Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-08-18

the evidence that Sharratt had largely
supported the Greens out of the Alsea
Trading Company's store, of which
Sharratt and Henry Nice were owners
After the preliminary examination at
Waldport the Sheriff, having in custody
the Greens, stopped at Lutjens and
permitted Mr.. and Mrs. Green to enter
their house, in which Sharratt had
been shot, for the purpose OF arranging
their household effects before coming
to Toledo. Mrs. Green, while in the
sitting room adjoining the bedroom in
which Sharratt lay when found after
the shooting, raised her hands and eX-
claimed: Gentlemen, | will tell you
just how it happened !" when Green
called out to her: "Shut up and keep
quiet /" Mrs. Green at that time was
weeping and broken down and ready
to tell Just how 1t happened" Now,
II Mrs. Green was innocent, and knew
nothing about how Sharratt was shot,
| 'S" SONiu 1hC ICil JuSO iO" IL udppeu-
edY On the other hand, ii she knew how
Sharratt was shot, and kept quiet, she
became party to the crime.
If the defendants had refrained from
going before The grand jury, and the
grand jury hud returned All Indictment
after hearing the States witnesses, the
defendants might then have placed
their evidence before a trial Jury and
the Court. Then the people could have
heard all the testimony on both sides
and judged for themselves of the guilt
or Innocence of the accused, and also
as to the merits of the States case, and
1t would not have cost a dollar more
than it has. We repeat, the actions OF
the defendants while the grand jury
was IN session egatiYes the proposition
OF innocence. Why were they so fear
ful, so agonized, so strenuous in run
nlng witnesses before the grand jury
and thus preventing an open trial be-
fore the people? Why the great re-
Iocing when they learned that the
grand jury had, after wrestling over
the matter about five days, returned
mot true bill?" So great was their
and their attorneys rejoicing at the
escape from the blessed privilege of
going before the Circuit Judge and
twelve jurors and being vindicated in
open court, and showing that the State
had mo evidence" that they all re-
paired to the Parker House in the
evening and had joyous feast, at
which their attorneys made happy and
felicitous speeches, showing how glad
they were that they were able to de-
liver speeches there instead Of before a
trial jury in the circuit court.
Ii the State had no evidence against
the Greens, as contended by the de.
PENDANTS, but some unholy and disrep-
utable motive caused them to be bound
over, does any reasonable person be-
lleve for moment that defendants
and their counsel would have lost the
opportunity to have exposed the whole
matter in open court, by fighting so
vigorously i'll the grand jury room! Is
1t not more reasonable to believe that
under such circumstances they would
have held back and saved all their
ammunition with which to blow up
the States case in the Circuit Court
where everybody could have seen the
performance, and ths officials connected
with the case could have been forever
damned The defendants and their
attorneys certainly missed a great op-
portunity for innocent people.
10 the eternal shame OF certain per-
SOUS III Lincoln county, it may be sand
that what Is generally Delieyed to be
foul crime is now being used for pollt-
ical capital. How much better would
1t be for the good name of the county,
for our homes and ali we hold near and
dear. If all would rise to the heights OF
true citizenship and work in harmony
for the upholding of law and order.