The Sentinel=record., 1913-12-16
REVIEW OF
 CONDITIONS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

these indictments, and they will be considered by the Court for this Dur. pose and for this purpose alone.
 The Prosecuting Attorney further calls attention to the fact that there have been two trials of these cases. and that both of the Judges who tried these cases decided in favor of The defendant He also calls attention to the wide publicity given the evidence in these two cases and the public iu- terest manifested in them.
 He also calls attention to the fact that many of our best citizens are in- terested in having these cases settled without further contests in the Court With a view of preventing further ex- pense incident to the trial of said cases, and to the further fact that the Judge of this Court is a material wit. ness, which will necessitate the cleo ton of Special Judge.
 He also calls attention to the con. dition of the criminal docket. to the fact that there are many felony cases Of great magnitude, which are to be tried at this term of Court and that said cases are of such nature as to require most if not all of the time of the present term of the Court.
 He also states that he has in mind the financial condition of the County and that the result of the trials of these cases would be expensive and exceedingly uncertain as to the yer dict the jury might render, and ex- presses the hope that a summary dis. position of these cases will tend in a way to alloy one source of dissension and discord and contribute somethne for peace in this community.
 Are these reasons well founded? Some of them undoubtedly are.
 "On account of the publicity of these cases and the fact that the de fendant has many strong personal and political friends and many bitter per sonal and political enemies it is high ly unlikely that a jury could be SC cured in Garland County which would ! convict the defendant even though the evidence should justify it and the most probable outcome would be 2 hung jury or acquittal if the cases should he tried
 | Already the costs of these cases amout 10 several hundred dollars, ant if both or either of these cases should be tried in the future. and the defen dant if thrown out of office would b. entitled to a speedy trial. much addi tional cost would necessarily be on tailed upon the County, and som, other very important criminal case would have to be postponed until an other term of this Court.
 q do not mean tD subscribe to in, doctrine that because a criminal pros ecwon will entail costs on the Coun ty that such prosecution should h dismissed but if for other good ant valid reasons case should not t, prosecuted, this is consideration which should have some weight witt the Court
 After all, the question to be de cided is whether under the circum stances existing in this particula case it would be right to permit thes, cases to be mol pressed.
 Tn determining this question. tn, Court is not unmindful of the fact tha the defendant although presumed tr be innocent until his guilt is proven has already suffered considerable pun ishment as well as having been com pelled to pay out considerable sums of money as a result of these prosecu tions
 Promptly upon tho return of thes, indictments into Court the defendant was removed from office as Sheriff 10 which the people of this County elected him. and kept out of office foi fl days being deprived of all the fee, and emoumeuts of said office durIns this period Of time, which. as Clrsui Court was in session, amounted to considerable sum-
 "Out of all the officials who werc indicted by the grand jury at tn, | March term of this Court he alonC has been vigorously prosecuted. a' least by Special Counsel for the pros ccution. and called upon to suffer. any penalty as a result of his official dere uctions. conceding thai he was guilty of such.
 "All of the indictments against oth CT officials. except the indictments against w. W. Waters. have beer quashcd and dismissed, and this de fendant alone it would appear is now being prosecuted
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