The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-04-10
Attorney Ward Sounds Warning
Editor Herald

Editor Herald:
/ have waited patiently looking in
vain for some word from somebody
to be raised in commentator and
sympathy for law enforcement as ex-
emplifed by the trial and conviction
in the Bertalon case.
We have had articles on law en-
forcement and have had reformers
and social purifiers and leagues of
civil righteousness, and these same
individuals so active in theory, in
practice, rush into print to discour-
age prosecutions and by sentiment
seek to influence juries which have
been called and sworn to enforce the
law.
"Dulcie," for instance, announced
she would be pleased to see no con-
viction in the Bertalon case. This an
nouncement was publicly made before
the evidence was submitted or all the
facts known. That means "Dulcie"
and those whose sentiments are SINH
lar, want the violators of law not
called to account for violating the law
against the gravest of crimes upon
our statute books-homicide. If the
gravest of crimes are winked at and
passed unnoticed because the perpe-
traitor is unfortunate, then in the
name of consistency why should not
minor offenses be passed over also?
Then from murder down to auto
speeding pass over the violations of
law in all its phases, open the doors
of jails and prisons, dismiss your
courts and what condition of affairs
will you have?
And now comes Mr.. Zediker and
makes the most astounding PROPOSE
ton of all. He, in apparent sincerity,
recommends not only that the one
convicted of homicide go unscathed
of justice, but l presume, as a reward
for her courage in daring to kill her
own defenseless baby girl in the dead
hour of midnight, proposes that Dull
Gle" take up a contribution of from
$1,000 to $1,000 to present to Mrs. Ber-
talon as a token of esteem and SYM
pathy from the community which she
has so honored and benefited by her
life.
What is this money to be used for?
For Mrs Bertalon and her two
children The evidence shows that
Mrs. Bertalons husband has been
dead five years She had living with
her her children, aged twelve, eight
and two years, respectively. I pre-
sumo from that the money is to be
used for Mrs. Bertalon and her two
legitimate children, and the the third
poor unfortunate, unfathered baby
boy of two be left to starve on ac-
count of the sins of his father, or per-
han he 10 tn al n ha ~ G CT n
the ditch and thereby increase the re-
ward, for if a reward of $1,000 or
$1,000 be presented for killing one ba-
upon killing two?
If a collection for her, why not one
for everyone convicted of crime?
think they would all be willing to ac-
cept it, and in all probability put it
to good use. That would surely put a
premium on lawlessness. If a collec-
ton were taken for burdened mothers
who scarcely know how to take care
of their little ones, but who are striV-
ing with all their power to treat them
well and administer to their wants l
think it would be much more in keep
ing with humanity and propriety.
In the last eight years, If L remem-
Der correctly, four newly born babes
have been raked out of the bitches in
this city: no one punished yet and
only one case previously presented
in court; that time a man. The man
was not prosecuted because he was a
man, nor in this case the woman
prosecuted because she was the wo-
man, but in each case the one was
prosecuted against whom the proof
tended to show guilt.
| have no sympathy for the father
Of the dead baby, and he'll live long
before he ever gets a word of defense
from me. But in fairness let it be re-
called that the man accused by Mrs.
Bertalon denies any improper rea-
tons with her, and on the contrary
contributed to her livelihood, as Mrs.
Bertalon stated she lived off the char
ity of the community. Which is tell
ing the truth l know not, but Mrs.
Bertalon stated that the man gave
her money and paid for every Illicit
| visit that there was no promise Of
marriage ana no deceit. mature
woman OF her age and experience,
having already been twice married,
| borne three children by each mar
Tlage and one child three years allel