The Greeley tribune., 1909-07-14
WHERE Is THE DIFFERENCES?

memDtT Ol lue oiphNi ~"
which recently exonerated the raj
road company in connection with ii
lamentable killing of the Ecklun
girl took exception in these column
Yesterday to the attitude OF tn
Tribune upon the practices of core
ner's juries and coroner's inquest'
We regret that he did so, for tn
conditions which we pictured ar
true in every county in Colorado eX
Cept Weld 1t may be that Wei,
county is an exception to the gen
eral rule. We would he glad u
think so. 1t may be that the coro
ner of Weld county does not carry
ali annual pass on any railroad, and
IT. may be that he is very careful in
choosing a jury TO never select any
member who is in the habit of rid
ing on passes issued by the defend
ant company. We hope he is. And
il is possible that the district at
torney, who is frequently present
TO look after the interests of the per-
son who was so unfortunate as to
get in the way of the train, does
not ride on a pass. We hope so, for
then the Tribune could say, Thank
the Lord, Weld is more fortunate
than other counties; for here our
officials need never feel under the
slightest obligations to the railroad
Nevertheless, the conditions as set
forth in the article in Saturdays
do exist in every other coun-
ty in Colorado. All other coroners
do ride on railroad passes, and do
obtain passes for their friends and
members of their own families. The
district attorneys in other counties
who represent the deceased at coro-
ners' inquests, do ride on passes.
And few coroner's juries are picked
which do not contain one or more
members who are recipients of rail-
road courtesies. And the verdicts
IN other counties do sound wonder
fully similar in nearly every case.
And We hereby exonerate the rail-
road company from all blame"
Now let us preface what follows
by the statement that we cast no re-
hections upon the coroner of Weld
&C unity, moi. upon any member of his
jury, nor upon the district attorney.
We believe there is not an honester
man in Weld county. and we would
trust him with every dollar We own,
and We believe his jurymen are hon
est and square. But the present,
because of the interest manifested
in recent cases here. seems to be an
opportune time to call attention to
abuses in the administration of these
matters that do exist and that ought
to be remedied.
First place. no judge, coroner, OF
t,tache of any court of justice OF
inquiry ought to allow himself to be
placed under implied obligations to
any corporation or person who may
be party to any suit or hearing
that may come before said court
l. looks bad, it isn't right, and II
isn't good public policy.
Let US suppose a similar case. A
few years ago Charles Simonson OF
kersey shot and killed Editor Lewis
after series of quarrels lasting
over several months. Suppose, know.
ing that he might have trouble al
any time, Mr.. Simonson had gone tc
the coroner and the district attorne!
and offered each of tuem twenty
dollar bill. Naturally they woult
have asked why. Had he answered
"Oh, expect I'll get in a scrap ant
kill man down here some day, ant
/ just thought I'd give you this.
don't want you to feel that you're
under any obligations to me, how
ever" What would have happened
then? Why. the man who Offered
the money would have looked like
case of sausage in about five min
utes. suppose tho owner OF hi,
stock farm near Greeley. with hun
dreds of horses, and dozens of mel
trainers, should go to the newl,
elected coroner and the district at
torney and tell them, Gentlemen,
employ a lot of men, and sometime
one gets killed. You may have t.
come out to my farm and hold al
inquest some time wish you,