The daily sentinel., 1908-03-09

wyoming OIIicer W IudhS dPPiiSo-
tion to the district court of this
: county for the surrender of Force
, agreeing to waive all formalities and
technicalities involved in his extra
dition. To this the Wyoming officer
i replied that he had taken legal ad-
vice and that he knew the court was
powerless to do anything in the
premises and that the whole matter
devolved upon the district attorney
OF this county to determine whether
/ or not he would dismiss the charge
which meant the liberty of Force
and permit the Wyoming officer to
then take him and transport him to
Wyoming for trial on the charge of
that state.
\: Under all of the facts and the law
in the case the district attorney did
not feel justified in taking upon him
self SO great responsibility as this
action involved.
! Earl Force was accordingly ar
raigned for trial before the district
court of this county, pleaded guilty
to the charge of horse stealing and
/, was sentenced by the judge of the
court to hard labor for the term of
not less than eight nor more than
nine years in the state penitentiary
| at Canon City.
| The trial and conviction of Force
in the district court of this county
was had without any official knowl-
edge having been brought to the
court that warrant of extradition
had been issued by the governor of
this state, and was conducted as
such cases are usually conducted.
Notwithstanding the above facts
the governor of this state on the
night of March 5 broke forth in a
TRADE of abuse of the officers of
the district court, in which he stat
ed: There is no law to prevent a
court from being jackass If it sees
fit. 1 am astonished to learn that
this man Force has been sentenced
for horse stealing, when he should
be hung for murder in Wyoming.i 1t
was a most stupid thing for a court
to do, and l am more than surprised
at the action;' and stated further:
, 1T is my intention to take up this
matter at the state house the first
thing. tomorrow morning."
, On the next day, he, in an inter-
view. sought to qualify what he had
said the night before, and stated to
! a newspaper correspondent: 81 GER
, tainly did not say that the Mesa
, county coura was jackass; l said.
, there is not a law to prevent any
| court from doing a piece of jackass
I business ii ii wants to-" He also de-
clared that thesaction of the local
t court was "uawise uncalled for AMI
II discourteousr and vehemently de-
) court officers value life very lightly
t indeed. and consider horse theft a
D far greater crime than murder"
e Then. in a letter to the governor
n of Wyoming. of date March 6. 1908,
a he uses this language: The sem
t tence of eight years for horse steal
: ing imposed upon Force leads me
e naturally to enquire what that court
e would do for the unspeakable crime
: of rape. In my view a brute who
Y assaults little girls ought to be shot.
: Horse stealing does not impress me
r as seriously as some other crimes" i"
Z We submit to such language from
the governor OF this state concern
!, ing the judge on the bench was un-
y becoming from the pen or lfpssof the
: chief executive OF this state. We re-
:, frain from any characterizations of
n the conduct of the governor, or any
d further comments upon his course
4 and action, because We believe that
e to the minds of all fair-minded men
: no comment or characterization Ia
r necessary. We have been taught to
e respect the branches of the govern
y ment as defined in the constitution.
e and have also been taught that 1t is
e not the provinces of the executive to
d interfere in any way with the ad-
8 ministration of justice in the courts.
Q and we believe that any attempt
n upon the part of any executive in
= this state. or any other state, should
: be resisted to the utmost by those
i who occupy judicial positions. We
i believe that the judge of this district
d will never permit the infringement
s upon the powers invested in him un-
g der the constitution by the governor.
: or any other executive officer of this
r state. 20 .aHar
d We have examined the law and
i the facts concerning this matter. and
I'll We now desire to express our ap-
: proval and commendation of their
q entire cenrse, and We are authorized
z by the Judge of this court to state
y that he comedies with us in express
: ing our commendation and approval
of the course pursued by the sheriff
= and the district attorney.
= The course of Judge Shackleford
n we regard as entirely proper and
n commendable. and commend him
9 more particularly for his restraint
Il and silence under such unmerited
d and uncalled for abuse ind slander
= by the governor. Nothing couid
d more clearly demonstrate the up
+ rightness and self-control and car
s court than his attitude in remaining
= silent under such trying circum-
q stances.
= WALTER s. SULLIVAN.
STRAUD N. LOGAN.
II HENRY r. RHONE.