The Cairo bulletin., 1910-11-03


with prisoners through the windows
Of the jail. and during court time his
| deputies have given no cause for
criticism whatever" ETC.. etc.
1t is not true. Having removed
one deputy sheriff against whom
| much complaint had been made. he
appointed another-one who has been
for years the most notorious political
crook and polluter of the ballot in the
county and man against whom pro
ceedings are now pending on account
Icf the embezzlement of school funds.
Are we to consider it fultillment OF
his promise to give us a clean admin
istration of affairs in the sheriff's
office, when he disposes of one gang
Of crooks, only to install another
equally as bad, or worse?
1t has not TRANSFERRED whether or
not Mr. Nellis has carried out his
much yaunted rule to permit no mid
9lght conferences between prisoners
and their friends, TO hatch up
schemes of false defense to defeat
justice. He may or may not have
permitted midnight conferences"
The Bulletin is not prepared to saw
IT knows that he was very careful
III guarding against conferences with
the operator who caused the wreck
on the Mobile & Ohio railroad. Would
not even conform to the rule always
observed all over the state. to permit
a private conference between the
prisoner and his attorney, Mr.. Light.
foot. The Bulletin did not ctiticise
Mr.. Nellis for this, because. it be
lievei that, in view of the infamous
laxity that had marked the conduct OF
the sheriff's office in thia respect. In
former years, extraordinary string
ency, even though manifestly unfair,
might be excused.
But it has been all shallow pre-
tense, this prohibition of midnight
conferences" with prisoners. The
only difference which Sheriff Nellis
seems to have made Is to change the
hours of such conferences far rs
negro prisoners are concerned, at any
rate. He may or may not permit
such conferences at midnight; but
he certainly does permit them in
broad day light, showing greater bol3l- +
ness, less fear of condemnation, less
respect for public opinion. than some
OF his predecessors entertained. He
permitted one of the most notorious
Jury packers. and corrupters of pro
ceedure in murder cases, in the coun. |
ty, to hold private conference with |
the negro who was the principal wit
ness before the grand jury in .he
case of Murderer Jim White--AnD
THIS NOTORIOUS JuRY-PAcKER j
WiTNEss-BRokER. AND coz
RUPTER OF CRIMINAL PROCEED /
uRE IN OUR CIRCUIT COURT, DID
THEN AND DOES NOW, HOLD A
COMMISSION FROM SHERIFF MEL /
LIS AS A DEPUTY sHERiFFl
This negro in question was an EN- I
ploye of Jim White, the murderer;
be knows all about the killing; was !
the man who was sent By White to .
get his pistol In order that he might +
kill Otterson the river man; he
knows all about the manner Of
Whites escape. But when he came
before the grand jury he--knew moth
ing at all about the case.
II does not seem likely that the
will be able to convince
very many intelligent voters, in the
ACE Of this state of facts, that Sheriff
Nellis Is entitled to the confidence Of
hose citizens in Cairo who want the
aw enforced. who want clean pro-
needings in our circuit court, in so
ar as the sheriff can make them so,--
WHO WANT TO PREVENT MOB
LAW IN CAIRO IN THE ONLY
WAY IN WHICH 1T CAN BE PRE-.
VENTED: by preventing the condi.
ions which always and everywhere
produce mob law, where masculine
human nature Is not. In the language
)f Pope, "a mere white curd OF ass's