Arizona silver belt., 1905-09-21
PASSING OF ZACk BOOTH.

The execution of Zack Booth marks an epoch in the history of this section of Arizona, and the lessons to be learned should not be passed idly by. It is fifteen years since legal execu- tion took place in Gila county, the last victim of his own perverseness and the gallows being an Indian. In the mean time there have been many worthy can didates for such death, but m some manner all have evaded the punishment. Some of them did not live to reach the protecting shelter of the jail and the courts others outlived the wit nesses whose evidence might have con victed them, they having died prema- turely or left the territory for change of altitude and climate. Skillful lawyers have helped others to retain enough neck to wear collars and four-in-hand ties. The perjury of good tor bad) friends has saved many mans neck.
 But the case of Booth has shown that a white mana professional bad man one of the class formerly supposed to be immune from the just punishment of his crimes in the wild country"-is subject to the law, and that its power is greater than is the ability of attor- neys to overturn.
 The doom of the bad man" has sounded in Arizona. No matter whether he be imprisoned or executed he is bound to ''get his needin's' in future, for precedent has been set. The twentieth century in Arizona has cut the gordon knot that tied the old to the new. and from this day forth the innocent may breathe more assur- edy and the guilty may we'll tremble at the fate before them.
 In these remarks there is no desire to follow Booth beyond the grave or to draw lesson from Zack Booths case only. We are purely impersonal. This was not a case against Zack Booth as an individual. It was the law in Arizona vs. a self-confessed murderer. Whatever his reasons for taking human life his fate will ever be a notification to all who are evil dis posed that there is protection for them in the law-if they do not take the case into their own hands and that there is vengeance and punishment from the law if they attempt to set themselves above the statutes of this territory.
 But, there is another side to this case-also impersonal. Thank heaven, the women of Arizona at least, those of Gila county have not reached that stage of maudlin sentimentalism which prompts them to send fruit, flowers, and goodness knows what not, to those condemned for crime, and to bedevil a sheriff and his deputies out of their senses. in order that they may spend hours in the siciety of some notorious criminal. We trust it will never be | otherwise, and that Arizona may have 1 clean slate of superiority over all other states and territories in this ! regard.
 Itis we'll that men thus sent to their | doom should have the benefit of relig- | ious ministration. We are told in holy | writ that the dying thief was pardoned by his Saviour because he believed. 1" The crucified thief believed, and the | sincerity of that belief shone from his | soul through the eyes he turned toward | the Master in appeal. But the sheer ity of eleventh hour repentance may be . often rudely questioned No man who really believes that he is going straight | into the presence of his Maker can face the awfulness of dea h on the gaIlows | with flippant courage and unseemly jest, and the oft told tale of hardened | criminal going straight to the shining shore from the scaffold to don harp and join the angel hosts does not help the | average human to accept all the dog mas of religion without question.
 What became of the two souls Zack Booth sent before their God without time for prayer, repentance or so- called dissolution by ministration of the clergy? The spectacular is very un- seemly when coupled with religious thought and acts.