Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-09-18

Sheriff Harper's defense is as
weak as his official record. The facts
are that the arrest of the editor OF
the Republican at Weippe the Fourth
was so rotten that it shamed every
decent citizen in the county, and for
the reason that it was manifestly
grandstand frameup, and entirely
unnecessary and unusual. Why was
it necessary to import Leeper from
Elk River to do the work? When
the Sheriff says Orcutt did not OBJ
iect, or did not ask to be permit
ted to stay and take part in the
Weippe program, the sheriff tells an
untruth. We begged to be permit
ted to pitch the ball game, and scores
of others entered an immediate pro-
test. Bonds were offered, and Sheriff
Harper was free to use little COM
mon sense if he so desired. There
was no occasion for undue haste when
Sheriff Harper knew the editor would
return to Orofno the following day
and that he was serving no purpose
whatever in his undue haste. AS a
matter of fact the Sheriff is believ-
ed to have known, AMI Deputy Sheriff
Sisk is believed to have known
the day before that Orcutt was to be
arrested at Weippe the Fourth; there
is evidence that the officers knew it
before Orcutt left for Weippe. 1t
was known at the breakfast table at
the Orofno asylum the morning OF
the Fourth, and one of the employees
informed Mrs. Orcutt early on the
Fourth.
" 1t was a disgraceful piece of Off
cial impudence, and the best evil
dence of this is the way in which dis
interested democrats who were in We
ippe the Fourth received the matter.
Sheriff Harper did not have the gall
to attempt defense at the time.
The facts are he did have legal
right to do as he did, and we are not
posing as martyr. :" But his con-
duct way unusual and so rank that it
outraged the sense of justice of most
of the people of the county. We'll
admit that it pleased Jim and Pat
Blake.
Sheriff Harper cannot dismiss the
charge that he peddled bootleg booze
at the Jerico mine. The man who
made the statement is responsible
citizen. He had no motive in lieing
Sheriff Harper is candidate for re-
election and has good motive for de-
nying the statement. Which of the
two men would be most likely to lie!
Sheriff Harper says the people
know him too we'll to believe sucf
things about him. That is the troub
lie. The people do know Harper, ant
too many know about the way tn
bootleggers are overrunning the coun
ty.
Nor can the sheriff escape respon
sibility by laying the blame onto tn
county attorney. If a sheriff is il
sympathy with bootleggers or othe
criminals all the county. attorney
on earth can't enforce the law.
tip from the officer and the booze dis
appears till the officer leaves. No
can the attorney get the evidence an
catch crooks unless the sheriff is i
sympathy with law enforcement
Sheriff Harper's defense is moonshine
pure and simple, and every man {
experience knows it.
But why waste time. Compare tt
record of Sheriff Harper with the re'
ord Of Sheriff Brown of Latah count!
and let this most efficient old frat
explain why the sheriff in Mosco
can enforce the law in Bovill so nut
better than the sheriff in Orofno HI
ever enforced the law in Elk Rive
Then talk about efficiency and con
potency and law enforcement.
Sheriff Harper is mistaken IT
thinks we have ever been an admir-
of his brand of law enforcement
Long before the Weippe incident,
view of what we have seen and be
told by reliable citizens, we have
peatedly said that Sheriff Harper W
the biggest fake Of an officer we ev
saw, and that some day the people
Clearwater county would get the
eyes open.
Mr.. Harper is not going to esca
responsibility by charging Mr.. Sui
van with some improper conduct
some past time. If Mr.. Sullivan
all that Mr.. Harper infers it does
change the facts relative to Shel
Harper. But it is not alleged Il
Mr.. Sullivan himself ever gambl'
or that he was responsible for othe
1t is not material. The only gu
tion is whether or not he will,
elected sheriff, enforce the law. 4
the best citizens Of Elk River vo'
for his good character and state t
he has never been in sympathy y
bootleggers or other violators OF