Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-13

chance Tor a mistake. 1t CAV the
child credit for honesty OF purpose.
Her sincerity was never in question
for a moment. But inasmuch as there
was no physical evidence that wrong
had been committed it was felt that
there was a chance for DR.. Vance to
explain the matter satisfactorily. 1t
was hoped the girl was laboring I'M
der a false impression. That she
might have taken a wrong view of
circumstances not criminal in their in
tent.
AT the same time the Courier felt
that if the charges were true that the
limit Of the punishment for the de-
PENDANT was his just due. That the
interests of society demanded that he
be made an example of in a legitimate
way and that he be made to suffer in
a I'M which men have said is
equitable according as they have laid
down the rule in the statutes.
The Courier took into consideration
the fact that Mr.. Vance has an aged
mother to whom affection is no strang-
er. Aside from being bereaved of her
husband and a son, with another boy
the victim Of fire, the cares of years
weigh heavily upon her. OF equal
weight and entitled to the same con-
| sideration were the feelings of the par
ents of the little girl. BY a righteous
provision of nature the strongest in
stinct in the human breast is the par
ent's love for a child. Naturally there
fore, the parents each believed the
statements of their own. All this was
carefully gone over and the conclu-
sion arrived at hat if innocent q fear
full wrong had been done a young mar
and if guilty that he was worse than
a moral leper.
In view of these facts and upon its
own motion, the Courier determined to
give the public the bare facts as they
came to light. 1t endeavored to give
facts that could be substantiated
Hearsay evidence found no place in
it's columns because it wanted above
all things to do justice both to the
public and to the parties directly in
terested. 1t has done so. 1t has Civ
en- the facts. as they developed from
day to day and that part which "a fl
to print is public property. Not g
sentence was printed that could be
construed as infammatory. Not {
statement was made except that which
could be traced to a court of recort
and therefor had a solid basis upo:
which to rest.
The young man, the defendant il
the case. has been bound over to avail
the action of the grand jury. AS t.
whether or not he will face a highe.
court rests with it. He cannot af
ford to rest under the imputation tina
he is what the state claims. Societ,
demands that the matter be probed t,
the very bottom, and that he eithe:
be vindicated if innocent or punishe'
if guilty.
The Courier has refrained from ex
pressing an opinion either in its new
or editorial columns as to the merit
or dement's Of the case. 1t preferre'
to wait until the case was %unravelet
and as fast as matters developed tn
piibiie5rHas put in possession Of wha
there was.
1t reiterates that it believes thi.
was the right course and knows tina
the right thinking people OF this cit.
arc of the same mind.
The mission CT the Courier is to Civ
the ncws and in the Vance case it ha
fulfilled tho desire of it's friends an
done all that was expected Of it. I
has had a solid foundation for ever,
position it has taken and leaves evel
those who might by circumstances b.
placed in a position where they nigh
ieel called upon to criticise, to judg,
whether or not the Courier's course
has not been safe, judicious and hu
name.
One Of the remarkable things in thi
matter is the fact that not
single person has approached the man
agement Of this paper and requisite,
that a single allegation be suppresse,
either directly or indirectly. Effort
have been made heretofore, and ar
almost every day, to suppress new
in the Courier. 1t did not occur il
this case and in view of the CONNER
that the matter has created and tn
prominence of the parties, it is a re
markable feature.
Read the Courier for news.