Bisbee daily review., 1905-04-19
TROUBLE FEARED

TROUBLE FEARED
 The Graham county papers all, with one accord, have criticised the action of the rangers because of the arrest of Lee Hobbs, the deputy sheriff of that county. It is known that there has been friction between some of the local officers in Clifton and the rangers. but it vas hoped that amicahle relations would be restored. The arrest of Lee Hobbs. however. has probably strained the relations between the ranger force and the Clifton deputies to the danger point as suggested by the Copper Era. The sheriff's oftce took exception to the rangers last winter when they ap- peared at Clifton and began some hop joint raids there It was given oua that the rangers were working in con- junction with Constable Foster iD tbis matter and if they were called upon by the constable for assistance in raid jug these dens we cannot see nyrea- son to censure them for this or why the sberiif's office should take excsp- ties to it. The incident at the time of the recent flood still further in- creased the friction between the rang eY and local officials at Clifton, that was when the rangers arrested thirty six Mexicans charged with stealing piuuder from buildings damaged and left by the inhabitants. The district attorney of the county, upon investl. gstlng ,e matter of these arrests. dis missed al the prisoners but one.
 It is said that members of the ranger company are responsible for the arrest of Deputy Sheriff Lee Hobbs or mur- Ser committed on an English vessel. Whoever is responsible for this arrest certainly made a blunder, as there is now no further doubt about the inno- cence of Hobbs or about tie fact that when the crime was committed the man arrested for it. was in Graham county. It is also evident that who- ever worked up this case on Hobbs could have, by a mere cursory inquiry snd without finishing the game, sat isied himself that he was on the wrong track.
 Now for the rangers ss company. We do not bslisve that the Legislature which created the rangers in this ter. risory ever intended that the force should become mere police officers in the towns of the territory. It is all right for the rangers to assist loc a officials i1 desperate cases, but in police worS they should hold them. selves subordinate to local officials. Ii is necessary for rangers to be stationed at different points of the territory where they may be reached by wire and put on a trail but in doing police duty they should be very careful not to come in conflict with local officials
 The rangers were created for th' purpose of clearing the etrritory O. cattle thieves. murderers and despeT sdos and not for the purpose of per forming the ordinary police duty il citiss and towns They are officers Q the law and it is their duty to arres sny patty committing a prime in thsi presence. but they should not persis in the police work in any town wher by 90 doing they know they are incur ring the ill will of local officials.
 The local cficisls of Graham count, gre ali sworn officers of the law. & are the rangers. It Is the duty of sl these officers to presers the peace sD' prevent the violation of the law. I IS to be hoped thst the fear of feriou 'treubls bstwesn these officials is no well founded. There is no ocssioi