Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-02-05
4 DANIEL COME 70 JvooMGNr.

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II reports which reach The Optic
are correct Las Vegas has = preacher
Of an uncommonly sensational type
In the Rev. X. A. Morley Of the N. u.
church. , 1t IL said that he proclaimed
from the pulpit last night that the
negro Davis, who was killed by Night
Policeman Ben Cole. was foully muir
dered, that the courts were grossly
remiss In their duty In not prosecuting
the officer. that there wasn't q paper
In Las Vegas that had the courage TO
den0unce the crime. that the people
were craven In allowing such crimes
to 90 unpublished and that anybody
might tell the officer for him that no
ought to be behind prison bars.
At the time Davis was shot. The
Optic OF course gave complete accounts
Of the case. OF tbs hearings before the
coroner. and Of the efforts made BY
eastern friends TO see that justice was
done on behalf Of Davis. II IL not In
tho habit Of usurping the functions Of
the courts by trying criminal cases.
nor Of shouting the guilt or innocence
Of any man before ho 10 tried. Il
seems that the courts can secure oil
the assistance they need from the
preacher recently come from Chicago.
speaking for itself. The QptiH Sares
littls tor fhe opinioa ot sen1 tpnal
pre4cNats. But We believe that the at.
fuatt which Mr.. Morley has offered
our court officials. founded though Il
duabttest be- updn mis.information. 10
entirely u~nwarranted. y,|
Let us consider the fscts' In the
case. o. brought out IN the testimony
before the coronsr's Inquest:
The man Davis had been very drunk
and had stolen five dollars from .
roulette table. A witness swore At the
Uoroner's inquest that Davis took this
money The man had made repeated
boGpts q belng ashad msn ~ u his
ability with the revolver. One officer
had been sent 10 make the arrest ana
neglected to make the attempt. Cole
was summoned and was warned by
the meu In the saloon to be exceeding.
~ careful, -, Davis was Z very dan.
igerous man and had been Dragging Of
RI expertness with a r,yolver.
No uuener had Cole got Ills nan
cttside the saloon than he brOk, away
and made . snatch ut something IN
his ~ovsvcoat. wnIcn the officer lad
reason to believe was a revolver. but
which turned out to bc an 0,,,n knife.
Davis ran for 4 dark alley, while Cole
was IN the light. Believing, a no
said AZ the hearing. that the negro in.
tended to reach cover and open fire,
after repeatedly calling upon him to
stop, Cole fired. He aimed 1t the
mans. legs. he declared. guided by
the .~ovsrcoat the man wore. But the
ccst was short. and the bullet ranged
higher than the officer supposed.
The Optic Ii not arguing the case.
Il p giving the facts Just a they were
brensht out 1t the inquest. II IL. mot
saying whether Cole ID innocent or
guilty. though no one doubts that he
w. acting IN compliance with what no
believed to be his duty to the city ana
to himself.
But the officials looked into this
matter, and appear to have decided
there II ~ case against Cole, although
the, matter may be investigated before
the Grand Jury. The New York World
employed an attorney, WHO submitted
exact facts Of the case. The manage
Hient. after considering the evidence
IN the case, decided to take nc fn ttcr
step& A man was sen. here from
Chicago to Investigate. lie said 10.
TIE Optic before he left thar he was
satisfied that no action could succeed
against Cole. y
In view OF these facts, we resent
the sweeping condemnation OF this
newcomer, who has IN 4 few weeks
discovered that our courts are corrupt.
y people cowardly and our news
papers actuated only by principles OF
policy. II has happened before that
newcomers In this territory brought
al wisdcm concerning our business
With them. to be dispensed fsssly for
the benefit Of the suffering people.
One other point may be mentioned. /
For several weeks there have been
many bad characters In the city.
H0id'ups and robberies have been IRE.
qnent and more than once attacks
have been made upon women. The Of.
ficers are under instruction to be ex.
trernely vigilant IN making arrests,
and we're under such - r"~.'~~. AL
the time Davis was ~