Arizona republican., 1903-04-29
Latest Evidence in BeIIairs, Case,

Sun is wasting valuable editorial space in giving so much attention to Edgar G. Bellairs, author of ''As It Is In the Philippines" and until a few days age domiciled at Wickenburg. this terri tory. The fact that Bellairs' book at tackled Gov. Taft's administration of affairs in the Philippines has moved the Sun to make a careful examination l of the authors record, and that news paper has established very conclusively we think, that Bellairs is an ex-convicr and has an international record as swindler Noting our statement that Bellairs had promised to furnish The Republican with documentary proof of not keep); that he was a distant rela- tive of Sir William Bellairs, and an ex-officer of the British army, the Sun proceeded to get additional proofs in support of its charges, and it presents | them convincingly in it's issue of April IT, It is shown by a cablegram from Sir William Bellairs that the alleged
 
 captain lied in his statements to The Republican. The Sun offers to produce proofs If needed. It then adds:
 We offer to do this in a purely fra ternal spirit. for we have disliked to see so good a newspaper as The Re publican associating with such a per son as the bogus Bellairs." ta ation" of which it complains: "The Republican owes a duty to It's | beloved territory. in the interest of which it labors so earnestly and ably. Capt. Bellairs' projected and widely | advertised serial treatise on Arizona as It Is.' a work in which he seems to have arranged for the cooperation of some of the best men In the territory. including the editor of The Republican, Is not likely to serve it's legitimate pur- pose if produced under the auspices of No. 346. Forger and Swindler.' The plan is good; the staff of selected con- | tributors and special essayists we know | to be good; but in order to carry proper weight in other parts of the country | we should say that Arizona As It Is had better try to get on without the l assistance of
 Ernest Balantine,
 "Chas. Ballentine,
 Ernest Allaine Cheiriton, "E. Allaine.
 "E. A. Cameron,
 Edgar Gerald Bellairs,
 and so forth, and so forth, forger and swindler."
 We take pleasure in informing the Sun that upon publication of it's first editorial exposing Bellairs. all of the citizens of this territory who had prom ised to collaborate in writing the book which Bellairs proposed to bring out. promptly withdrew from the arrange ment.
 In it's issue of April 23. the Sun has another long editorial under the cap- tion Gen. Woods Friends Record ir the Convict Camp in which the fol- lowing letter to the editor of the Sun from Mir. F. B. Bailey, who was the lessee of the convicts in Florida at the time Bellairs was in trouble in that Slale, IS quoted.
 T regret exceedingly to see Bellairs | bounded, simply because he was a con- vict. He paid the full penalty of his offense in this state, and during the whole five years was directly under me. He was never punished but once, and, I believe. unjustly; he was accused by another convict of an attempt to escape.
 | "I met him in New York last Sep tember and recognized him on Broad way. He was glad to see me, told me his experience, and made me presents I certainly appreciated his showing l gratitude, for I treated him kindly and requested the governor to pardon him
 He is very bright man, and sent me his book (about last December) As It Is in the Philippines He is held in high esteem by Gen. Chaffee, and was and Navy club at Manila on July 2 1902; also highly endorsed by Gen l Wood as a great friend of the army ir Cuba, in a letter to the president.
 Now, I think he deserves we'll. and I believe you will defend him unless his attacks on Gen. Brooke and Gov Taft are unfounded. If they are. they are of course readily disproved.
 ''I feel kindly toward all ex- x-convicts and want to see them do well. Q! course. they especially should not say anything unjust. and especially de serve censure if they do."'
 The Sun. while admitting the force of MT. Bailey's objections to hound. ing" Bellairs, urges that he Is Thar. dened. persistent, heartless deceivel and enemy of society, whose long Ser ies of criminal operations in new cir cumstances have proved him to be as | irreclaimable as he is dangerous.
 We think that the Suns conclusion: are not fully warranted, and we d. not doubt that the great majority o1 people will agree with MT. Bailey There is nothing in the known record of Bellairs during the past eight years to indicate that he has been a swind- Ter at any time since the period oi