The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1901-07-19
POLITICAL P0T-PIE

dlth case has absorbed the polltlcal
thoughts Of the leading politicians
of this city for the past three weeks
or more the Pie-maker is Of the opin-
ion that it would not be out Of place
to repeat a few stray thoughts that
he has heard during the street dis
cussiOn Of the case, and while he
does not intend to in any way try the
case in the columns of The Repub-
lican, nevertheless he considers it by
no means out Of place to give a few
brief sketches Of random opinions
heard upon the streets since the Con-
sidines have been released on bail.
The Considines were released on
bail last Friday night, and it is quite
remarkable how quickly they made
so large a bail after Judge George
had decided to admit them to bail.
Though the two men were required
to only give $22, 500, they readily
raised 100000, and could have dou-
bled and trebled that amount if it
had been required. All Of this is a
swift indication, to my mind, said
a gentleman, that the people believe
that the Considines did no more
than any other man would have done
under similar circumstances.
1t can be truthfully said that
there are not a dozen business men
in the city of Seattle at present who
do not openly declare that the Con-
sidines are guilty of no crime in the
world, save, perhaps, John Considine
guilty Of carrying a concealed wea-
pom. The man who will not protect
himself when he is viciously attack
ed by another, is no man at all.
The unanimous opinion of every
man in the city Of Seattle, save, per-
haps, the editor of the "Times," is
to the effect that Tom Considine is
absolutely guiltless of any crime or
intended crime. Whatever he did,
he did it believing that he was saw
ing his brothers life, and if he had
not done exactly what he did do, he
should be considered a worse Grim
inal by far than he now is consider
ed. The remarkable thing of the
whole case is that Tom Considine
had the bravery to rush in under the
circumstances and save his brothers
life, which should be commended
rather than condemned.
Never since the Blethens have
had control of the Chimes" have
they been so roundly condemned for
their editorial utterances than they
were after the Chimes" was out last
Saturday 1t is the worst lump lot Of
billingsgate that Colonel Blethen ev-
er got off, and that is saying a good
deal. There was not one scintilla Of
truth in his whole article, and it is
very doubtful if there was a man in
the city Of Seattle who read it that
believed word it said.
If there was not some per-
jury committed in the prelimi-
nary trial of the Considines, it
would so appear on the face
of the evidence. Some Of the
face of the evidence. Some of the
witnesses testified to things that they
must have schooled themselves pref
ty hard on, in order to have been
able to repeat it and stick to the sto-
ry while on the witness stand
During W. L. Meredith's official
life, Charley. Wappenstein was his
shadow, but since his death Wappy
has been conspicuous by his absence
at both Of the trials that have taken
place. This has prompted a good
many persons to ask, 'Where is
Wappy, and why was he not present
at the trial?" Being an up-to-date
detective, it is strange that he was
not handling the evidence in the
case and getting the witnesses tes-
timony more in harmony with each
other.
Officer Mefford, who was present
at the time Of the Meredith Consi-
dine tragedy, has been relieved from
duty by the civil service board, for
neglect Of duty. 1t will be remem-
bered that he was suspended by the
acting chief the next day after the
shooting, and now the civil service
board has confirmed the chiefs ac-
ton. Mefford believes that he has
been jobbed just because he is
friendly to Considine.
''Had / have grabbed Meredith
when he started into the door shoot
ing at Considine, there is no doubt
in my mind but that Considine, find
ing his enemy detained, would have
turned about at once and begun
shooting at Meredith, and he per
haps would have killed Meredith in
my arms; then I would be charged
with murder, just as the Consoles
are at present. Ny enemies would
have said that [ held Meredith for
Considine to kill him. Now. be-