Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-01-03
ALAWLEsS SOCIETY,"


The fact that WIN. McLareu, who
tosliles to coftain details In the sheep
killing case now on trial NJ Grand
Junction, Colorado, wna willing par.
ticipant In the unlawful proceedings Of
May last, would cause his statements
to be given little weight u they were
not oorroboratod by strong oircums,an.
tial evidence. The iual u Of men
accused Of killing sheep belonging 20
Mr.. Reed. MoLnren says he was a
member oi the citllemen's committee.
This was n secret society, organized
for the purpose Of keeping sheep out VI
the Plateau district IN Mesa county,
and IT, members were bound together
by an oath. IL included number OF
prominent residents " the locality,
several OF whom the witness indicated
rs parllolpators IN the slaughter Of
hhoep. MoLaren says each man was
known by a number, his be-.
ing a, while that Of man
named Covert was ss. The witness
gave the names Of tho captain aud
other officers Of the society. He also
admits that himseli and another man
hold tho horses while the roat Of the
committee, about thirty.nve in all, did
the killing Of several hundred sheep,
on May sri, using guns, knives, clubs
and stones, and taking about three
hours In the villlanous work.
The proceedings under investigation
at this trial are connected with the
cattle and aheopmen's war In western
Colorado about the date given. The
cattlemen objected 10 the shospownors,
some Of whom were from Utah, using
the range In the eastern part OF Mesa
county, and finding they could not ex-
oludo them lawfully, relortei to orlml-
nal methods to gain their purpose.
The result was the killing Of thou.
sands Of animals by parties at
the time unknown. Subsequent
developments threw light on the
aflRir, and gradually tho Identity Of
some OF tho persons engaged In tho
raid on the Jocks became known, anu
the generally accepted theory that the
work was done by combination Of
chtilemon was confirmed. 10 Is In
conformity with those developments
that MoLaren's testimony comes In.
OF course II Is sure 10 be- conlradlCtod
by the parties implicated, aud a con
viction Of those accused may not be
easy under present circumstances; but
tho high feelings which existed be.
tween oattlemen and shetpowncfs, the
threats made by the former and the In.
jury inflicted on the latter, are conolu.
siye proofs Of some such proceeding a.
McIiaron relates, whether or not he
gives the details accurately.
IL 10 to be- hoped that the Efforts OF
tho prosecution In this case to elicit
the whole truth pertaining to this uu-
lawful society, and TO punish those Of
ila members who committed crime,
will prove successful. The fsut that
leading men Of the locality were guilty
parties, or that they were supported by
the sentiment Of many Of the ooou.
pants Of tho district, Is no Justification
for erimlnalily. There has been too
much OF that spirit In the direction
namedj and Il is full time flr an
official vlndloaIion OF the law, whether
or not Il is reached In the case on trial
Both cattlemon and shetpOWnors
should DO glven 10 understand that
there Is a legal, civilized way Of get.
Ting their disputes,and that barbarous
methods such as prevailed In this In.
stance will not be- tolerated.