Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-10-27
A Tempest in a Teapot

]
the reprive recently granted him by
the board of pardons OF this state
Seeing the utter hopelessness Of their
cause, with certain d feat staring them
in the face in every county in the state,
they are making desperate attempts,
like drowning man catching at a
straw, to save their party by casting
aspersions upon the character Of Gov
ernor Steunenberg for the action taken
in the case above referred to.
1t is safe to say that there is not
fair minded man in the state OF Idaho,
even though he were a member OF the
"Sheep Growers Association" who
would not have done the same thing
under the same showing Of facts.
The conviction OF Jack Davis was
largely from circumstantial evidence,
The board had before them petitions
signed by over 800 citizens OF Cassa
county, 400 of whom asked for full
pardon in his case, believing that he
is innocent Of the crime, and 100 of
whom asked for a Communication OF his
sentence to imprisonment
These petitions contain the names
Of all the county officials, except two
members OF the board OF county COM
missiOners, and OF many Of the leading
citizens. The board received strong
personal letters from many Of the lead
ing citizens OF that county expressing
their conviction that Davis was about
to be executed for a crime which he
did n OF commit. One OF these letters
. was from Hon. JAS Nj. Pierce, state
senator from that county, Mr.. Pierce
Y was among the number Of those who
contributed money to aid in the pros
ecutiOn of Davis, believing at the time
that he was guilty. He is now sa It's
fed OF Davis innocence and writes a
strong letter to the governor asking
for executive clemency in the case
Similar letters were written by Hon.
Harry Sears, county commissioner, o
z. Anderson, sheriff, l.. NJ. Sylvester
Revs. Hardman and Winterhurn, anC
many other prominent and reputabl,
citizens expressing their belief in the
innocence of DAVIS and asking for hi
pardon.
In addition to this there is mass 0
new evidences presented To the boarC
to the effect that Davis did not xii
Cummings or Wilson and knew moth
ing about the killing. Mr.. j T. Bow
er came before the board and testitiet
that Wilson and Cummings were shO
by one jeff Gray about noon of Eebru
AIRY ith 1896; that the shooting wa
done To save his Blowers life, he beinj
at the time assaulted by one OF the pan
4 81,
suppose either Of the parties were Sci
iously or fatally hurt, and that Dayi
was not present aud had no knowledg
Of the killing and was in no wise in
plicatcd therein.
Evidence was pre- ented that Jei
Gray, shortly after the killing, told
ne number OF parties that he had kille,
Cummings aud Wilson. He told thi
to r. b. Rice, J. p Duncan, C. II
Hewitt, all Of whom made afliduvits
which are now on Tile in the depart
as, meut Of state, to that effect and arr
ready to appear before the board an,
give evidence Of these facts.
ell, The board took the precaution o
ToS making dilisent inquiry as to the re
yes sponsiJility of all these persons befor
ter taking action in the ease. Hon. L
&C. c. Ramsey, present T. S. Marshal {
this state and an old resident OF Cal
STA county being intimately arquaint
Tor Tor ed with all these persons, testified tina
their reputation Tor truth and veracit
zee was good that they stood high in TIA
-. community IN which they reside, an
that they are trustworthy and relabl
d persons.
Lawrence Hansen, Justice of tn
~ peace OF Rock Greek precinct, mad
affidavit that on October 10, 1898, i
had examined J. f. Bower upon tw
re- charges of murder preferred by j.
ne Tatro, merchant of Rock Creek, iC
o. the killing of Wilson and Cumminl
ale on February 4, 1896, and that upo
said charges he had held Bower TO III
ry next term of the district court undt
let bail OF $4,000.
Ir With this showing the board gran
~ ed reprive until the 10Th of Decen
Der and issued subpoenas for the a
'ly tendance of these witnesses to appei
las before the board on December lst.
tor This action of the board simply al
ng Toys time for the hearing of new eN
,ss dence in the case. II is beyond Il
Iso pale OF all reasonable criticism. Wit
IL the life of human being tremblin
in the balance what trio of ntelligel
men could have done otherwise Will
ed out stultifying their manhood2
ry. For this wise and humane actic
al the goldbug press of the state, in lac
ais OF other campaign material, hurl the
soc thunders at the devoted head Of Go
ernor Steunenberg, but it is lik ely
:. prove a very damaging boomerang
IL the republican party.
an 1t may be mentioned, also that bo
j. Secretary OF State Lewis and Attorn,
di- General Mcfarland, the other ty
ay members OF the board, are very mut
opposed to Governor Steunenberg al
IA, are among hte last persons in the sta
~. who would in any way by any actic
w. Of theirs further the political ambition
aar OF the governor, and yet the action
~, the board was unanimous.
49,, The puerile whine Of the republics
~" press that politics had anything to
~ with the action Of the board is the 81
~ lest driyel. The pretention that Il
;sa nomination OF Governor Steunenbe
r. was secured by deal in which Il
o. repriye or pardon of Diamondfie
~ Jack cut any figure is the mere