The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-11-13
THE KILLING OF N

THE KILLING OF cARMAck.
When men resort to hostilities t.
settle personal d%itferences, they take
the law ii their own hands. They
bring upon themselves trouble much
greater than before.
When Robin Cooper decided to Kill,
Senator Carmack, to escape n trou
ble, he accepted another, still greater
Before he had simply his politica,
attitude to defend-now he must fght
for his life. The courts are open t.
all men who have differences, and be
fore the bar, all men may obtain jus
tice.
Edward Carmack was the editor Of
a newspaper, and he criticised AUS
tically his political opponents. He fol
lowed 2 type OF journalism that IL
rapidly passing. in that he descended
to personalities, belittled, and held
to contumely and contempt, those men
whom he was fighting.
But this did not justify Cooper In
killing him-or even attacking him.
in any way. For the instant he did
that, that moment he weakened his
own case. Before he was an antago'
lnist-now he 10 a prisoner.
When men run for Office, their
whole lives are barred. The law re.
moves ell structures, and permits men
and publications to comment freely
and deliberately, upon the man. And
this is perfectly proper, for 1t is in
order that the people may know whom
they are voting for, that this wise pro
vision Of law was made. The man
who fights that provision, or who at
tacks the man or newspaper that
takes advantage OF that, weakens his
own case and himself becomes q law
breaker.
Carmack went farther than CRITICS.
ing his opponents. But that did not
justify Cooper taking his life. There
was a more effective remedy in the
courts. The law provides methods Of
satisfaction, states what they are and
how they may be obtained. This
Cooper knew, for he himself is an at
torney and as such, an OFFICER of the
court. He had no right to take into
his hands a power delegated to the ju-
dietary. For a mans life and person
is sacred.
Cooper is still in Jail.
Where is Carmack?
Cooper may defend himself, but Car
mack cannot return to do SO. He
had a family, suddenly bereaved. His
friends are stricken. How about
Cooper? Are not his relatives and his
friends worried almost as much? The
certainty Of the fate of Carmack, and
the irreconcilable fact that he cannot
return is strongly contrasted to the
uncertainty of the position of Cooper,
who must now fight for his life, waste
a fortune perhaps in doing so, and
wiring the hearts Of his relatives and
his friends. And suppose he is victo-
rious? What will he have gained?
Will he have added one whit to his
reputation? Will he be the better?
Will he be more respected? Will he
have gained more friends, and have
made fewer enemies? Can he be said
to have improved conditions?
When attorneys who know the law
and its consequences. reach that point
where they will fight and shoot and
kill, they set an example for the weak
er minded members Of the human fam
lily, who argue that if a lawyer may
do thus and so, he must know what
he is doing and he must be within his
and thus he establishes a pre-
cedent for similar action on the part
Of others.
Summer up Carmack is dead and
Cooper facing a charge of murder
because each carried a revolt
ver. II Carmack had been unarmed,
Cooper would not have shot him. To
practice Of carrying revolvers, which
the police OF the country could stop
in an hour il they would enforce al
common ordinance, may he traced to
his tragedy.
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