Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-31
THE Cox-TRUBy FEUD.

WIN the acQulttal OF Ike SON H1u
his companions for the killing of Sam
Truby ends another expensive trial fol
the taxpayers of La Plata county
The Herald is not going to comment
one way or the other regarding the
results of the trial, except to say that
i. is quite evident that the sympathy
of the people is with Cox and the
jury evidently believed that Cox was
justified or the twelve men would not
have acquitted the defendants. Not
withstanding the acquittal, and the
sentiment expressed in favor of the
men, a great majority of the people
are asking themselves where it is 60
ing to end. 1t seems as though con-
viction is out of the question no mat
ter what either side does. Cox was
acquitted of the first killing, then the
Truby's were acquitted of conspiracy
that appeared very plain, and now the
Cox party is acquitted of the killing
of another of the TRULY boys. Where
the fault lies, if there is a fault, is
not plain at this time, If it is lame
ness in the prosecution, the fact should
be known; if it is entirely sentiment
then conditions are bad. We say this
regarding both sides. The Herald is
against gun-toting. Life is held too
lightly with the man with gun.
This not rcflecting on either Cox or
the Trubys, but as whole. Let US
glance back at the killing of the late
Sheriff Thompson. Other instances
could be pointed to where men have
lost their lives as though it mattered
little one way or the other.
In this connection we desire to call
attention to the re-arrest of the Cox
party on the ground of assault and
attempt to kill Dave McCullom. 1t
simply means added expense to the
already burdened county as convic-
tion is absolutely out of the question
if we are to judge by past events, and
we do not believe District Attorney
Lane justified in saddling the county
with further costs. If life is not to
be considered, then let us consider
the burden our people are put to. We
realize some will say that the cost
is of small moment when it comes to
preserving law and order, but we dc
know that vasts majority of our
citizens feel that further prosecution
of Cox means only added expense, es-
pecially in the light of testimony in
troduced on the part of the prosecu-
tion in the recent trial.
Now to the real point: 1t must be
agreed by all that at this time the
feeling between the Cox and the Tru-
bys amounts to bitter feud of the
Kentucky order in which either one
side or the other is cleaned out. This
is bad condition of affairs. Would
there were some way of bringing
about change. Life is too precious
for men to be shooting and killing
each other like dogs. 1t is plain that
Cox and the Trubys cannot ride the
same range without trouble. This be-
ing the case why not leave the matter
to arbitration so the rights of both
parties may be preserved. There is
plenty of room for both parties with
out coming in contact with each other
We voice the conviction of nine out
of ten that the only way life is to be
preserved is for the parties to the
feud to be separated and kept sepa-
rated. The Herald makes this state
ment with scarce speaking acquaint-
ance with any of the contending par
ties, hence without prejudice. 1t is
the future we are looking to, not the
past. If conditions are to result in
crime then the conditions should be
changed, and this is what we have in
mind. We do not want to have to
chronicle either the killing of an
other TRULY or of Ike Cox. Not only
this, with close association the feel
ing between the different factions not
directly connected, increases. Friends
of both Cox and the Trubys should
try and get the men to agree to let
the past be buried, with the condition
that they be as widely separated as
possible. 1t is quite apparent that
if Cox were to kill the remaining
members the same conditions would be
presented at the trial. The same is
undoubtedly the case should Cox be
killed by one of the Trubys. People
would say it was evening up matters.
The above may be plain talk, but
it is necessary occasionally to call
attention to conditions as they really
exist. We want a cessation of the
feud. Will the principals and friends
of both sides aid The Herald in bring
ing about a peaceful solution?
In conclusion, the taxpayers should
have an inning and if the feud cannot
be amicably settled then it is time for
them to take hand. La Plata county
has been saddled with useless costs.