The daily sentinel., 1905-10-21
Attempts to Shift Blame

httSiiipiS lU SlIIIt DldIilS
About the most unwarranted at
tack thar has appeared in a daily
newspaper in this city in a long time.
and done solely for political pur-
poses, where politics should not en-
ter into consideration at all, was the
veiled attack on Judge Stevens last
night by the Republican organ. What
the paper wanted to say boldly but
did not dare say was that Judge
stevens had juggled the law in such
d manner that all tire criminals who
mad heen before his honor at the last
term OF district court had been re
leased.
The truth Of the matter is that
Judge Stevens Interpreted. the law
under the informations filed Eist as
fairly as he possibly could ha,1 done
II was no fault Of his whatever that
the men who undoubtedly should
have been convicted We're released
He must take the law as he finds il
and not as he might like TO see it
upon the statute books.
The cause of the release of many Of
the men. who from every standpoint
of Justice should have been convict
ed was that the informations upon
they We're tried before the district
court of this county were faulty and
no conviction could be made under
them. as they were presented 10 the
court
Let those who were responsible
for the character of the informatiOns
take the blame. they know upon
whom it should rest and none know
better than Dist. Atty. Selig himself
because he has expressed himself
upon the matter in this city Ii was
most cowardly act to attempt to
foist the blame for the release of the
men, who. beyond any question of
doubt were. criminals in the sight Of
the law. upon Judge Theron stevens
and the bar of this district should
resent the imputation upon the honor
OF the court.
The officers OF this county made
every effort to secure the conviction
of the criminals. That they We're
greatly chagrined because no con
victions We're secured is true and
they had right to feel badly over
the matter. as 10 looks very much as
If there was no need TO make arrests
of criminals. if 1t is so easy to secure
release from custody and punishment
While we feel with the officers up
on the matter, we do not believe it
is honorable 10 attempt to shift the
blame to those who had no authority
In the matter. Judge Stevens Is not
thin skinned, but he Is not SO dense
NAAtAi AAt AA'H uOl NuOM tilhA Hobltunt
is attempting to hide behind his
skirts for their own derelictions. He
viii resent this inspired attack un-
questionably and he viii make things
rather warm for the culprits.
The article yesterday was inspir-
ed by someone other than the editor
if the publication in which IL appear
ed and was done for purpose. II will
fall far short of doing what Il was
intended to do. besmirch the judicial
character and honor of Judge Stevens.
We know that Judge Stevens feels as
badly over the non-conViction as any
one could. but he was powerless to
go behind the officers of his court and
provide them brains by which they
could formulate correct and legal in
formations.
II was the joke of the bar at the
last session at the easy manner in
which the prosecutions were conduct
ed, which led to the release from the
court of men of such notorious char
acter as Wade, Phillips and others of
equal notorious criminality.
If political necessity requires such
methods to boost a party. which con
tains so many honorable names in
this county, the party had better
crave deliYerance from its friends.
OOO
There was a movement several
years ago from prominent young men
connected with the city churches to
establish Y. NJ, c. A. and build
building for the use of the organiza-
ton. That movement seemed to have
died hornin'. II is to be regretted,
as such an institution with all the ac-
ccssories attached is one OF the great
needs Of any community. Generally
a frst-class gymnasium is part of the
attachments TO n well equipped Y.
NJ c. A. home and no town in the
country needs such an institution
quite so badly as does this city. Here
is ample field for the churches and
the younger workers TO do something,
which will be n monument to them in
after years united effort upon the
part of the youth of all the churches
should accomplish wonders in the
direction of erecting such building.
Il Is possible that the railroads with
so men residing in this city would
so many men residing in this city
would Join in the movement. Helen
Gould has assisted many towns and
cities to secure such building and
organization in railroad towns and
there is no knowing what she might
do for Grand Junction, IL the proper
presentation OF the case would be
made to her
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