The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-08-06
PROVO CITY.
HANDY WITH A PISTOL.

Inc recent SUOehlUR CdIcSI vi hbS
two young Salt Lake toughs has
lesson connected with it which is i'm
portant and now is the time to drive it
home, hence we pause in our task Of
considering political subjects long
enough to lend our aid in the good
work. Young men in the west too
often imbibe contempt for justice and
Its officers and there is no question but
that the ease with which determined
men escape and 60 unwhipped of JUS
tice is fruitful cause of crime. After
the ordinary youth has crammed q
half dozen yellow backed novels into
his quivering brain he is in condition
TO try his hand at this sort of thing.
The almost absolute certainty that be
can get away enters into the caIcula-
tion and possibly settles the matter in
favor of trial. Western bows are per-
mitted to carry guns and pistols at
will. They soon become expert in
their use. After they tire of the in
animate target the desire comes lr-
risistably strong to try a living mark
and there is none quite so fascinating
as a man, and especially an officer OF
the law. Thus il was that Kofford and
Mickle sought poor Sheriff Burns, and
Ooughlin and George were ready for
the officers sent to apprehend them for
stealing berries and horses. The mere
act Of killing the officers was the bios
Hom of the matter and it was done
with perhaps as little compunction as
they would have shot a couple of dogs.
Then came the eclat. The papers
gave column after column to the young
desperadoes and this is the sort of eclat
they covet. People talked incessantly
of the desperate bravery they exhib
tied and an army of friends were
appraised for them. Men gave them
money and succor and posted them on
the movements of the officers. Now
one phase Of the lesson we are to learn
from these careers is that there should
be a strenuous law passed and vigor-
ously enforced. making those who con-
tribute to the relief of murderers or
aid in any way in their escape become
particeps criminis with them, and the
law should be vigorously enforced.
This would effectually render the
career of desperadoism dangerous End
unpleasant.
The other lesson we would draw from
these two occurrences is that more care
should be exercised in forming our
police and civil forces. No men should
be eligible to places on the force but
those having the requisite quaIifica-
tions, training and character. The
appointments to position upon the
police force or in the peace establish
ment are too often indiscriminate
rewards of political service and with
total disregard of the qualifications of
the aspirant. Brave, honest, high
minded men and those having the in
stincts of the sleuth should only be em
ployed in the police service OF sent to
capture criminals of the character of
The four men named. These should
go as good soldiers GO into battle to
succeed or die. In this way now and
then a murderer would bite the dust
and the fatalities would not all be on
the side of the officers, and the profes
sion of desperadoism would soon lose
its fascinations for the young hoodlums
who are so often glamored with the |
record of the brilliant achievements and
desperate escapes of men of this sort.
The ease with which the youthful MUIR
derers have so long baffled the law will
sutice more young men into the paths
If sin. Make the path thorn lined by
4 few legal killings and they will stop
It.