The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-17

AS the day has approached for the
preliminary hearing in the case of
Chief of Police Sheets, the friends of
that officer, and of right and Justice
generally, have expressed the universal
hope that the hearing in the case
might be not only speedy, but thorough.
AT every stage Of the proceedings,
from the first cry of wolf from the
Sheriff and his gang, to the eve of the
day set for the examination itself. the
right thinking people of Salt Lake
have asked only that a clean and full
showing of the facts be made at the
time set by the political enemies of the
accused officer
Under the circumstances, the devel-
opments of Tuesday, or more strictly
speaking, the reported developments of
that day, have had Il somewhat dis
couraging effect to those who have
longed most for speedy disposal OF
the case.
Disposition to Delay Case.
The story given out late in the day
that Jim Donaldson, one of the men
who are alleged to have beaten the
Nc WhIrter brothers out of a goodly
sum of money In a card game, and the
perhaps necessity for Sheriff Emery to
go to Hot Springs, Ark, TO bring him
back. was TO them certain signal that
the case would be postponed, as they
had all along feared it might be. OF
course to them, as TO all men who see
the facts when they look. for them, the
disposition TO delay this case has. from
the first, had but one significance.
When the furthest day possible I'M
der the law was fixed by the Emery
and Christensen people for the prelm-
mary hearing the independent, think
ing people wondered for day; then
they thought about it for another day
then they understood. 1t was plain
as plain could be. 1t was politics, the
dirtiest kind of Emery Christensen
Hanson politics. If charge so brutal,
so outrageous, so uncalled for as that
made against Chief of Police Sheets
could be made to hang over his head
until after election it might have the
effect of DETECTING many votes from
the political party to which he belongs
OF course, after election, the charges,
so far as Sheets is concerned, could be
dismissed.
Donaldson Arrest Without Signif-
canoe.
The arrest of Donaldson. the report
OF which has been confirmed by a mes
sage from the Tribune's correspondent
at Hot Springs, is entirely without sig
nlhcance, as far as Mr.. Sheets is con
cerned. II it can be shown that DON
aldson had any part in an actual rob
berry, then it devolves upon those who
make the charge TO prove their case
10 be sure the Chief might regret that
he did not get his hand on the man, or
men, who separated the McWhirters
from their money, if any such separa-
ton occurred, but, outside Of that con-
Slderatlon, he can have no interest
whatever IN the return of Jim Donald
son or any, or all, of the others who
are said to have had a hand in their
undolng. Chief Sheets will 90 into
court today to answer the charge which
a set of political conspirators have
brought against him. He will not be
there to answer for Donaldson, the
y 'Br1ans or any body else.
Case Comes UP This Morning.
This morning at ten clock is the
time set for the preliminary hearing in
the case of Chief of Police George A.
Sheets. The hearing will be before
Judge Armstrong of the Third District
Court. Assistant County Attorney Will
lard Hanson Will probably represent
the State and Chief Sheets has en-
gagged the services of Attorney c. 5.
Varian.
County Attorney Christensen, when
questioned Tuesday afternoon. said
that as far as he was concerned there
would be no delay at all in tho proceed
ings and the case will go to trial as
soon as possible. Mr.. Christensen stat
ed that he would prefer to see the case
tried as soon as possible and that he
beileved that 1T would be tried, in case
1T goes TO the district court, at the
earliest possible date.