Arizona republican., 1904-04-03
PHoENIX, ARIZONA, APRIL 3, 1904
The United States District Attorney
 and Hugh Price.

Information is abroad that sub poenas are out for witnesses to appear against Hugh H. Price before the United States grand jury which is to convene in Phoenix this month, and that it is the intention of United States District Attorney Nave to have new indictments brought against MT. Price, charging him with receiving H. legal fees while surveyor general of the territory. If it is still the inten- ton of MT. Nave to prosecute MT. Price with all the resources at the command of the United States gov ernment, and to send him to the peni- tentiary if possible, it establishes the fact that MT. Nave has much more zeal than judgment-if he is not aciu- ated by motives which do him no credit. In its broader aspects the ease is one which interests the entire ter ritory.
 Under the circumstances, the further prosecution of Hugh Price will be nothing less than an outrage-addl- tional proceedings against him will be a persecution, and not a prose cution out of the even hands of justice.
 And these are the reasons.
 l. If guilty of violating the federal statutes, MT. Prices offense was technical and not intentional In do- ing work out of office hours in crder to expedite the business of his office and in charging extra fees therefor, Sur veyor General Price merely followed openly-the custom which had pre- vailed in the office ior years. He wat following the custom which also rle- vailed in the office of the surveyor general of California. He was follow ing the custom of the same cGce in Colorado.
 ?. Already, MT. Price has been drag through long term. He answered to indictments which to obtain had cost {. the federal government great sums of money. It was no fault of MT. Price that a number of these indictments were faultily drawn and he has had to pay dearly out of pocket in pointing out the mistakes of the United States attorney.
 B. Most important of all, Hugh H. Price is a physical wreck, direct re- suit, undoubtedly, of the trouble which has come upon him. He has Iocomotor ataxia, one of the most dreaded and most dreadful ailments to which a human being can be subject. Unless a man have all the means of fighting for his life which wealth can give, to be attacked by locomotor ataxia means to face a hideous fate-a creeping death whose slow paces may not be hastened even to bring the welcome re- lief of the grave. In comparison con- sumption, the white plague" is to be classed with the minor diseases. Chi nese savages who inf1ict the horrors of tortured starvation and sleep de- nied upon their human prey; the bush savages of the Philippines who force their victims to be eaten to death by ants. would rejoice if they could add of their list of tortures the refined cruelties of locomotor ataxla. And Hugh Price is without money where with to invoke the skill of distant cities and resist for a season the pro- gress of his destroying malady. His money is gone-it has been swallowed up in this fight to protect his good name.
 What more would MT. Nave have the life of Hugh Price forthwith?
 Hugh Price has been a congressman of the United States. He has been surveyor general of the territory of Arizona. He has been vice president of the Phoenix board of trade. Dur ing all this time his life was upright and his record spotless-except as to this trouble which he unwittingly fell into. Men who have known him for years and held for him a high regard, have for him still that regard, undi- unfinished.
 A district attorney of the United States should have enough independ- ence of Judgment to take responsibil- ity when necessary He thereby loses nothing In reputation at Washington or at home. Quite the contrary Put if, perchance, MT. Nave cannot sum mon the courage to enter a nolle pro- sequi in the case of Hugh Price, he can at least lay the facts before the attorney general of the United States with a manly recommendation, and ask for instructions.
 And if Attorney General Philander Knox is put in possession of the .acts without prejudice in this ease robody need doubt what his instructions will be. Hugh Price will g free.