The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-01-26
JUSTICE no the DEAD.


Joseph r. Willard has solved the grea
mystery, He has passed beyond the
reach Of human law or human criticism
Whatever the degree of his culpability
in the tragedy which placed him in the
position from which he found escape
by the desperate act OF self-jestruciioni
he has paid terrible penalty.
No one could look into this mans
heart and see his motives either for the
killing Of +. ID. Perry or for the taking
OF his own life, and surmises now do nc
good There is an ample preponderance
Of evidence to justify most charitable
view and that without casting any
severe reflections on the victim OF Will
ards first rash act.
In any case II is an uncalled-ior dis
play OF unfeeling ghoulishness, and ol
the entire lack of manly consideration
for the feelings OF the living for any
newspaper TO enter into prohtless dis
cussion Of the merits Of the case against
willard; TO try the case and find him
guilty; or 10 bring out what it is pleased
20 consider piece Of new evidence and
seek TO .show not only that he was a
cold-blooded murderer, but that the
only witness TO the tragedy deliberately
perjured himself.
This is done in the "Notes Of a By
stander," published in the Oregon
Statesman. "Bystander" Processes to
have discovered that Stevens evidence
as 10 Perry reaching his hand TO his
hip pocket, ostensibly for pistol must
have been perjury, because Perry had
no back pocket in the pants he wore "
He continues: $50 quiet was this kept
that the coroner himself did not know
II. But Mr.. Willard probably did" etc.
While the JouRSAL is reluctant to go
into any review Of the case, II really
seems necessary 10 say that neither OF
these statements are any nearer the
truth than is usual wit h "Bystander's"
assertions.
There was back pocket in the pants
Perry wore when he was shot. II 10
there yet--the right-hand back hip
pocket. This pocket is now closed at
the top by six or seven stitches taken
with coase black thread, doubled. These
stitches ARE Of such length that the
number mentioned go entirely across
the mouth or top Of the pocket, being
a 10 y an inch long ON the inside OF
the pants.
As 10 when or by whom these stitches
we're taken there is no evidence. Cor
onor Clough says that the pocket was in
this condition when he first saw il, and
he has had the pants In his possession
since before they we're removed from
Perry's body.
Why or how the fact was concealed
from the coronor's jury that examined
the clothing, and why IL did not appear
at the preliminary examination are two
questions not answered.
But supposing the pocket to have
been In that condition at the time OF the
shooting, the assumption that "Mr. Will
lard probably knew il" is entirely
gratuitous as well as senseless, for only
an attempt 10 open the pocket will
reveal its condition.
There will be many TO doubt that a
man in his right mind would deliberately
sew up one OF his own pockets-but be
that as IL may, TnE JOURNAL In this case
only wishes 10 correct misrepresenta'
ton which could do no one any good,
while serving perhaps to cast deeper
cloud ON the memory OF a man, who had
always been known as good citizen
aud who has 80 far as possible expiated
his terrible mistake.
Both the dead men had led useful,
self-supporting lives. Both leave be-
hind those who loved them. The inno-
cent must suffer for the mistakes
wrought by passion. Let us make il as
easy for them as we can. The good
people Of this community feel the deep
est sympathy for the bereayed families |
Of both mon, They feel like assisting
them in any way they can like doing
any thing possible 10 tighten the burden
20 heavy at best.
All hearts must go ont especially TO
the widow and the eight iatherless
children OF the mar who was buried
sunday aud no man will wish TO add a
ia rker shade TO their bereavement.