The San Francisco call., 1901-10-24
WANT LYNCH|NG
SUSPECTS FREED.
People Of Modoc County
Sympathize With
Prisoners.
Attorney General Writes a
Singing Rebuke to the
Authorities.

The astounding information that the
people and officials Of Modoc County de-
sire to dismiss the charges against the
three Lookout lynching suspects, now i'll
confinement at Alturas, was conveyed 20
the Attorney General yesterday through
a communication to Deputy Z. T.. Post
from the District Attorney of Modoc
County, who also states that he himself
thinks the matter should be dropped. The
Attorney General has replied with let
ter which expresses in plain terms his
opinion of the District Attorney and all
others who adhere to the same view.
District Attorney Bonner's letter Is as
follows:
I arrived home yesterday afternoon to hnd
that petitions for dismissal are being signed by
leading citizens all the county, irrespective
of political lines geographical My candid
judgment is the entire county desires 1t. ! non
estly consider further prosecution entirely use
less of these defendants. Even the Grand Jury
itself a majority have expressed desire 1or
dismissal of the cases. Unless you can give me
strong additional evidence I will consider it my
duty to move dismissal Of these cases. thlnK
you and the rest of us can at this late day dis
miss with perfect propriety to all concerned
1 do not feel disposed to continue these mat
ters.
your wishes. These defendants have been held
practically in solitary confinement for nearly
! five months and the county sympathy is very
strong.
Attorney General Indignant.
The Attorney General at once sent
! telegram in reply, ordering the arraigr-
! ment and trial of the defendants, Brown,
Leyenton and Eades: "A tefIef was rt aiso .
| follows:
prise at the astounding contents Of your conf
munication. That Modoc County is willing wiling to
the Lookout lynching do not believe, nor can
reconcile the sentiment and suggestions OF
| your communication with the official duties OF
District Attorney.
AS you are aware sent two Of my deputies.
Messrs. Post and Sturtevant, TO your county to
| assist you at the examination of the lynching
matter by your Grand Jury, the result of which
| Leventon and Fades. 1 subsequently sent Mr..
| Sturtevant again to your county to assist you
| in certain matters incident to the case that
Ing the arraignment of these defendants. have
spent several hundreds of dollars of the funds
| of this office In an endeaVor 10 AID you III en-
| forcing the law.
| 1 am aware that the Supervisors of your coun-
have Te5eetea the cia OF 3estmonW e1en be
fore the Grand Jury after having been advised
| by this office that the claim was legal charge
and should be paid.
1 am aware that a brass band went to your
County Jail and serenaded the indicted men,
Denounces the Crime.
am aware that certain newspapers in your
county have seen fit to disparage the prosecu-
ton in this case, and have referred to my ef-
forts and those of my subordinateS therein in
| an unfair and apparently malignant spirit
| I am also aware that you were present With
| my representatives at the examination Of the
| lynching by your Grand Jury, and am
Informed by my representatives that you and
| they agreed that the evidence. there ad-
duced, warranted the Indictment of Leventon,
| Brown and Fades, and that you and my repre-
sentatives were fully convinced of the guilt of
the men indicted; and you have not
signed a belief in the innocence of the indicted
men as one of your reasons for desiring to dis
| mis- i warranted assuming
that you still believe as do my representatives,
that the indicted men are unquestionably guilty.
In conclusion permit me to say that the crime
for which these men stand indicted is the
blackest that has ever been committed in the
history of this State; that Notwithstanding all
the discouraging facts hereinbefore mentioned.
I am nevertheless keenly sensible that the honor
of both the State of California well that
of Modoc County Is involved in this prosecution;
and that intend to prosecute these defendants
with all the vigor and energy at my command;
and to that end, hereby direct you to proceed
with the arraignment of Defendants Leventon,
Brown and Fades, and to have their trial set
| for Monday, the eleventh day of November,
| 1901 or as soon thereafter as may be, having
the cases 80 set that the defendant Brown will
be first tried.