The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-24
The OflCial Paper Of San Juan County.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER Oath, 1925.
THE TRIAL OVER.


of Leone Lanterman THE ISLANDER
expressed its opinion of the crime freely
and emphatically and urged the impor-
lance of bringing the murderers to trial
with the least possible delay. That was
done. Throughout the trial we refrain
ed from making any comments upon
the case, not wishing tonrduly inf1ame
public opinion against the murderer or
do anything to prevent fair and inn
partial trial being had in this county.
We urged that the county attorney
should be provided with able assistance
in the prosecution of the case, and rec
commended the employment Of Mr..
Newman, being familiar with his rec
ord in Whatcom county and knowing
him to be regarded as one of the best
prosecutors in the state. The trial was
conducted in the fairest possible man.
ner and the verdict is nothing more
nor less than was generally expected.
1t is altogether improbable that new
trial will be granted or that there are
any errors in the record to warrant the
interference of the supreme court.
Not one word can be said in justifica-
ton or palliation Of Straub's fearful
crime. Not a single extenuating cir
cumstance was brought to light in the
trial. 1t was the act Of iend incar-
nate, deliberately planned and deliber-
ately executed. The very existence of
such men is a menace to society and to
human life. With the threats that
were made against him at the time of
his preliminary hearing THE ISLANDER
had no sympathy, as it has none with
any form of lawlessness whether COM
mitted by an individual or by mob.
Notwithstanding the enormity of his
crime Straub was entitled to fair and
impartial hearing. With that assured,
in the light Of the facts as they were first
published and as they were rendered
more glaring by the sworn evidenced
adduced, there could be but one result,
and it is far better that that result
should be achieved by legal means,
even at considerable cost, than that the
good name of the county should suffer
from resort to violent measures, in dis
regard of law, on the part of any num-
Der of citizens assuming the grave res
possibility Of usurping the power of the
courts and intiicting punishment with
their own hands.
The part that Irving Parberry played
in the terrible tragedy we can only
cover with the mantle of charity for
his youth, his weakness and his terrible
fear of the demon whose bidding he
was inspired by terror to do. By his
own confession in open court he suffer
ed himself to be made the plant tool OF
man whom he knew had murder i'm
his heart. By the most foul abuse he
precipitated quarrel with a young
man afflicted with physical deform-
ity, whom he admits he had no cause
to harm, struck him with an axe, and,
fully conscious Of the fate in store for
him, deliberately lured him to his
death. 1T is doubtful if his evidence
was necessary to Straub's conviction,
but it made it doubly sure, and by it he
obtained, and perhaps justly, immun-
ity from punishment as an acconlplice
In the crime. 1t is to be hoped that the
terrible lesson may not be lost upon
him and that in the future he may pay
more heed to his good mothers counsel,
shun evil associates, stop using profane
and vulgar language and do his best to
merit confidence and trust.