The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-14
JUST A BIT TOO CLEVER.

JUSI a Dbl 4OO SLnN nsN'
The garish, howling attempt at rc-
nance in the Oregonian Of Monday
last dealing with the final hours of
the trial Of Michael Campbell for the
murder of William Mcclellan at
Cathlamet, Washington, and the al
legged danger Of reprisals confronting
the defendant on his acquittal by the
jury, out-Scotts Scott in his palmiest
hours Of storytelling anent the feu-
dal furies Of "auld lang syne. Il Is
SO perfectly raw in its inspiration, so
fippantly piquant and brilliantly coli
ored as to lose what merit Of basic
sincerity it may have ever possessed;
SO plainly and simply plea to cover
the paths and processes by which the
legal climax was attained, that the
whole country down this way is
laughing at it.
Mr. Campbell was acquitted by a
jury Of his peers. That ends the mat
ter SO far as he is concerned. But
what Of the State. the county, and
court, that could not protect Mr.,
Campbell from the anticipated" on
slaught Of his alleged enemies? How
do they figure in this silly PREMISE?
The law must, indeed, be in bad odor
in Washington if it cannot be allow
ed to operate for the protection of a
man declared guiltIess within its pur-
view. With the definite and long
possessed knowledge, claimed by the
authors Of this buncombe tale, and
made the base for this blood-curdling
and thrilling getaway at the suppos-
ed crisis, it was the duty Of court and
bar to invoke the presence OF every
legal expedient within the constitu-
tional limitations Of the State of
Washington, including its military
arm, and the enlistment Of hundreds
Of deputies under Sheriff Flanders.
Why were these precautions not
taken7.
The shallowness Of the story be-
comes patent to all men who were in
attendance at the trial when it is
known, and remembered, that for the
100 hours, more or less, that the case
was in progress, the court house, the
streets, the hotel, the saloons, the
wharves, the very boats going and
coming, swarmed with scores Of wit
nesses in the case, for, and against,
the defendant; that they were in
touch publicly, as friends, acquaint-
ances, strangers, the attorneys, court
officers, witnesses, and visitors, meet
ing frequently and pleasantly, and
that, aside, from the logical comment
inseperable from such an important
issue, no word Of threat, violence, or
overt purpose was heard until the
sun had sunk on Saturday, seven
hours before the verdict was handed
into court. There was perfect Or
diliness, and that peace which goes
with the dignity Of the law when il
is recognized as in full sway and its
grave instrumentality being invoked
That was the attitude Of the people
of Cathlamet, and Of those summon.
ed there in that behalf; and that these
conditions obtained throughout the
whole affair renders the aamboyant
history imposed upon the Oregonian
all the more ridiculous and sensa-
tional.
The story has detracted from the
quality of justice that is supposed to
hedge all verdicts, and will do the
beneficiary Of that verdict more harm
than good; for well-written as il
was, it bears the stamp of prepared,
ness, Of fore-casted use, Of expedi-
ercy and Interior drift, that leaves il