The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-12-19
WAY CASE WAS DISMISSED.
Justice Burford Thought Too Much
Time Was Wasted.

Time Was Wasted.
Chief Justice Burford welded his
power as a judge as he never dill be-
fore according to his own statement.
He dismissed the case against William
Jackson for mu. der and gave Jack
son his freedom. Jackson was cha1g-
ed with being implicated in the murd-
er Of one Eeicks, whose headless body
was found in the Canadian river souih
OF Norman and farther Iowl sIe5m
the head in a gunny sacE was found.
TIE case has been continued froi time
to time TIL it is alleged that Jackson
has been in Jail about three years
without ever having q chance for tiial.
esterday was set for the trial by
Justice Burford the case being trans
tered on a change of venue from
Oklahoma county. The justice is quot
ed as saying that if the case vas not
tired when he set it this time he
v ould dismiss the case anG release the
prisoner and this is just what he has
done. However, the county attorney
Of Oklahoma county catre up with his
assistants yesterday ami made a no
bon for a continuance Ius,,e Bar
fcrd denied the application and this
racrning on the refusal Of County At
to,ney Taylor Of oklahoma county to
proceed with his prosecution, the jus
ltee dismissed the case. giving very
eloquent talk in doing SO lie said:
q release this man because be
lieve that the ends OF justice are be
ing defeated in not doing so. It has
always been my practice and there IS
statute which upholds my position,
10 try a prisoner at the same term OF
court at which he is indicted. This
man has been in Jail now for nearly
three years and Yet he has never been
given a trial for his offersa as the
records of Oklahoma county show, |
believe.
"The courts of this territory and
of every state are in existence 20 give
every man charged with a crime a
chance to clear himself. 1t seems that
this man has not had this chance and
therefore he has been deprived of a
citizens light.
1T has never happened that | haN e
released a man who has been rharg-
ed with murder. but believe thai in
this case am 5oing Justice and 50 I
order the release II william jack
sen"
County Attorney raylor in rcfusing
20 prosecute the ease made very
earns t talk and said:
your honor / ONLY, ask for a con
tinuance of this case until Monday.
] promise at this time to have all my
Witnesses here. It is a very short time
and to turn this prisoner loose would
be licensing criminality, for l believe
that this man is guilty Of the charge
and that can prove t so if given un-
I'll Monday.
"Your Honor this case has been
continued from time to time but al
ways at the instiga.ion of the defend
ant who was never ready to have his
case tried although we have been
ready manEl times. In support of what
say / cite the fact that he even took
a change of venue In order to escape
being tried | plead with your honor
to grant me the five days continu-
ance"
Jackson was released here in the
district court room and has not been
seen since. It is thought that he is a
man of fftyhye or sixty years; that
he has started back TO join his kin.
He cay be reindic.ed but 1t is not
thought probable that he will be-