The record-union., 1894-08-25
SOME PLAIN WORDS
Making Heroes of Persons Charged
With Crime.
The Peoples Party and the Train
Wreckers-stop and
Think OF It.

this coast for showing kindness to noted
criminals by visiting them In jails and
giving them dainties and other things
which were calculated to add to their
comfort. While we have no words OF
condemnation for the acts of the press in
censuring the ladies for their conduct in
this particular, we ask why the press
does not condemn the men for trying to
make heroes of their own sex who are
accused of ditehing trains and destroying
lives by the wholesale. which has been
the case in this county2 Evidently it ap-
pears that the greater the crimes the
greater the sympathy Tor those VINO are
accused of committing them.
AT this time horses are very cheap.
Suppose half a dozen persons should be
arrested and accused OF stealing horses,
does anyone believe that either one OF
them would be mentioned as al available
candidate for Sheriff OF 4olo County,
which has been the case with one who Is
accused of wrecklng the train that sent
i've men to their eternal homes? has
politics in Yolo County become so de-
graded that il is necessary for persons to
be accused of ditching trains TO enable
them to get their names before the people
as eligible candidates for the highest ofnce
IN the county, Certainly it does seem so,
II IL a
cused of ditching the train, he never
would have been spoken Of by anyone as
an available candidate for that Office. IN
fortunately Tor the people of this county,
one of the big dailies OF the metropollS
has been 80 imprudent as TO connect ms
name with the Office and with the Demo-
cratic party, which, as party, has never
had anything TO do with him.
1t has been reported that the Populist
candidate for Governor rode out IN the
country several miles in the same car
riage with II. a. Knox to dinner party,
and does anyone believe that II he had
not been at the head OF the strike such an
incident would have taken placer Most
assuredly the PopuIist candidate for
Governor must have had great admira-
ton for the strikers and their leader
when he condemned the President for call
ing out the regular troops 10 put down
one Of the worst mobs that the State was
ever cursed with, and which caused the
death OF i've men.
While the Democratic party was fairly
gaping for breath in The muddy pit OF
aeep humiliation caused by the Chair
man of their County Committee in mix
ing the party up with Il. A. Knox as
candidate for Sheriff, the Chairman Of the
Pouulist County Central Committee ap-
peared before a large Woodland audience
and proclaimed, in loud voice, that he
Knox, and, so Ear, as he knew, Mr.. Knox
was a gentleman, which was wholly out
place, and it would have been much bet
ter for his party If Mr.. Knox'5 name had
not been mentioned on that occasion, for
much could be read between his words
that be did not speak.
Evidently all the silly talk about run
ming II. A. Knox for Sheriff or any other
Office should be stopped, as the Sheriff
OF this and other counties Will have much
more to do with Mr.. Knox, for some
lime to come, than he viii have in run
niEg for that or any other office, and all
such foolish claptrap is q disgrace 10 the
people of this county.
The wrecking of the train on the 1Ith
OF July was the most heinous crime that
has ever been committed on this coast,
and no amount of cost in ferretng out
the guilty parties should be considered.
There are many who seem 10 believe that
the accused are being tried for their lives
and liberty IN Justice Fishers court.
This is not the case. They are only un-
dergoing an examination for the purpose
of ascertafning whether or not there
is sufficient evidence TO hold them
over TO the Superior Court, and
the worst Justice Fisher could do to
them would be to deprive them OF their
liberty for few days, until their cases
are called in the higher court, and that
Grand Jury could have done without
even giving the accused chance TO be
heard, and hence the acchsed have no
reason 10 complain for not being re-
leased, as their guilt must be proven in
the higher court before they can be pun
ished.
There seems but few who realize the
enormity OF the crime of wrecking trains.
Ditching trains differs from any other
crime in the catalogue of crimes, because
more lives can be destroyed by any one
person or any number Of persons in
shorter time than can be accomplished by
any other means that has ever been in
vented Tor the destruction OF life and
property. Beside, the wrecking OF trains
eau be accomplished with less risk of be-
ing detected in committing the act than
any other crime, and yet we have some
among Us who seem to excuse and apollo
gize for those who are accused OF COM
mitting the deed, simply because they do
not like the railroad company.
Beside, if ditching trains is to be re-
sorted To for the purpose OF revenge for
real or imaginary wrongs, who can fore
dashed into eternity without a moments
warning7 And surely, Of all the heart
sickening scenes that ever mortal man
looked upon is a badly wrecked train
containing large number OF passengers,
and if there is anything which would
bring down the white-robed angels from
heaven on a mission OF mercy, 1t would
be the shrieks, means and most pitiful
lamentations Of the dying and wounded
OF an ill-fated wrecked train.
Evidently there are many unfortunate
incidents connected with the ill-fated
train which was ditched IN this county on
the I1th ult Surely it was unfortunate
that the train was wrecked, even 1or
those who did it, whether they are ever
convicted or not. II is unfortunate that
those who are accused of the crime have
been tried in every shop aud saloon in
this city, and either condemned or ae-
quilted for the notwithstanding deed. in
stead of leaving their cases with the
proper legal authorities, az should have
been done. 1t is unfortunate that so
many have assumed tbs role ofdefenders,
as well as prosecutors, when the whole
business should have been left wholly
with the courts.
There have been incidents which have
appeared on the surface ia the train
wreekiug business that are greatly TO be
feared 1t is To be feared thai our courts
OF justice are to be conducted in q low
degree Of pettifogging, for the purpose of
securing applause from the excited peo-
pie, instead OF a sound and just practice
of the laws. Is is 10 be feared that cur
young men are being educated TO be-
love that any act of crime is justihable
If il is committed against railroad COM
pany. and it makes no difference If it is so
heinous or ii it is SO diabolical that it
would break the hearts Of the most hard
ened criminal, il is no crime If committed
against railroad company. And what is
most alarming, such vicious teachings are
either ind0rsec or passed by without
word OF condemnation by many who
call themselves good, law-abiding citi-
Zens.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany is as much responsible TO the laws
of this State as any individual IN the