Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-06-30
A Citizens Protest.
GOf, June, 10, 1904

The fairly good people OF this
rather remote locality have been
waiting very patiently for some
thing Of q definite nature, in regard
TO the Brownlee killing, aud the
subsequent Meyers murder, . n d
the last received editions OF the
Grangeville papers are very far
fro m satisfactory. Evidently
some one is afraid to give the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth. The title FREE Press,
would suggest the absence Of .
muzzle, and the general impression
is that the IDAHO County, FREE
PRESS IL sufficiently independent
to express honest ideas, and call
for just and impartial admins.
tration Of the law. There is no
call in this article to 60 into the
details of the deplorable affair.
The facts SO far as the killing is
concerned are matters Of public
knowledge. Br0wnlee was shot
and killed, and Jarres, his compan-
ion, wounded, Meyers did the
shooting, and subsequently deliv.
cred himself to the proper author
titles, and was held and bound over
for trial at . higher tribunal; what
provocation he may have had is
not known, as the summary action
OF Q murderous mob, silenced him
forever. What we do know ie-
garding Thomas NJ. Meyers, and
fully substantiated by good and
true men who have known him in
timately for nearly generation,
10 that he was an industrious, law
abiding citizen; q man of varied
fortune, and finally ss the gather
ing years suggested some haven
of rest from toll and dissppoint-
ment, settled himself on . small
tract Of land and sought from this
to gain an independent existence,
and when he fred the fatal shot
that resulted in the death of Geo.
Brownlee he was on his own
domain aud, in his own mind NOR
ally certain that he was resisting
an unlawful invasion and persist
emf encroachment on his rights as
a man and citizen, "a very wrong
and i'll advised act on his part, NO
doubt, but as said before, he never
had opportunity to tell q jury OF his
peers the extent of his aggravation,
and no one can for q moment pre-
sumo that his act was premedita-
ted-he took his chance in the open
field against odds. The deed COM
mitted, he surrendered to the
proper authorities, was taken to
White Bird for preliminary hear
ing, and on purely expert evidence
held for appearance in the district
court and given into the custody
Of the county sheriff. Then what?
When three miles from White
Bird . party, variously stated at
thirty or forty, no matter as to
number, we'll organized, and acting
deliberately take h m from the
officers OF the law, and with the
necessary malice and aforethought
murder him.-Our language makes
quite distinction between, killing
and murder. KILLING is defined, to
deprive Of life; murder the inten-
tional killing Of . human being
with premeditated malice, and 30 in
reconsidering this affair it is plain
that while two human lives were
taken only one murder was COM
mitted, and it 10 also . fact that |
none Of the murderers have been
apprehended, and no efforts are
being made to apprehend them.
The presence in the immediate To-
cality Of some very prominent men |
in q political way, (not democratic |
either) would suggest to an officer
with less discernment than Sher-
lock Holmes, that they might be |
reasonably held as accessories be-
fore the fact. The puerile apology |
that the murder was brought about |
as result Of the past miscarriages
Of justice in the courts is silly
that was never . consideration. |
What is the duty Of the county
attorney in the case? and why has
he not been heard from? Grand
juries are mot in order, except on
discretion Of the district judge and
it seems the standard. in the
last issue ascribes the lynching to
political conditions, alluding to the !
conduct Of the courts. Here are
the statements:
''The lynching Of Meyers was
nothing more nor Lees than . pro-
test against the political conditions
that have existed here since Idaho
county was in swAddling clothes.
The people could get justice and
competence lot quicker by voting
a change OF politics."
Honestly, now, is it not true
that the iynching Of Meyers was
the direct result Of a quarter OF 81
century Of ill-en forced laws here in
Idaho county, And looking over
the political history Of the county,
isn't it easy to fix the blame where
it belongsf And wculdn't it be
easier than murders and han0iprs.