Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1905-09-29

The case Of Roberts nov before the
board Of pardons ehonld interest every
good citizen OF the State. That he be-
longcd to as murderous a gang OF cut.
throats as ever operated III Nevada has
been couciusively proved to the s~atistac
OF two ~juries. These jurics were select
ell with the utmost care. They TOOK
solemn oaths to deal justly with the
defendants and the State. They patient
~ listened To- the evidence for and
agarnst Roberts aud his co-defcndants
and rendered the only verdict possible
for them to find, and that verdict should
be carried ont.
At each trsl this murderou. gang
WIS defended by uble counsel. Their
nights were ~jcalously guar led and every
safeguard known to the Law was invoked
in their behalf. But the evidence
against them WAS 30 conclusive and
over whelmiug that the ingenuity and
~cloquence Of their counsel could not
save them from the consequence OF
their crime.
While the petition sen; by Judge
Curlcr and Others ~ the board of
P%ardons Ill Roberts behalf does credit to
their goodness, II should not outweigh
the veEdicts rendered. by twenty-tour re-
preventative citizens OF the State. The
plea that Roberts was only Il or Is
years OF age when the crime was CON-
n:ittcd and that he is a poor, iLiterate.
We Ik-mlndCd fellow has been passed
upon by two ~iIries, who took these
things into consideration in making up
their ycrdicts. They could lind nothing
in the evidence submitted i'll Roberts
case or III the pleas OF counsel 10 justify
a verdict Of not guilty or even d verdicr
OF murder in the second degree. The
fact that every question raised il the
petition for the Communication OF Roberts
sentence to life Imprisonment has been
urged at two trials by able counsel and
turned down by two juries should have
more weight with the board OF pardons
thar judge Curriers' petition.
IL Roberts is saved from the Callows.
lie may III q fcw years be turned loose
upon the people of the State to commit
more crimes. The same sympathy now
eXerted III his behalf will be used To get
him out Of prison in a few years. His
prison experience will make him more
brutal and rnurderous than he is now.
In order thai our readers may see this
murderer as he is nov, we quote the
following from the Silver State:
~tiuberts was the first man Identified
by Welch as one OF the shooters. lie is.
while young III years, the most hardened
and vicious Of the gang, Immediately
after the preliminary Examination at
which was told the harbarous cruelty OF
the mutdercrs in stamping on their
victims hands to make him let go Of the
rapidly running train, Roberts WIS
heard Ia say he was sorry he did not
kick the d---n s. Of a b.. head
OIL"
While it is not "a pleasant duty 10
plead for the execution OF any mal,,
Young or old, the interests Of society
sometimes demand 1t. The State needs
protection as we'll M the ~violators OF it's
laws. That Roberts is guilty Of par.
tirinatiop III the murder OF Jack Wclch
had been conclusiveIy proven ana the
highest court in the State has uphcld
the verdict that consigned him to tho
gallows. When he bangles at the end
OF IA rope with Sevener. German and
williams. hls associates in tho murder.
Gus gang that sent poor Jack Welch INTO
eternity, the demands OF the law will he
satisfied md the interests Of society
subserved. Then, and not Till then, will
tho murder OF Jack " clch be avenged.
Justice, not sympathy Tor the con.
demned, should control the action NJ
the board Of parl,uz. sympathy il nil
right when bestowed upon "A worthy
object, but all wrong when its hr4,oynI
chonta the gIliows and cndanrcrs
society. Justice demands that the
~scnt"nc" pronounced against Roberts
be carried ont by the warden Of the