Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-17
wHITEwAsHING BROWN.

bent Of the Juvenile court. The very
least that was expected was vigorous
oensurc Of his course IN the now no
torlous Knox case, with probable re-
quest for his resignation. The virtual
cyoneratlon rendered 10 him, coupled
with marks OF admiration, as,onishes
the public and Is the derislon Of per-
sons acquainted with the actual facts.
The commission. It appears, conduct
ed the investigation, not on account Of
the general demand vigorously OK
pressed. but simply in response to the
request OF the individual under cen-
sure. The findings OF the commission
are addressed to him, In tones OF min
gled appreciation and mild rebuke
sweefened with aduatlon. The letter.
for that Is all the document amounts
to, ignores the legal aspect Of the
oase." but goes into the motives Of the
Judge which II applauds. states the
very reverse Of facts testified to by
eyewltnesses. and shows an evident In
tent to approve the act which has set
The whole city in an uproar OF indgna-
ton,
The commissions assertion that the
Judge who ordered the outrage upon
the little girl who was dragged Scream
ing from the court room, was first
suggested by her, is so grossly inoon-
eli ttlt l,A .ale ,,at nc ha
occasion and so contrary 10 the testi-
rncny Of reporters who were present
a, the time, that 1t would he laughable
" II were not So obviously and shame
fuly unjust to the victim OF the
courts Illegal proceeding, And the
idea that in forcing the shocking In
dignity the Judge was "actuated by
a sincere desire to help the girl ls so
utterly absurd as to place It beyond
the ludicrous.
The findings are IN direct contradlc-
tIon Of the evidence. Only one of the
witnesses who testified as to what
they saw and heard IN the court room.
failed 10 state that the court asked
the girl vic and indecent questions IN
language unfit to print, and that she
fought and resisted the brutal force
used to compel her to submit; ana he
had 20 admit that she scratched his
hand when he, as officer Of the court,
was ming her from her feet az she
chung TO the doors and was yelling and
protesting with all her might The
other witnesses united In oharacteriz.
ing the language of Judge" Brown IN
questioning the girl AZ rough, vulgar,
obscene and unprintable," and descrlb-
ing the force used 10 compel her to go
To the physicians office, who, to his
credit. refused to perform the exami-
nation without the girls consent and
her mothers. This was not obtained
until later IN the day. and the examl-
nation. when finally conducted, was In
the girls favor Even IN his own
signed statement Of the case to the
commission, Judge Brown did not
that the girl FIRST suggested
to him her physical examination" as
declared by the commission in their
whitowashing and fulsome letter. or
decision, or whatever they please to
call Il.
AS 10 "the legal aspects Of the case" !
which the commission declined to "n-
IuIre into" something ought to be said
md done II they will not touch Il. We |
dispute the right OF the Juvenile court
o ask such questions Of a girl charged
slth being a delinquent thus trying to
'orce her to testify against herself |
Also the right OF that court 10 compel /
ler 70 submit TO the outrage referred
%, for any purpose, Where Is the !
aw under which such enforced exam-
nation Is justified? but what docs
Willis Brown know about law or COM
non deeency? We protest against such |
PROCEEDINGS as those which 1t is proved |
beyond question he Instituted and |
which have aroused such Indignation /
IS has not been felt and expressed since
somewhat similar attempt az force.
hough not attended with such afro
'ious Incidents, was perpctrated under
oollce direction,
II has been utmatcd that the
News has taken W this matter be-
'ause WINS Brown is stranger ana
rot OF a certain class The Deseret
News Just as positively, and more Sc
'erely. exposed and ceusured the oni-
'ers who In manner 10 certain ox-
ent like the present case violated law |
md decency several years ago. and
hey were well known persons who be-
onsed 20 that certain class. And they
we're legal officers 100. while we do not
recognize the Judge" who figures I'm /
MS case to have been legally appoint
ID, because the law forbids anyone to
lold Office IN this city who " not
lnalIhed clcctor which willis Brown
VAS not when appointed.
The apology that has heen offered for
us unlawful conduct that he was en-
leavoring TO find proof Of the guilt OF
M man accused OF leading the giri
'stray' Is worse than foolishness and If
70 excuse for the attempted outrage,
ne examination. however Il resulted.
Would not have proved that the defend
M was the cnuse Of her downfall. and
was not authorized by any law or
rdinqnce but was tyranny OF the most
bpoxious and most offensive character.
70 language ia too strong to dcnounce
J. and We have heard some pretty
irons Explosions conccrnns IL ana
re Judge that assumed to exercise
from lawyers as well as persons OF
most every profession and calling
tho community
.Ve did not expect the commission to
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