writer has beer
a resident of this county for seventeen
years, and during that time a score
would not more than count the death.
that have resulted from violence, ane
ont of the entire mum Der there has beer
but one man executed for murder, and
while the attorney who prosecuted the
case did right; the jury that found the
verdict did right; the judge who SEN
fenced did right, and the sheriff who
executed did rigbt--for Mcdonald was
guilty of murder-yet have heard it
asserted many times, and, in view of the
previous and subsequent occurrences,
not without reason, that had the poor
devil not been stranger with no friends,
he too would have gone free. Only a
few months ago D. I. Chrisman, a
night watchman at Silver City, and as
honest and harmless man as eyer lived
was cruelty murdered while in the dis
charge of his duty. A conscientious
coroner's jury, composed of as good
men as can be found in the county,
found evidence which they deemed
sufi icient to warrant the arrest of Con-
stable Al Myers for the offense; but
when he was brought before the grand
jury the evidence produced was not
sufficient to warrant an indictment.
Was it because Myers was an old timer
here and had numerous friends? Many
think SO, aud it has that look. Last
week, Samuel j. Pritchard, one of the
most prominent and respected citizens
of the county was shot and killed by
William Fleming, a constable in small
pre- cinct. Pritchard was unarmed,
alone, where he could do harm to no
living being, nor had he done aught to
hardly warrant an arrest crazed, per-
haps, from drink or otherwise, and yet
three murde erous bullets were driven
into his body at range so short that
,he powder from the revolver burned
his face. Fleming says be was afraid
Pritchard was going to shoot him.
Neither Pritchard or Chrisman can tell
heir side of the case. The angel of death |
nas closed their lips forever. No known
were present in either case,
md in such events only circumstances
IAN be produced as evidence, but cir
are sometimes stronger than
worn evidence, for circumstances can't |
ie, and witnesses can and sometimes
10, and the imbicile theory held by /
many that no man should be convicted I
IN circnmstantial evidence. and the law
wrongful Interpretation by the
.verage juror that the prisoner shall I
laye the benefit of every REASONABLE
loubt, have set more criminals at large
han any other two things.
Now want to ask you people who
cad this little paper, is IT NOT TIME to
wallow the qualms of conscience about
cnulhS.d W tliC anu
. see that all cases are sifted to the
cry bottom, and when called TO sit on
jury, not do as | am credibly in
ormed a juror did in Silver City, while
be jury was deliberating on the case,
ay: 81 am satisfied, from the evidence,
e killed him, but if We find him guilty
hey will hang him, and l won't vote
)r that.n
| often hear the remark: SIT will /,
ost the county so much to prosecute
le case.n If | were a profane man |
oud say damn the expense. The
roper way to save the cost of criminal
is to make crime SO danger
US that there will be none.
If things continue as they have been
,at most deplorable state of affairs, ;
here the people take the law in their
Tn hands may be brought about
ynch law is to be regretted by allright-
linking people. 1t seemed to be neces- ,
.ry at one time in California and also !
Montana. God grant it may never
} necessary in Idaho.
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All parties attending the masquerade !
L I'll. 1. 4 - A..