The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-28
R0SEWATER IN JAIL
The Omaha Bee Editor Sentenced
for Alleged Contempt.
JUDGE SCOTT AN ENEMY
Structures on His Kalings by a Reporter
Caused the TrOuble-TempOrary
Liberty Obtained.

OMAHA, April 24.-Edward Rosewater,
editor of the Bee, was today sentenced
to imprisonment for thirty days and to
pay fine of $500 for alleged contempt
of court. Without being given an op-
portunity to appeal, kosewater was
ordered taken to Jail at once, and for
six hours he was behind the bars of the
Douglas county jail. At p. m. the
state supreme court granted a super.
sedeas, and Rosewater was released un-
til his case can be viewed by the higher
court. The alleged onense committed
was In allowing to be printed in the Bee
local article in which it was stated
that there was evidently some Partially
shown to certain criminals in the dis
trict court. as of two men caught rob-
bling railroad depot the poor man was
sentenced to prison and the son of
wealthy parents was given his liberty
without coming to trial. The facts in
the case were not denied, but Judge
Scott, who dismissed the case, felt
aggrived at the word "pulr' used in the
article, and had the reporter who wrote
the matter brought before him for con.
tempt. After disgraceful scene in
court the reporter was sent up for thirty
days, and then Judge Scott concluded to
arraign the editor of the paper on the
same charge.
As Scott had been a most bitter and
indicative political enemy Of Rose
water, itowas generally believed that
the action taken was for personal spite
The case was called for a hearing to-
day and nearly the whole bar of Doug
las county and hundreds of citizens
were In court to listen to the proceed
ings. Evidence was introduced to show
that Rosewater knew nothing of the
article complained Of; that he was not
in the Office on the date of publication;
that he had not directed the matter,
and In fact was entirely ignorant that
an article of such nature was about to
appear. In spite of the evidence Judge
Scott declared the defendant guilty,
and after giving him a severe tongue
lashing started to impose the sentence
without giving Rosewater an oppor-
tunitY to be heard. But the editor in
terrupted the court with a demand that
he be heard. He said:
'1f men who own property, who run
corporations, who employ men in the
various walks of life were held respon-
sible for the criminal conduct of all
their employees there would not be iails
enough in America to accommodate
them. 1t is monstrous doctrine. l
would rather rot in forty jails and
prisons than to surrender what has been
fought for by the fathers of this repub-
lie, which includes the liberty of the
press to criticise public servants, and
the courts are public servants as much
as any other class, from their repre-
sentatives in legislative halls in the
capitol at Lincoln to Washington. 1
shall cheerfully submit to this ordeal
1t will not hurt me. If there is any
thing that am guilty of. If have been
guilty of any contempt at all, 1t is con-
tempt of my fellow citizens for helping
Colonel Scott to become judge of this
district"
At the conclusion of Rosewater's talk
Judge Scott ordered the she7 III to hurry
the prisoner to the county jail to serve
out his sentence of thirty days. 1t is
the general belief of lawyers that the
finding of the court will be overturned
BY the supreme court. .