The herald., 1896-02-05
What Mr.. Lewis Thinks of RO.
gerio Rocha's Rights
GOT A DEED ALL THE SAME
"Justice" Makes o Proposition to Judge
Widney Worthy Of Consideration
Wants the Judge to Demonstrate the High
Christian Character for Which He 10
Noted by Actual Deeds

Attorney Frank d. Lewis, who has sued
The HERALD for damages in the sum of
$4,000 for alleged libel, came up from
Riverside yesterday. Mr.. Lewis is really
very pleasant young man. and when APP
preached by HERALD representative he
talked freely concerning the title that
Rogerio Rocha possessed, or, as Mr.. Lewis
now thinks. the title he did not possess, to
certain lands in the San Fernando grant.
Mr.. Lewis stated that he, as lawyer,
considered the position Judge Widney had
taken with regard to Rogerio Rocha's
title-that it was a nullity--as practically
unanswerable. He said that at the time
the agent of the Indian Rights association
investigated Rogerio Rocha's title and
made report upon the facts, he had dis
VOWED in the eviction proceedings against
Rocha, had threatened to prosecute the
agent for criminal libel.
Learning of this, Mr.. Lewis stated that
the agent had returned to California for
the purpose OF giving the parties who said
that they were so anxious to prosecute him
an opportunity TO serve papers upon him.
But the papers, Mr.. Lewis says, were
never served, and the agent was therefore
talked SO loud of libel suits were biuff1ng.
Mr.. Lewis returned to Riverside in the
afternoon.
A PROPOSITION
"Justice," a time-honored correspondent
of The HERALD, has written this paper a
brief but breezy communication which is
interesting to all, and which will, perhaps,
be of especial interest to Judge Widney.
"Justice" says:
"EDITOR HERALD: Like many others, 1
have been considerably interested in the
story of Roqerio Rocha which has appeared
in your columns. This much is evident:
Rocha has lost his rights through the mis-
take of his attorney in writing his name
filed on his behalf in court. No Christian
gentleman or person protesting any degree
of morality whatever could take advantage
of such a mistake to acquire that which
did not belong to him.
"Now, Judge Widney has always held a
high reputation in the community and Is
generally regarded AS a consistent and
faithful disciple of the meek and lowly
Jesus. Can he still retain that reputation
in the community and refuse to do Justice
to the Indian? think not. True Chris
tianity does not recognizes the statute OF
limitations or make wrong committed
eleven years ago right today. Wrong done
then can only be atoned for by restoration
today.
"If, as Judge Widney claims, the Indian
had no rights when action was commenced
to eject him, although others may differ
l do not think it worth while now to in.
quire whether judgment went against him
by mistake or on the merits afte- a fail
trial. But as to whether or not the lndiaI
did have any rights; there it seems the at
torneys differ. However, Judge Widney
| cannot excuse himself in the eyes of thu
community by brief in his behalf in TIL
HERALD showing that the Indian had nj
| title, for there would also ba brief on be
half of the Indian and decision from
| some impartial person learned in the Law
upon those briefs.
"Let Judge Widney agree to submit tn,
matter to one of the judges of our superlo
court as to whether kocha had any right O
| title which he could have ayailed himsel
of if it had not been for the mistake ant
inadvertance of his attorney and furthe
agree that If the decision is against him ht
will restore to Rocha all tina: he has lost OF
ii that cannot be done, it's value. son Is
IF he is afraid only of the useless cos
of such proceeding / know there are suff
cient persons interested in the old Indiar
to guarantee the payment to Judge Wild
ney of all his cost and expense if the deci
sion is in his favor.
IF Judge Widney will not do this O,
something like it, think he might as wei
quit preaching and abandon all pretensions
| to Christianity, as his example will be a
greater power for evil than his preaching
for good. Nevertheless, hope Judge Wild
ney will make some offer which will show
that he believes that no advantage wa.
taken of the Indian, and that he is Willing
to restore him to the rights which he for
merly possessed, if it is found that he hat
any rights"
This is glorious opportunity for Judgs
Widney IL he desires to avail himself of it