The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-28
PUBLICITY FOR TooELE

Inc pubic will he naturally amazed
al some of the developments in the so.
called Tooele bank robbery case. There
was nrst claim of an atrocious crime
ana under that claim certain arrests
were made. Among them the arrest
OF Mr.. w. L.. Irvine, and of his clerk
Joseph Balluff. But since then the
Iooeie officials have exonerated Mr.. Ir-
vine completely, and also his clerk, And
now there appears to be a disnosit;on
on their part to drop the whole sub
Ject, an act as Of men who were get
ting beyond their depths, or getting
too near where things get hot.
But the withdrawal should by no
means be allowed. The public is en-.
Titled to the fullest information, and
TO the rigorous prosecution of whoever
Is guilty IN this criminal plot. For. I'm.
doubtedly criminal plot was hatched.
crime was committed. It is to no
purpose that it may be argued that
the money ls returned, and therefore No
harm is done. For, great harm has
been done. Great harm was done per
sonally TO innocent men in their arrest
ana arrangement in the public press
as possibly guilty Of a high crime. IT
is not enough to have the officers who
made that arrest give personal clear
ance TO these men. They are entitled
to a Judicial investigation and cxonera-
ton. They are entitled to have the
guilt ludicially and publicly fixed.
Nothing less than this is their due.
But rs to the crime itself, there arc
still greater public reasons why it
should be probed to its depths. For it
is bad for business, it is bad for banks
IL IS bad for persons who are intrusted
with money, to have the idea go forth
that crimes Of this kind can be COM
mitted here and be followed with
laxity that is destructive, both of good
morals and Of justice. The officers
have no right whatever to be lax in
this matter. They must be diligent.
and must pursue their Investigations to
the end. The guilty ones must be ar.
raigned and brought to punishment No
one must be allowed TO compound a
felony, either through fear. favor, or
the restoration Of the stolen property.
The restoration of the stolen propertv
ls by no means satisfaction of Justice.
1t may satisfy the person, but it does
not meet the demands of the law. The
Tooele officials are in no position to
drop this case. The public must de-
mand for its own protection, and for
The safety of fiduciary agencies, that
the crime be fully disclosed, and the
criminals brought to Justice.
1t is no time to stop now, Just as
part of the truth has been told. Let us
have all the truth, and see that every.
thing involved in the case is brought to
the light of day. Nothing else will
satisfy the claims of public Justice;
nothing else will be effective in prevent
ing similar crimes in the future. To
hush up, condone, and hide the truth
to protect guilty persons, Is Just as
heinous an otfense on the part Of Off.
cials on the one hand, as it is for them
on the other to arrest and parade as
guilty of crime, men who arc absolute.
" innocent and blameless 10 the trans
action. Let us have even handed ius-
tice meted out lmpartially. equally, and
sternly, Nothing else will suit the case,
nothing else Will remove the stigma
from this community and from that of
Tooele.