The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-07
KEPT BROTHERS FROM
THEIR DEAD SISTER
Cruelty Coupled With In
justice Shown the
Golfer Boys.

Unless all the evidence now
available is entirely misleading, a
department of the federal court of
this district, located in this city, is
perpetrating rank injustice. coupled
with cruelty, on Ernest and Banton
Cofer. They are the two boys held
here under $4,000 bonds for the
last train robbery in this part of
the country.
That they are not guilty of the
crime is now the opinion even Of
officers connected with the case.
But one direct witness testified
against them to Ia who gave testi-
mony establishing the impossible
ty of the boys being at the scene
of the robbery and In Spokane at
the same time. The commitment
under bond was made by Commits
sioner Marshall, since resigned. BY
his order the boys must lay in jail
until the fall term of the federal
court begins in September. There
is no question but they will be
freed by the grand jury.
Mrs. Stella Young, sister of the
boys, died Wednesday at the home
of her mother. Mrs. Sarah Golfer.
1913 Bridgeport avenue. She faint
ed In the courtroom where her
brothers were held for the robbery
and has failed steadily since that
time. Her death Is due to the for
NAL accusation against her
brothers.
When her body lay at the un-
dertaker's her brothers were denied
the privilege of seeing her before
she was buried. although num-
Der of attorneys and officers inter-
ceded In their behalf. The CON-
missioner was out of town and the
boys were forced to know that the
sister that died of grief for them
would go to her grave without their
ever seeing her face. They have
been shut up in prison while she
has been sick 1t Is hard to imagine
a wealthy or influential prisoner
being accorded this treatment.
The sister had lived here for
seven years and was employed at
the White House up to the time
of her sickness.
Detective Enright of the Great
Northern, the Tailor and others, are
quoted as expressing disbelief in
the boys guilt, but the injustice
has been done and the prisoners
must wait their time out In Jail,
where they have been for the past
two months. The bonds were
placed so high that they could not
possibly furnish them.
The determination of the rail-
road to hold somebody for the rob-
ebry is considered to be the factor
In the case that operated against
everything that could be shown in
behalf of the Cofer boys. II they
prove their innocence. as those con-
nected with the case are certain
they will be able to. the records
of the federal court will be blotted
with the unjust Imprisonment OF
two young men, injustice to whom
has resulted In the death. of a sis
ter. And there is an aged and wild
owed mother who has had to bear
the burden OF her sons' misfortune
all the while with the added afflic-
ton OF the death of a daughter.
This Is the extent OF the work
that has been done toward visit,
ing retribution In the latest OF
the Great Northern train robberies
There Is a big reward out for the
criminals, but there Is no prospect
that 1t will be collected because oil
the Imprisonment OF the Golfers
even though railway officials are
determined that someone must sui
fer for the robbery.