The record-union., 1894-05-14

has been stated that initiated against
him; that all the statements agree that
he was beset, threatened, choked. beaten,
and an attempt made to take away his
arms and the prisoner he held by war
rant, and that he war ned the mob not to
approach him again. We say now, as
before. that any officer. policeman, Con-
stable, Sheriff or Marshal, who is set
upon by a mob of men, beaten and
choked, his authority defed, a rescue OF
his prisoner attempted and his life i'm
periled, is justified. after having disclosed
his authority and given warning, or even
without, in protecting himself with force
and arms. The man who holds to the
contrary is simply insensible to the COM
monest dictates of manliness, and igno-
rant of the duty of peace officer.
1t is simply shameful that in this day
and hour any portion of the people or the
press should be so cowed by the fear of
rowing mob as to condemn one of the
officers of the people before he has had a
judicial hearing. A Coroner's jury, be-
fore which the officer had no opportunity
TO appear and submit evidence or call a
witness; jury sitting in the midst OF
several hundred of the companions Of the
man killed. has found the Constable sun
justified. and by its verdict condemned
him without even calling for his state
ment of the case. Of course that jury
was cowed, as citizens of Rocklin tell US
is the fact, and its verdict is therefore of
no value. No finding under such cir
cumstances is worth fig.
If the Constable acted hastily, reck-
lessIy, maliciously; if he had no reason
to fear; if he was not assaulted and
beaten and threatened; if he exceeded his
authority. he is guilty and should be
punished according to his guilt. But we
protest that to this date there has not de-
veloped a single fact TO show that he is
guilty, but that every statement made,
even by the mob, confesses that it was
lawlessly assauIting the officer and seek
shows that the man acted as an officer
should have done who is commissioned
by the people of the State to serve the
process of their courts and preserve the
peace.
Largely the dispatches and accounts OF
the affair published have been sent out
| by the stilted and self-sufficient Com
mander Smith of the Industrial Army,
who boldly proclaims Paisley "a mar
! tyr" Are the officers of the law to be
tried in the court of public opinion on the
testimony of their assailants?
Is it fair and even-handed and manly to
presume everything in favor of the mob
and nothing for the officer? Should not
the presumption prevail in his favor that
he acted rightly until in court it is proved
that he did not? By what sort of rule do
men who are to-day bounding the Con-
stable and demanding his blood wish to
be judged when it comes their turn to be
accused, or have their lives and property
defended by their officers?
In the name of common decency, if not
of justice, let there be called halt in this
unfair, indecent, cowardly and un-
American condemnation of the officer be-
| fore he has been brought to tribunal to
be examined. Believing, in the light OF
all the facts as yet stated, that he acted
justifiably, we withhold judgment con-
demning the man who must be presumed
innocent until proven guilty; until. under
oath. witnesses are heard on both sides
| before competent court.
We have said that we believe the officer
guiltless in the light of all present rev.
elations: if it shall appear that he is not.
none will be more prompt to demand ex-
treme punishment for him than the Rec
| ORD UNION. But in the meantime we
protest against the effort to prejudice the
public mind against the officer aof the
law.