The record-union., 1892-11-08
SHIELDING MuRDERERS.
Comments of Fresno Paper on the
Evans-Sontag Case.
Fresno Expositor, October 31st.l

EVans->ontag Case.
Fresno Expositor, October 31st.l
The prompt conviction OF George Son
tag shows that there is healthy moral
sentiment in this community if it is only
aroused and modified for action. Al
though there was not a man, woman or
child III this county who had the slightest
doubt as To the guilt Of Sontag, there was
very little confidence that the prosecution
would secure a conviction. 1t was
| feared that some of the maudlin
sympathy existing, IN this sec
expression in the jury box. Although
the evidence was all circumstantial it
was absolutely conclusive, yet diversions
and irrelevant issues We're raised to
shield the accused. The railroad COM
pany was put on trial for alleged over
charges in the matter of fares and
freights, and the officers and detectives
/ were charged with Matching a conspiracy
to bring the criminals to justice. Hap
PLY neither diversions nor legal techni-
calltleS availed to turn the jury from
! their plain, sworn duty.
By their own admissions Clark Moore
and Harry BigeiOw are guilty of felony.
They have knowingly and deliberately
violated the plaln letter OF the statute.
They can have no defense save that they
had no criminal intent III doing what
they did. The public will very readily
acquit Mr.. BigeloW OF any criminal in
tent, but it cannot be so lenient with
Clark Moore. The conviction must force
itself upon every common-senSe mind
that Moore has been in continuous COM
munication with Evans and John Son
tag, and that he gave them timely in
formation of plans Tor their capture and
furnished them with valuable assistance
in this way he indirectly contributed to
the murder OF W Nilson and McGinnis
= 49, \ 10 sI..- L.
OF the criminal pursuits OF Evans and
the Sontags may be matter Of doubt, but
that he openly sympathiZes with them
and has helped TO defeat the ends OF
justice by aiding and abetting these
thieves and assaSSlns TO DEFY arrest ad-
mits Of no question. Both by the moral
code and the written laws OF the land he
is guilty OF a heinous crime. III actual
blood guiltinesS does not rest upon his
soul, he has shielded and defended muir
dererS. Ii he has not actually shared in
the proceeds of the robbery he has as
sisted bandits to escape from Justice
with their ill-gotten gains. His crime
demands punishment, both as q penalty
ior his misdeeds and as a deterrent upon
others with disposition to shield rob-
bers and assassins.
Mr.. Bigelow has falien a victim to a
mistaken loyalty TO a corrupt and mis-
chievous school Of newspaper ethics.
his only ann was to get material for his
newspaper. which was in the business
of panderlng to morbid appetites and
feeding the craze Tor sensation. To OBJ
tain what it desired it was necessary for
him to coddle the relatives ana
friends of the bandits, and lend
to the criminal exploits Of the
fugitives themselves the air of heroism.
70 whet the appetite of the multitude
Mr.. Bigelow threw the glamor of ro-
mantle description around the essenti-
ally commonplace wife and immature
daughter OF Evans. The skulking and
bloody handed marauders themselves
were colored in rosy hues and pictured as
models OF manly courage and generous
devotion. Sontag was lImned as a sort Of
Fra Diayolo in manners and looks,
whereas both he and Evans are men Of
limited education, uncultivated manners
and the most commonplace speech.
1t is true that MIR. Bigelow gave noas-
sistance to the outlaws and threw no OBJ
stacles in the way of the officers etfecting
their capture, but he has done law and
order and morality poor service by
writing up pair of vulgar murderers
and thieves and writing everybody down
who tried to capture and bring them to
justice.