The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-02-28
THE GREAT SENSATION.

William n. Boggs, whose name has
become us familiar as household words.
returned to the State a week ago after an
absence since May last. His coming
was as sensational as his leaving. For
several weeks his return has been an
nonnced by THE SrN, daily newspaper
OF Wilmington, the editor of which
claimed to have knowledge of Will
Boggs' whereabouts, and to he in posses-
sion of important facts bearing upon the
robbery OF the bank and Of sundry per-
sons connected with it, This paper, THE
Sun, made very large claims. Its an
nouncelnents Of facts and persons
were given in startling, sensational de-
tails, and the names of the parties sus-
pected by The SrN were published to the
world without any hesitancy, but all it's
announcements in relation to the miser-
able affair We're made in such sensational
style, with flaming headlines, like war
bulletins, and were generally character
lzed by such sensational features that the
public after awhile came to think, SO it
appeared, that it was purely sensation.
originating in desire to popularize and
create sale for the new daily paper.
AS soon as the names appeared, of
those whom THE Sun charged with com
pllcity in the bank robbery, the denials
came from those charged. Threats were
made OF dire vengeance and libel suits
against the editor, and yet the veng-
eance did not fall; the libel suits did not
follow. The charges were renewed and
repeated, SO that the public mind was
in chronic state of expectancy, uncer-
tainty and nervousness.
On Saturday last, four men were ar
rested upon warrants issued out of the
District Court of the United States for
this District, upon the aftidavits of the
president of the robbed bank Three
of these men, Ezekiel T. Cooper, Amos
Cole and Thomas S. Clark, had been
named by THE SrN as among those
who aided Boggs in the robbery of the
bank. They were taken to Wilmington
in charge OF marshals, for preliminary
hearing When they filed into the court
room, William N, Boggs confronted them.
The whole affair was managed SO skill
fully and so quietly that when the facts
became known to the public, it is safe to
say that Delaware has never been 80
stirred, and up to this writing the sensa-
ton continues and the public appetite
now cries for more. And more IS pro-
missed at the hearing which has been set
for today. 1t is broadly intimated that
other arrests are to follow upon a more
complete recital Of the evidence. Whet her
these will include the seven claimvd by
THE SUN remains to Ee seen.
The stockholders of the bank, tie de-
postors and the public generally have
for months been clalnoring ior a Thorough
sitting of the affair, and for the punish
ment of all those implicated, if any
Others were, outside OF Boggs himself.
Mr.. Richardson, it is well known, is a
careful, prudent man, not given to ex-
citement or undue haste. and when a
man Of his known conservatism makes
solemn oath that ne has reason to be-
|leve and does believe that the parties
named have committed acts such as
ustifics the officers in issuing warrants
or their arrest, it is readily seen that
he excitement Of the public has
'tasonabIe foundation.
The position that all men are pre-
'umed innocent until proven guilty, is
he proper position in these days of ex-
element. As Captain Sigsbee telegraphed
n relation to the Maine disaster, suspend
Judgment If any one is guilty,
md SO proven, then he should be duly
We think it is safe to say that Mr..
andegrIft, the District Attorney, will
10 his who,c duty. But no man on ac-
oant OF any 81 KY sentiment should be
flowed to escape, be his station or con-
lcctions what they may. "Let justice
'e done, though the heavens fall.'-
Me State Sentinel Dover Del