The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1893-04-13
Communicated.

BOISE C1TY, April ~, 1915.
ED. SIGNAL;-The efforts of the San
Francisco Examiner, Chronicle, and few
of our local papers, to create undue SYM
pathy for Howard French, who is indct-
ed for murder for killing Samuel Hatton
at the pententiary few months ago, and
to influence the trial by wantonly slurring
the character of the men who testified be-
fore the grand jury, and endeavoring
thereby to diminish the effect their evil
dence would otherwise produce is too APP
parent to pass unn" ticed, and justice de-
mands that IA reply should be made.
1t is equally unjust to the victim of any
crime TO create unmerrited sympathy for
the perpetrator as it is to excite wanton
prejudice toward the one accused; and by
what authority do these journals presume
to constitute themselves court of justice
and Judge of innocence or guilt before
hearing the evidence? 1t may be argued
that they are merely rejecting public sem
timent, but in this case this has been done
only i'll that part which favors the prison
er, and the views of those who, alone,
were in position to conpetently express
an opinion have been carefully kept from
publication. These journals virtually
express surprise that anyone should have
the .audacity to demand an investigation
of matter SO unimportant as the killing
of convict" and speak of the persons
who instigated the investigation as "inim-
ical to French" These implied slurs eff
feet not only the witnesses, but are direct
insult to the honorable grand jury who
returned the bill after carefully weighing
the evidence. Gross misstatements have
been made concerning the two principal
witnesses Wilson and 'Tex" Herbert
Wilson is anything but notorious
thug" the crime which he is now expia-
ting is his first offense and his conduct
during incarceration has been good hay
ing been punished but once, that being
for attempting to escape. 'Tex" Her
bert's conduct has been exemplary, and
yet he is spoken of in the most scurrilous
terms, and denounced for the very crime
which these consistent (0 journals COM
mend and uphold in Mr.. French. 1t is
also charged that these witnesses confess
that they lied before the coroner's jury
fearing to state the facts lest they be pun
ished. If such is the case it certainly
speaks loudly of the deplorable state Of
the prison government at that time-s
government where a man would receive
punishment for telling the truth if i
were to njure one of its officials! Unde
such regime was the life of any prisone
safe? 1t is not the convicts alone VIII
proclaim against Mr.. French, but tn
majority of the guards, and even tn
highest officials of the prison are loud il
their denunciations of his rash act.
Mr.. French has incurred the enmity o
the convicts it is merited, for during hi
term of office he continually endeavore
to hold everyone in mortal terror of him
self and was possessed of strong desir
to be known and feared as a bad man,
having repeatedly boosted of havin
killed man in Kansas City and bein
forced to hide in the Owyhee mountain
three years in consequence thereof. Nj
French was caught in the very act of try
ing to break open the Office safe, KNOWN
the clerk would receive the blame. L
this the eX-warden will make affidavit
lie still owes money to various convict
which was eXtorted as a ''loan," but the
dared not ask for its return. After xii
ing Hatton, French expressed a regr
that he had not killed Wilson also, an
=. - has ssiu several times that he would lii
to get back there long enoughto kill a fe
more of the striped Warrior
other charges are made which, if pu
lished, would have very potent inf
ence in turning the opinions of those wi
are now befrending him. HOMO SUN.
DIED, in Boise IDAHO on the Sth day
April, 1893, ANN e. FLoURNoY, ag,
81 years.
The subject of the above notice WI
a remarkable woman; intellectual, r
fned noble, kind, loving and trus
ing, and a brilliant conversationalis
The brightest were edited and eleva
ed by her words of wisdom, while Il
sunlight of her warm, sympathei
heart brought comfort and cheer al
hope to ALL She lived for those s.
loved and the good that she could d
She was a companionable, loving al
devoted wife, an indulgent and Sc
sacrificing mother, an affable and
charitable friend None knew her b
to love her. With respect and a
miration for her well spent, w
sounded and noble life we kindly a
lovingly say, Mother, rest in peace
T. c. G.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I notice comment
your last issue concerning me. do
care how mnch publicity you give me
having the scab, but | don't think ''e
sippelas" spells eryspelas j. W. A