Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-31

IN Mdft(u bOuubNt atpot ehO NN"~A
county returns 10 this district were
made aud otiicially couhtei. Then Il
was discoyered that the tally sheets
in three precincts 10 Marion county
had been altered so as to supply enough |
tallies TO elect one Of the Union can
dIdates for judge and defeat the
other. A wave OF excitement went
over the county and Judge Boise
acted with great energy and decision
Of character to secure his certificate
Of election.
In all the acts which followed II
was plain that the silver party was as
keen as the Republicans TO have the
perpetrators OF the crime against pur-
ity OF elections ferreted out aud con-
victed. All distinctions OF party
lines disappeared In the prosecutions.
The men arrested for connection with
the offense we're Republicans and
Democrats. The crime attempted was
against Popullst and in the inter
est OF a Democrat. But Democrats
we're as earnest Ia demanding q
thorough investigation and let the
lightning OF justice fall on
whoever was guilty. Among the
men arrested was one connected
with the Union state central commit
tee. An indictment was promptly
returned at the last term OF Judge
Burnett's court and then 1t was dis
covered that An ereor lad been made
10 the drawing OF a substitute for one
of the grand jurors who was taken
sick aud had to be excused. This was
an error OF Judge Burnett and be
brayely faced his mistake and dis.
missed the indictments, rather than
be reversed in the supreme court after
putting the county TO the expense Of
securing a conYictlon. He held the
defendants under bonds TO the next
term OF the grand jury 10 February
when indictments will be sought de
novo and erals will no doubt follow.
At the January term Of the Marion
county court a new list OF jurors must
be selected by the Judge and commis
sioners. Two hundred names must be
taken from the tax roll for 1898, and
from these grand aud trial jurors for
1899 must be drawn. The law govern
ing the selection OF jurors wa:
amended 10 1893 so that the county
court may select 400 TO 600 names In
stead OF 200 and there is fine OF S3OI
for any one who suggests names orally
or by writing them on a slip and hand
ing them TO any member OF the county
court when II Is making up Its jury
list. IL Is tremendous response
bility that rests on TIT
, county court in selecting this jury
3 list. Both the state aud the defens'
5 are entitled TO Jury that shall b
! above suspicion or reproach. Tha
? there have been charges OF polltica
/ influence Ia the selection OF juries II
, the past makes the duty Of the cour
e 10 selecting this jury all the NOR
- important. one. Of the graves
e crimes against free institutions ha
G been committed Ia Marion county
K IL Is a crime that strikes at the puI
e lty OF elections aud the independence
|. OF the judiciary. Much as one ma.
Il be inclined TO wish TO see every ma
. and his family spared the humi
g Iation aud degradation OF a conYic
A tlon for such an offense. A higher sen
+ tlment of duty to the free institution
A under which we live aud the rights {
4 the accused TO complete acquittal
n Innocent, requires that these trials c
II the ballot frauds IN Marion county b
/. conducted 10 the strictest compllanc
4 with laE and that every detail Of u
law be strictly observed and then ID
the responsibility for conYlctlon {