Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-07-03
WILL TRELFORD GET \
HEARING?

Arthur Trelford has been foreibly
elected from the New Mexico peniten-
tiary. OF which he was superintendent,
by the order Of Acting Governor Ray
nolds, who last week removed him
from office upon unprovcn charges Of
cruelty TO conyicts preferred by Max
Frost. and former employees Of II. O..
Bursum. and heard and passed upon
by George w Prichard, attorney gem
eral and a first lieutenant In the Bur-
sum ring Trelford was given no OPP
portunity to obtain an auditing Of his
accounts, he was given no receipt for
the public property for which he was
accountable He was simply thrown
Gus by the acting governors order.
His rights were absolutely ignored.
Trelf0rd had the alternative of giving
peaceful posse ssion without an ac-
counting. or OF being thrown out
without an Rceountlng. Upon advice
of Lis attorney he chose the latter
accompanying his refusal to give vol
untary possession with letter, which,
while they profess to consider it
valueiess and unimportant it is
worthy Of note the Bursum organs
have been careful not to publish
This newspaper does not attempt to
pass upon the law involved in Mr..
Trelford's letter. 1t is not the inten-
ton to discuss the wisdom or un-
wisdom Of his refusal to recognize the
acting governors commission. There
is he much larger question in which
Mr. Trelrord figures merely as an in
Sdent, as to whether or not
the individual in New Mexico
has any rights, or any chance
of recognition of those rights under
the administration Of territorial af-
fairs by ting Bursum- Reynolds ring.
II was in an effort TO secure some
recognition Of individual rights, It Is
well understood, that Mr. TreIford
was advised by his counsel TO refuse
to give up possession of the prison
until he had had some fair accounting
and some receipt for the property
which he was required to deliver.
This accounting was deliberately re-
fused and Treford was deprived Of
his right by force His attorney has
now requested. as required by law.
the permission of the attorney gem
eral-Prchard-to bring a proceed
ing in quo warranto, under which the
case may be heard on It's merits
VIII Attorney General Prichard
grant this right?
II II is granted Trelford may go
into court and have "a fair hearing in
which evidence may not be arbitrarily
excluded and In which records cannot
be doctored and made up 10 suit the
cxigencles of the case. VIII Prichard,
who found the report against Tre-
ford. who conducted the investigation
against him; who refused to allow
him a ,defense-wll Prichard allow
Trelford to get his case into open
court?
II Is to be hoped that Attorney Cen
eral Prichard Will do so. Attorney
General Prchard has found a report
against Trelford which the facts do
not bear out. lie has carried out the
orders Of the men who are accus-
toned 20 order him. and In doing so
he has not raised himself to any APP
preciable extent In the estimation OF
the people of New Mexico. Under the
lab he has the right to grant or re-
fuse the petition Of Trelford Tor a
hearing In court In the name OF the
Territory.
Has Priciiard the courage to go
into open court on his Trelford report
and attempt to sustain II?
1t is 90 be hoped that ne has. for
II he docs not the people. who are
very near a conclusion In this ease,
will reach a final conclusion very
quickly.
The course Attorney General Prlch-
ard viii take remains to be seen.