The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-11-25
PARENTS LOST a SON.
And Judge Irwin Passes on Small
Moral Questions.
Special to Daily Leader.

NKNN+N-A ~ Le-tAF e~NN--Nff
Wstonga, Okla, Nov 24-The fol-
lowing remarks were made by Judge
Irwin in sustaining a demurrer OF the
defendant to the tcs imony introduced
by the territory IN murder case the
murder having been committed in a
saloon in a country place. The az.
fair that took place in the county
less than two weeks ago IN a saloon
that was open az an hour prohibited
10y law makes the following remarks
lot more than passing interest In re-
gard to the killing JulsJ Twin said:
ITO every one who has heard this
evidence it is apparent that this old
father and mother have lost a son.
And while the evidence develops the
fact that his life was probebly not
ex mplary. and his conduct was not
such as they would wish it to be- he
was a young man and il is not inn
probable to say that had he been per-
mitted TO live there may have been
better things in store for him At
least l am charitable enough to be-
lieve there was While in the juig-
ment of the court his manner of TAX
ing of was not such as the defendant
should be held criminally liable for
yet feel that the sympathy OF every
one is due this old father and mother
who have done nothing mere than
they shoull have done.
There is another feature Of this
case which to my mind is much more
commissioning than even the death.
said as II is, of this young man; and
that is the apparent laxity in which
the authorities deal with the subject
of this liquor traffic; the licensing of
saloons in rural districts It is the
direct result OF placing such things
as these at the door of your neip
bors | have 40 quarrel to make
with the manner in which it is en-
forced in a great many places but with
those who allow saloon in a rural
district almost at the door OF these
young men am not satisfied
When | heard these young men on
the stand ami heard them detail the
conduct of the saloon kept out in that
community l wished that every com
missioner who has the granting OF
these licenses could have heard that.
| think If they could hear the testi-
mony in this case as ! have heard 1t
from these young men on the witness
stand they would be more careful in
the granting of these licenses. When
testimony viii develop such things as
took place in that saloon on Christ
mas day, the Christians greatest
event. on an occasion like the birth
OF our savior. that men can congre-
gate in such place and make both
day and night hideous with their rev
els and conduct that would put a
/ Comanehe Indian TO shame; and to
think this is done under the sanction
of the law, in a county like Cleveland,
it is a disgrace to the county and to
all respectable citizens in the county.
THE greatest charity ! can extend
lis that the commissioners do not
realize this condition. II is the duty
, Of the commissioners not only TO &c
woke this license but the license of
ali saloons similarly situated, In a
rural neighborhood there IS no neces-
sity for a saloon-in fact | doubt II
there is necessity for them any
place-but they certainly should not
be permitted TO nun outside Of city
where they can not be subject TO
lstrict and rigid enforcement Of the
law and police regulation, and
license should not be granted unless
the commissioners are satisfied that
la is strictly within the law. hope
the commissioners will remember
this and il they ever have to determ-
inc that question they should detern-
line II strictly by law. The only
power the court has IS to advise you,
gentlemen OF the jury, that under the
fevsdence IN this case The court ad-
vise. you to find a verdict Of 40,
guilty This is not binding upon YOU
II there is any person on the jury who
does not wish 70 do so you may make
that wish known aud you viii be per-
mitted 10 retire ana consider your
verdict"