The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1897-10-02
UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR.
"HAPPY JACK" KILLED
IN CHERRY CREEK.

AN ShhANNh SNLLNs
The residents of Ely were shocked
last Monday by the report that a MUIR
der had been committed at Cherry
Greek. At first no details could be
learned, but from later reports we have
CLEANED the following:
Last Saturday evening, Sept. 25th,
John Griffin, better known as Happy
jack, returned about seven o'clock in
the evening to the cabin which he had
been occupying in common with James
Rodgers, familiarly known as 'Red"
Rodgers. He found the front door
locked, so went around to the back door
and pushed it open, when he was struck
by R~odgers'ils and felled to the ground.
Rodgers, seeing that Jack did not get
up again, went down town and procured
assistance. He was accompanied back
to the cabin by Frank Pierce who spoke
to Jack and helped him to his feet. He
was able to walk a little way, but after
staggering around to the front of the
cabin, fell unconscious. By this time
others had arrived on the scene and the
PROSTATE form was carried into the cab
in and given such relief as the know
ledge OF those present dictated, but he
never regained consciousness, dying at
2:45 4. M. Sunday. Rodgers gave him
self up without resistance and had a
hearing before Judge Cannon on Mon
day and Tuesday, when he was bound
Owe without bonds to appear before
the Grand Jury.
The NEWS does not vouch for the
entire trustworthiness of the above
statement, as it has been gathered en-
tirely from hearsay, nor would 1t ex-
press IN opinion as to the guilt or inno-
cence of the prisoner. 1t is stated by
some that Rodgers had previously
ordered Jack away from the cabin and
had thrown out his bed, and there seems
to be Il wide divergence of opinion
among those familiar with the circum-
stances, as to the amount of blame that
Rodgers deserves. That is a matter
for the Grand Jury to decide.
The fact remains that q man has been
killed and the matter should be given
the most careful investigation. 1t makes
no difference that this man was a poor
old inebriate who was apparently worth
less to himself and everybody else. 1t
is not for us to say that one mans life
is any more valuable than another's.
If murder has been committed, then
the guilty party should pay the penal
ty. There is nc law, written or unwrit-
ten which moro vitality concerns our
social system than that which says.
''Thou shalt not kill" The peace and
happiness of every community depends
on its enforcement and it is the office OF
every good citizen to see that it is en-
forced.
In connection with this case the in
efficiency Of the laws of the State with
regard to Coroner's inquests is very
apparent. The District Attorney, who
is also ex-officio Coroner, was fifty miles
from the scene of the crime. To have
sent for him involved an expense which
the law does not provide for. No one
was willing to hire a team and go on
his own responsibility without reason
IN, a,u+nt,{x- thnf he uya,,11 ranaityn
compensation. No one in Cherry Greek
had authority to hold an inquest, so
Griffin was buried without one This
is certainly a ~deplorable state of affairs
and should be remedied.
Another matter towhich our attention
has been called is the lack of jail facil-
ties at Cherry Creek. 1t is stated that
the accused man, Rodgers, was allowed
to be at large from the time that he
gave himself up to the officers until he
was brought to Ely. He had ample
opportunity to escape had he desired
to do so. Once gone, his recapture
would have been doubtful and might
nave COSt Tile lOSS VI lllt uuu RTodU ga
pense to the county. How much better
it would be to provide a safe place for
the temporary detention of prisoners.
In this case we do not see that there is
any blame to be attached to the officers.
They certainly cannot be expected to
take a mar accused of murder into their
homes among their families, nor is it
reasonable to expect them to maintain
a rigid watch IN him day and night for
a period of four or five days. Cherry
has an old jail which could be repaired
at a small expense to the County and
the matter should be attended to at
once.
CHERRY CHEEK ITEMS.