Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1908-04-01
oRArrERs CONVICTED.

ed in robbing the people of Pennsyl'
vania, in the notorious capitol ease,
have been convicted. IL took the jury
but few minutes 10 find a verdict
which every honest and Informed man
had found long before. II will be re.
called by those who have kept track
Of this famous ease that, while the
furnishings cost 100000, it is GER.
tain that not less than six or seven
millions of this money was stolen.
That is, il went into the pockets Of
grafters and boodlers.
Probably in the history of the world
there has never been another ease of
50 bold, brazcn and gigantic robbery
Of public funds in single transaction.
The old Tweed ring in New York must
take a back seat, and our grafters in
San Francisco look small, sneaking
and simple in comparison with these
Pennsylvania highwaymen. As thieves
they are pastmasters.
For a good while the belief had been
growing and strengthening among the
people of that ancient commonwealth
that somehow they were being robbed
by the gang then in control of their
public Affairs. This led to a political
revolution two years ago. Roosevelt
had carried the state by above 100000
majority, and yet, when the next elec.
ton came, the Democrats carried it by
above 100000. There has never before
been so sudden and sweeping a politi.
cal revolution in any American state.
The new treasurer at once unearthed
the most gigantic and astounding
frauds. The revelations shocked the
country and convulsed the state. The
highest officials of the state were ex.
posed and brought TO the bar Of judg.
ment. The proofs were ample, and
public opinion was stern and resolute
for their punishment. But men who
can steal six million dollars are hard
10 catch, and still harder TO convict.
There is no trouble about convicting
the fellow who steals bicycle or a
horse. The trouble in with the fellow
who steals "a million. The people, how.
ever, are in deep earnest, and the trial
which has just closed in one of long
series TO follow. Four of these big
thieves were araigned, and after seven
weeks Of fencing, evading and all sorts
Of scheming for delaying and aborting,
the case went TO the jury. Thieves
who have millions Of stolen money can
put up strong battle, and In this ease
they did il.
They can hire lawyers, suborn wit.
nesses, bully courts, and do many
things to battle and defeat justice.
There was not the least doubt that the
state had been shamelcssly robbed. and
that these men had done il. In fact,
they did not seriously deny IT, Their
only defense was that their contract
allowed it. They claimed, in effect,
that they had bargain with the au.
thorities which allowed them TO steal.
Ex-Governor Pennypacker, of an an
eient and respectable family in Phila.
delPhia, was deeply involved. When
cornercd he simply confessed that he
signed the contract without under.
standing it's provisions. He confessed,
in substance, that he was either an in
FAINT or an idiot. Most people seem to
regard him not SO much as a criminal.
as contemplate sort of creature, the
tool Of rascals.
The end is not yet, as fourteen men
are under indictment, and the proofs
are abundant and undoubted. There
IL no slightest doubt of their guilt. but
there il much doubt as to whether
they can be finally convicted and lodg.
ed in the penitentiary. All these men
are strong in political influence, and
they have been made rich by their
fhievery. The four already convicted
are the contractor, the former attorney |
general, the former state treasurer and
he former superintendent Of buildings
md grounds. They have already made
for new trial, and then, II
hat ~ refused, they go to the appel.
ate court, and thence 10 the supreme
'ourt, and no man knows where else.
n the next case about to come on, in
edition to these same defendants, are
he architect, the auditor and Cassel.
member of Congress.
The general public will look on with
interest and sympathy, but probably
With scant expectation that these big
hieves will be brought to justice. II
very one Of these gigantic scoundreIs
ould be brought to prompt and certain
ustiee, 1t would be great triumph of
10 ht A. nj