Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-02-06
ARIZONA JOURNAL-MINER
J c. mARrIN. Eal.or bod rroP'r.
JOKING WITH DEATH.


 The official sleuths who ornament the room on the western side of the big brick, commonly known as the sherifrs office, have triumphed again. In their triumph, although it be only on the question of secrecy in criminal affairs, they were, apparent ly, assisted by the JoURNAL-MNER, aD organ of opposite political faith, although the service was unwlllingly performed It was on the question of the murder of McNary, which occurred in Copper Basin Thursday. Realizing the importance of such news, as it was being handled by one tongue and another yesterday, a representative of the paper called at the office of the sheriff late in the afternoon to have the street rumors verified or contradicted, officially, deeming the mission as one more of interest and benefit to the public than the satisfaction of mere individual curiosity. To our question, the amateur handler of criminal reins there, informed us, in his usual suave manner that the killing was but hoax, and gave us, what has been published heretofore, concerning it.
 We recognize the delicacy of official duties, probably, just as we'll in the line of secrecy, as the officials in the above office do, and where the arrest of a criminal depends, to a great extent, in maintaining that principle to a letter, but in an instance like the above, carrying, as it did, no particular line of shrewd- ness in practical solution of inter- cepting the murderers of McNary, the fimsy veil of dignity and seem ing authority adopted. compels us to stamp the "courtes,1" extended as one more of indency aad scurrility, in regard for either tie pubhc, or consideration for us.
 The arrest which followed the return of the sheriff was made before the information was asked, while before the circulation of the paper took place, did another arrest follow. Not until after the arrival of Justice Moore, at 6 p. m., were the people fully aware of the par ticulars of, or the enormity of the crime, this official not being in any wise bound to seal the event in secrecy, but. on the other hand. being disposed to tell all, with his usual liberality.
 This method of dealing with death in humorous light, and par ticularly so in the butcherY of a fellow human, may be the proper conception of it with some as they consider such a solemn question, but with us it has that gloom of morbidity attached to it we have not yet been trained to follow, like others seem to jest in. There are eourtesies to be followed and obeyed between all classes of people, both in journalism and public offices, the question of individuality or politics not figuring as to violation of the principle. In this regard, while this paper has endeavored to pre- serve this motto, and that too, with the present regime. the total disre- gard shown us in this act of disres- pect, ana in the manner that was adopted by the sheriffs office. carries with it that humiliation and chagrin, as distssteful as it is disgusting. Whether or not the paper can serve to benefit or deride the present sher- if in his future consideration of crim- inal work, is not the problem, but, whenever the occasion again arises to enlighten the public, the shackels which have been borne in silent submission, viii be thrown asunder, and the interests of the public con- sidered first, and the sherifFs office last. Vanderbilt said and became famous for it that the public could be damned. Is the sherifFs office in this city to follow in the same wakei