The Sentinel=record., 1912-02-24
SUBJECT OF ADDRESS.

young man of this city was poured out through bullet wonnd. the wound inflicted by sworn officer of the law, and line bullet fired in the pres. ence of the sheriff of the county.
 In small hotel parlor Compton Killed Freeman. Compton was an of ficer Sheriff Hale was the third man in the room There were two women present
 On the question as to why he did not stop or hinder or make impos sible the taking of human life, through careful exercise of his execu tive duty and obligation, Sheriff Hale says:
 Il did not see the shooting. l was addressing myself to the young lady
 Hale adds that he saw neither Compton or Freeman when the shot was fired.
 He was addressing himself to the young lady.
 In a room with two men engaged n heated argument A small room it was. Hale was standing close to Compton. Hale had been actively in- ferested in the whole of the affair, but when the shot was fired he was addressing himself to the young lady, and did not see either of the princi- pals to the tragedy.
 NOW.
 We have stated Hale was an inconi- petent as an officer. Certainly he seems to be.
 Out at the court house less than q month ago an incident took place.
 Row Brown. deputy constable, a man whose commission was not writ. ten by Governor Donaghey at the in- stance of J. B. Wood. but who had begged constahle's commission, was engaged cn a set of books.
 Brown was addressing himself to the county clerks books in an effort to earn few dollars, inasmuch as his executive authority did not place him in touch with big fees.
 Poring over his books. while mar riage ceremony was being performed in the next room. Brown looked up and saw young man hurry to the marriage room.
 Brown quit addressing himself to the books in moment. It all hap. pened in moment, but his mind was addressed to the young man hurry ing to the other room.
 Experience and official instinct had told him something was wrong. He involuntarily dropped his address to the books. and stepped before the young man just as the latter was about to plunge through the door, automatic pistol in hand, and fire a fusillade of shots through the body Of another man.
 Brown had saved the day. He had not been with the parties for hours. He knew nothing of the circumstances, All he knew was that something was wrong. and Brown was on the job Of trying 10 right it. and he did.
 If Brown wanted a commission by appointment from the governor. and wanted the Wood endorsement for that commission. he probably would be laughed at.
 Yet Brown would make Garland county a far more satisfactory off cial than Hugh Hale. in the opinion of many.
 Sheriff Hale appointed Bill Wiley chief Of his staff when he was given the sheriff's commission. Wiley was an experienced officer Wiley was a peace officer. Wiley had been in tihe employ of the city. and knew his business.
 One day down at the Texas club, when Sheriff Hale and George Comp ton. the latter who Thursday killed Freeman. were on poker raid, and 1t looked like there would be a trag- edy certain, Bill Wiley put his big number 9 feet in the game. and saved probably half dozen lives.
 But Sheriff Hale and Wiley didn't get along because Wiley couldn't find enough poker rooms. so Wiley was permitted to resign.
 Charley Webb. an alert, quiclthink. ing young man, served as sheriff through probably as stormy period in Hot Springs as ever was written in our history. and Charley Webb was on the job when there was chance for trouble-so there wasn't any trouble
 The peace preserver is worth more 10 community than all the prosecut- lag attorneys In the land.