Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-14
LET JUSTICE TAKE ITS COURSE

In view of all the circumstances at
tending the latest murder case which
has attracted so much attention IN TINS
CITY. looking at the probabilities and
possibilities of developments not yet
made and considering the right OF the
defendant to an impartial trial by
lawful jury, would 1t not be Just rs
well to avoid public expressions through
the press and otherwise that are likely
TO create prejudice either In favor of
the deceased or against the man who
fired the fatal shot?
The action Of certain eocleslasts In
passing Judgment on the Innocence OF
the dead man, was a virtual verdict on
their part az to the guilt of his as
sailant. II was pronounced without
hearing Of the evidence and was really
OF no more value than passing opinion
of ordinary gosslps. but 1t had It's de-
sired effect on many minds. II was
gratuitous, and Illtlmed, and out of
place.
The urgings of some papers TO make
a special effort for rapid ana extreme
measures in this Instance are equally
improper Here Is an ebullition from
one editor that Is both erroneous and
indicative of desire to arouse popular
feeling, rather than encourage calm
and lawful Judgment:
'The best class of people demand
protection. and We seem to have before
US an opportunity 10 MAKE terrible
,,Ialn tonison Went ~ Watson's Mace
and shot him down. There are but two
possible circumstances That might ex-
ouipa.c tne slayer' rns rs ~ ~ Wy
he SLAYER was NOT tbe ageressor. sec
ond, IN case the slayer was unmlstak-
ably insane and Incapable OF SOUND
yuusll,eae apo 'a iaD ,h .V" oaon, 20
venee for ina glnarv or even real wrong
done the slayer. " all he alleges and
hints az Is true, sun ne is' IN tue eyes
VI '"e '""' '0N''
III the hrst place inc iaw' "n'o'l
800 -.
niointalheu' uoes no' auohorl]e ,ne '"hT
ing Advantage OF IAN opportunity to
make terrible example, Of an al
,oooa o,o,dar That 40 nror,n,ad no n
=" i'' - ''o'''N
spirit OF tue very revenge 'hat mo III"
sanctions" II should proceed In this
Gaze as IN all otner cases on the l'hes
ia'd down by statute with proper
oe'erlty OF course Dut win no unuue
haste nor disposition 10 placate puone
demands alleged or real when are NOT
ana cannot De pasea upon iu'i Aho"'-
eneg OF 'he lacts'
IN tne next place the law IN relation
10 such matters IS not correctly stateu'
Ihere are more lhah lhe TWO poss'p'e
circumstances 'hat might eNculpa'e 'ne
slayer named by the paper alluded 10
JdsthaDie homicide is ueiineo IN Tue
REVISED Laws Oh utah' ana IN the sec
tioh that reiates 10 II by persons other
Tran oncers OF the Jaw we ma 'he
Following as one OF the proVislohs'
when committed on a sudden burst
OF passion caused py me attempt OF .ne
SoeIo the .yife daugb,er slstsr, moth
er, or other female relative or depend
ant of the accused or when the deille-
nleh' mas ac'uahy pe'h co'''i'''''u'
mat IS the Ia" OF 'ne s'a'e anu one
WHICH may soNern III tie case uhue'
Uohsuerat'oh' opserNe' we w hot as
sert that apples we Simply shu"
tiat our oohulnlo'arS 10 III eiior III
laying uo"h 'ne ipse uiNil' tna' 'ne'e
bre ohiy TWO posslple circumstances
'hat might eNVulpa'e the slayer ana
iur'her III declaring that u all 'ne a'-
oused alleges ana hihls at Is uue' sun
ne is IN lhe eyes oil the i~" heAousa-
PIE
Inc alleged endeaVors on the part OF
'he defendant 10 erect hhahe'ai
compromise no douot da'hage MS cast
IN the pubic mind' ana VIII perhaps
cut n prominent igure IN the case
against h'ih put All 'hese matters "'''
be brought out IN ms 'riaL ana we
merely adVocate an lmpar''ai ana
sricty laWlul luuiclai inquiry ana d
lair decision IRON competent jury
we take no slde OF the question: we
neither Affirm nor deny the Tuth OF
the vague ana unsupported charges
made against the deceased we DO not
claim 'hat the defendant was IN any
way JUSTIFIED IN hring the shot that mas