The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-23
FOUNDER ON MURDER
A Few OppOrtune Remarks on the
ALI Absorbing Subject.
THREE OFFICERS KILLED
LET Not the Brave Die in Vain" Is
the Theme Providence Stayed
Judges Hand-Let Butte
Juries Take Heed.
OFFICERS K
KILLED

Othcer Fred Parlin. After the usual
opening exercises TO which the brand
new pipe organ added interest, MIR.
Rounder, looking rather lost in his
modern, rather new-fangled surround
ings, mounted the platform and an
nounced that his text for the evening
would be Let not the brave die in
vain" He said:
by the act of murderous fiend an
other brave officer is added to the list
of the men who have died in the ser-v-
Ice of the city of Butte-a list which is
growing long. Another widow weeps
disconsolate in Butte, another child is
fatherleSs, another murder is added to
Silver Bows dark criminal record. an
other argument is sent to Washington
to be used by the hig h official who
has characterized the population of the
western states as consisting of out
laws and adventures.
mo death is grander than death at
the post of duty. Officer Fred Parlin
was not generally regarded as a bril-
liant officer. But those who noted his
work day after day regarded him as
one OF the most faithful and courag-
eous of all Butte's policemen. He was
seldom assigned to duty in Buttes
business thoroughfares, but was usu-
ally to be found in the outskirts of the
city, in those dark corners where crime
turks and grows bold, where police
men most are needed. 1t makes a
great difference to the people of
city whether the policemen who are
engaged to watch that citizens may
rest securely, sleep on their beats or
remain on guard. officer Parlin was
the kind of policeman who could al
ways be found faithfully and diligently
guarding that portion of the city en-
trusted to his charge. He never
hinched from facing death every night,
though his salary was only 500 per
month
THE circumstances attending the
death of officer Parlin are not clearly
known. 1t is certain that he was on
duty as usual, that he heard a shot
which would indicate that something
was wrong, that some citizen might be
in danger, that some crime might be
going on. Without the hesitation of a
moment. without thinking of the pos
sible consequences to himself, think
ing only of his duty, he entered the
snare. Without word of warning,
without minutes time in which to
offer up petition to his Maker, with
out the mereSt semblance of provoca-
ton, in absolutely cold blood, Officer
Parlin was shot down
las to who committed the fouI deed
is matter which must be passed on
by the courts. Whether Judge. who
met death so dramatically even before
the officer breathed his last. or Ed
wards, who stands behind the bars
charged with the murder, is guilty of
the brave officers death, is vet to be
determined. 1t has seemed to me much
more probable that justice has already
been melted out to the principal in the
wicked crime-unless, indeed, the two
men were both guilty Fleeing from
the accusing body which lay bleedingon
the ground where it fell, Judge ran at
utmost speed down the alley. His gum
was still in his hand. He fired one shot
at watohamn whom he passed. so
tnat even III he was not the murderer
or officer Parlin, he showed that he
had murder i'm his heart. Murder was
still in his heart when he was driven
by a faithful dog underneath the side
walk. With two shots he killed the
noble animal With trembling hands
he now started to reload his gun that
he might be in readiness to commit
more murder when the pursuing off,
GERS should come. But right there az
II seems to me. the hand of God in
terposed! 1t would seem that the God
OF justice, outraged by the remem-
brance of scores of UNPUBLISHED murders
In Butte, insulted by the spectacle of
murderers as guilty as Judge walk
ing the streets of Butte every dav. dis
dained to rely any further on Butte
justice and ended at once a career of
crime which might have eliminated in
rev seconds more in the Commission
of more murder Judge did not com
mat suicide. Call II accident IL you will,
call II the justice of God which di
rected that last fatal shot! One bullet
n the numerous gun was reserved for |
! noble mission. 1t sped true to the |
marx. ana a desperate criminal. while |
n the act OF preparing for more muir |
Ter, was in an instant's time IN the !
of the God who gave him he
ng! -''
universally mourned as Officer Par
in is, his death would not be utterly
vain If by his death others might live |
Let not the brave die in vain! Yet. off, |
'ers as brave and as faithful as ParIin 4
ave met death, and still Butte will 1
lot heed the lesson. On June "a 1900 4
officer William Jordan was shot and
killed by desperadoes while protecting
from burglary. His murder
RS were never punished and Butte
allied to learn the lesson of obedience
o law. On July 4, 1894. officer ID. j.
DAILY was shot dead bysa murderous
land while trying TO quell riot of re-
lgious fanatics at a saloon. Yet his
murderer walks the streets OF Rutte 70
ay unpublished. and the law is not vim
Heated. Might not officer Parlin be
till alive If, when Officers Jordan and
)aly had been killed while in the dis
barge Of duty, the lesson of obedience
0 law had been thoroughly taught?
When policemen can be killed with i'm
unity. how can any life be safe? How.
an II be expected that criminals will
espsct the law or the police. who are
he representatives Of the law. when
he murderers Of Officers Jordan and
)aly are eNultins unpublished ia sue
essful murder The death of Officer
'arlin is Butte's third lesson. Is II
ecessary that any more brave men
lust die before criminals ara taught
hat the law must be respected in
utte2 Must more lives be lost before
he town is rid Of those classes who are
] the city. not for citizenship. but for
under; not 60 make homes but for
imposes OF robbery and murder: not TO
evelop Butte into a w-abiding and re-
pected community. but 10 make Of