The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-04-10

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every other case, want the accused re-
leased and somebody else prosecuted,
always someone except the one on
trial, in a robbery, it's a case of mis-
taken Identity" in burglary we "ar-
rest the wrong man." in forgeries,
the check was given "this innocent
man" by one to whom "he had loaned
money" in thefts it was done in a
JOSH" in man-murder it's self de-
fense,' in wife-murder its "alcoholic
trance" if we try woman for in
fanticide we should have tried the
man" L have had them all presented
in every form by ingenious counsel,
misguided friends and well-meaning
ministers In every case presented 10
the court there are from one to fifty
wait upon me with the suggestion
that the case be dropped las under
the circumstances, or hes an old
man." or "he's man of family
or 1.-The poor fellows got no friends %
or shes a woman and a thousand
equally profound legal reasons
In one case one-half the ministers
besides several business men and wo-
men of the city waited upon me at
different times to suggest that l drop
the prosecution, and not one of them
even suggested that the accused was
innocent
On the general proposition of law
enforcement we all agree, the diff
Guilty arises when we attempt to apply
our general proposition to specific
cases. Cases in court are exceedingly
specific and no general proposition
can be considered. General enforce
ment-yes. Specific enforcement
NO, is apparently the present public
sentiment.
In the hundreds of case prosecuted
to conviction under my administra-
ton l recall but three persons outside
OF officers that are trying to enforce
the law and those personally inter-
ested, that ever mentioned a specific
case and said one word of encourage
ment or commentator on that par
ticular case. The officer very soon
learns not to expect it and his en-
couragement and reward is the con-
seriousness of duty done and the smile
OF encouragement that greets him
from the one whose smile lights up
the whole world for him. In the Ber-
talon case no one outside of officers
nave spoken one word of encourage
ment, and dozens, including the news
paper contributors, have discouraged
and harassed and sought to obstruct
the enforcement of the law!
L also wish to publicly thank the
jury for having the courage to regard
their oath binding upon them and to
decide the case upon the law and the
evidence, regardless of the apparent
clamor Of the public for them to vio-
late that oath.
How long will sentiment against
specific enforcement of law continue ?
70 what extent will it go? We now
have four murders to one trial, a
dozen to conviction, and over eighty
TO an execution. We think lightly of
CRIME from the least to the gravest.
We publicly announce our hope that
the guilty escape and actually shud-
der lest criminal is convicted. In
our false and misguided sympathy for
criminals We have drifted until sta
tistics show we are already the most
laWless OF nations, and We regard our
laws more lightly than any civilized
people on the earth, and in my hum
BILE opinion L do not think such arti-
cles as have lately appeared in this
column tend to increase what little
respect for law we have left.
AS to Mrs. Bertalon, she has my
profound sympathy, so has ever I'M
fortunate who drifts into tn. minal
courts. l feel sorry for them that
they do not exercise better Judgment.
but should that deter the officers from
proceeding? If it did then SURELY
would America be near the precipice.
Mrs. Bertalon owns her own home.
house and two lots, all paid for, has
money coming. in monthly from
Everett on property which she sold
and for which she has not yet re-
cefved full payment. She has had on
deposit in the Yakima National bank
at no time less than $173, and from
that to $265, ever since October.
1910. I'll venture a guess that not
five per cent of the families in this
city can show a home clear from
debt and that much money in the
bank during that time. How many
another heavily burdened mother is
watching this case and wondering If
human endurance can bear the one
additional straw which is about to be
added to her already too heavy bur-
den and wondering whether punish
ment or reward would await her dis
patching the little unwelcome visitor
whose cry it seems would pierce her
soul like dagger. Consider where
this false sympathy leads, what is its
logical conclusion. Think. Pause
and beware lest you unconsciously
encourage crime and lest the next
babe raked from the ditch got there
directly through your kind but ill-ad-
vised sympathy.
There has been so much said on the
subject, and practically all on one
side, that I wished to present the
other side to the thinking people of
this community. and l leave this word
of warning at time which seems op-
perfume. This is written in the same
spirit of kindness and forbearance
which I feel actuated others who
have expressed their opinion.
j. LENOX WARD.