Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-11
-AruoIrlyE FROM JusTIcEg


one Of the charges against Hon y. H.
Roberts. preferred by the pulpit and
the press and by his accusers at the
seat Of National government Is that ne
Is "a fugitive from Justice That Is
part OF the scheme oonoocted In this
city, OF which we learned particulars
many months ago. on another page
of this paper win be found a statement
made by a reliable gentleman, which
exposes the plot and also the aniinu
that inspired It.
Il is well known here that the chs
charge preferred against Mr. Robes
was made in the Salt Lake Tribpe
more than a year ago. ACCOMPANIMENT
threats MS to what would be dor II
the voters OF this State did not 1--WE
heed TO It, repudiatc that candida Tor
the Office of Representative In CoEress
and support his opponent The eople
of Utah did not cSoose TO be dtated
20, in their political affairs, h that
newspaper nor did they have reard to
its threats. Indeed. the coursof that
paper helped materially to sect the
successful candidate and to ofeat his
adversary.
As soon as the result was scertaiped'
the same paper opened its btteries for
the purpose Of assisting II clergy OF
different sects here to bro the storm
Which has passed over e. country
aroused the bitter prejudics OF the ig-
norant and blinded the eys Of the edu-
Gated portion OF the American public
During all the time that this tempest,
originating in this city. mas been rag
ing and Increasing in yilume through
out the States Of this Union. no at
tempt was made to bring the accused
Congressman-e before court OF
justice. Other persons who We're ac-
cused Of similar offences 10 those
charged against him were arraigned
and punished, but no complaint was
sworn out In his case. until after he
had left the State on business in the
East. nor until the time came to ac-
complish the purpose Of the plot
The departure OF Mr. Roberts was
ddly Announced In the columns OF the
Salt Lake Herald. No immediate ac-
ton was taken by HIS defamers. Not
until his arrival in New York was the
machinery Which had been prepared set
in motion. Then a complaint was made
out In this city from hearsay and be-
lief which, when inquired into by the
prosecuting attorney OF the county
where II was presented. proved to be
entirely insufficient 10 give any pros
pect OF a conviction before competent
court. That step was therefore fail
ure. Next a new complaint charging
q different offence, was filed. which even
II supported by proof. would constitute
simple misdemeanor.
All this, observe, was done while It
was known that the accused was IN
the extreme East. The charge. then,
that he is fugitive from justice" is
utterly false, and was intended by the
pious people who are at the back Of the
prosecution. to still further deceive
and inname the people OF the United
States, and urge them on to the act Of
folly and wrong committed at the OPEN
ing Of Congress by their Representa-
iives at their behest
Under the Constitution Of the United
States and the laws Of the State Of
Utah. the Governor Is authorized 10
demand the extradition OF a person
charged with high crime 'who shall
lice from justice!" This presupposes
that at least criminal charge has
been made against the fugitive. In some
part Of the State, from which he fed 10
escape. But as We have shown In
this case, no such legal accusation
was attempted until the intended Vie
tim OF the scheme was thousands Of
inles away.
The lntamy OF the whole conspiracy
against the Representative from Utah
viii not be properly comprehended until
its full particulars, with the names Of
the individuals who concocted IL and
aided IN bringing it TO a practical issue.
are disclosed to the light of day. The
time VIII come when lts complete his
tory win De uniolled. AZ present suffice
it 70 say that whether Hon. b. II. Rob.
erts obtains or fails to obtain justice
in the Congress Of the United states,
or Is convicted or acquitted Of the mis-
demeanor with which pc IS now
charged and which Is not bar against
voting or holding Office in any event,
that gentleman rs not a fugitive from
Justice in any legal or commonsense
view Of the term.