The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-21
FRIENDS OF M|ACHOLD
FIGHT FOR RELEASE
sy International News Service.

BY International News Service.
BOISE. March 20-Idaho has developed
j ''Dreyfus" case, If the charges made in
connection with the Incarceration OF Carl
Machod, former newspaper man, in
the Blackfoot insane asylum. are correct.
For it is alleged that under the prctense
OF placing him where he could not annoy
the community In which he lived he was
committed to a madhouse, Indignation
has aroused public sentiment and
statewide movement is now on to raise
a sufficient fund with which to give the
unfortunate man a hearing before an
unbiased court and a commission OF
medical experts. Governor IIalnes has
even gone SO far as TO give official recog-
milton TO Machold's case by Offering TO
appoint any district Judge In the state
satisfactory to Machold's friends TO re-
hear his case
Machold is printer by trade. a man
In the prime OF life with a family. a wife
and children. depending on him for their
support. AT one time he vas In the EN-
ploy of the Rocatello Tribune as a re-
porter, and ii was then that his troubles
began, He, prior to that time, secured
piece OF land in Bingham county and
er. While farming he had trouble with
the irrigation ditch owners supplying his
land with water. with the result that his
supply OF water was cut off when the
and when the crops did not need the wa
ter il was turned on and they were
ruined. His neighbors Testify To this
iact The greater number OF them hold
him To be perfectly sane and rational. as
well as good nelghbor.
While reporting Machold wrote a story
that was published in the Pocatello pa
per, bitterly assalins Judge Stevens OF
the district court for Bingham county,
A libel suit was instituted by the iurist
against the paper The friends of
Machold claim that he Was selected for
punishment. and the upshot OF the publi-
cation was that he was arrested and
later tried. A long drawn out legal bat
tie followed and was finally carried to
the supreme court Of this state. Machod
appeared as his own counsel in ALL the
cases.
Finally a sanity commission was ap-
pointed. Machoid was adjudged harm
Blackfoot asylum. Those who believe
him insane declare he had a burning de-
sire to attack those against whom he
bore enmity. through the publication OF
articles In newspapers. His friends hold
that his commitment was but spite work.
Macholds case finally rea ched the leg
islature. and during the last session the
mittee TO look into IT. Machod was
brought TO Boise and closely examined,
and placed on the witness stand in his
own behalf. The senate committee Sc
cured the services OF three prominent
physicians to examine Machold. They
pronounced him harrnlessly insane. The
committee then reported TO the senate.
but the report was not unanimous. Two
OF the senators stood with the physi-
clans, one was positive Machold was rs
sane ms anyone Machold was taken
back to the asylum to be cared for and
is there now.
BY this time Machod's case had be-
come state Issue, Many who watched
the senate investigation and read the
fortunate man was not insane. They en-
listed with Machod's friends and SYM
pathizers. Indignation meetings were
held In Boise and other cities OF the
state The senate investigation was
branded as n whtcwash TO protect the
head OF the Insane asylum, To carry on
their fight for what they believe TO be
''falr piay" they started subscription
fund and expect 10 raise $1,000 with which
to hove the entire case gone over again.
Governor Haines recently stated IN n
letter TO prominent citizen of Black
foot who complained about the treat
meut Machold was receiving. that he
did not want Idaho 10 have a reputation
OF committing a sane and innocent man
10 the asylum, and that he would not
hut officially he would select a district
judge in the state satisfactory To Ma
choid's friends to rehear his case
Machold's supporters expect to have their
fund raised within few days and Will
thcn ask for the rebearlng.