Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-07-31
PROBATE JUDGE CROW
is FOR ECONOMY ALRIGHT

In the last issue the OroAno Trib.
une said:
The Republican editor turned his
attention last week to the probate
court matters, taking occasion from
case of minor Importance to give
vent to his spleen by reason of the
wrath he has been nursing since his
4th Of July experience. Had the pro-
bate court followed the wise counsel
Of such eminent authority as the
self-styled reformer. Clearwater coun-
ty taxpayers would have had bill of
costs to pay aggregating from $50 to
$500 with no better results than OBJ
tanned by dismissing the case against
Bishop after taking the matter up
with Prosecuting Attorney Holsclaw
and Sheriff Harper. Pete will do
we'll to take care Of his own cases in
court without going out of his way to
try and 'incriminate' some one else.
If the probate judge should need
advice at any time besides that of
the duly authorized officials the Trbi-
une would suggest that he make a
requisition on DIR. sGivens for counsel. :"
And the facts in this case are
undisputed, except that MIR. Crow
says he consulted County Attorney
Holsclaw, while the county attorney
informed the Republican that he was
not consulted, and stated further that
he had been ignored; that witnesses
he ordered the probate court to sub
poena were not, so far as he knew,
served, and without his knowledge the
case was dismissed by the probate
court without any investigation of
the evidence.
So far as the Clearwater Republic
can lis personally concerned it does
not know either Of the parties to the
case very we'll, meeting Mr.. Abbott
only a few times, and never, to our
knowledge, having seen the defendant,
j. F. Bishop. We did not pretend
to express an opinion as to the merits
of the case. We do not know wheth-
er or not Mr.. Bishop committed an
offense, but we do know that the
county attorney, after talking with
the prosecuting witness, who offered
to prove his charges, had warrant
issued for Mr.. Bishop, who was
not arrested for fifteen days. All
this while Sheriff Harper, this officer
who travelled all night July 3rd to ar
rest the editor of the Republican, had
the warrant. The rush was some
thing fierce, and so unusual that citi-
zens protested, to be informed by the
sheriff that 81 must do my duty
Duty to who?
But in the case of Bishop, where it
was charged that Abbott's life was
threatened, duty ceased.
No arrest was made until Mr..
Abbott came to Orofino and insisted
that the sheriff serve that warrant.
The sheriff then arrested Mr.. Bishop,
and the probate judge, who is also
editor of the Tribune, after setting
the case for trial, dismissed it the
day before without giving the prose-
cution any notice, and no opportunity
to produce proof or substantiate his
charges. 1t was a case where a
court, whose duty it is to sit as
judge, goes out of his way and pre-
sumes to act as prosecuting attorney,
and arbitrarily rides over the law,
ignores the rights Of the complaining
and aggrieved witness, and dismiss.
es the case without investigation
under the excuse that he is saving tht
taxpayers few dollars.
On such q. plea the doors of the peni
Tertiary should swing open. 1t cost.
money to punish men. On such ples
Il. Maynard Brown case should no
have been brought into court. Or
this plea Harry Orchard should hav,
been turned lose. And it is prob
ably love for the dear taxpayers tina
prompts some of the Clearwater GAM
officials to wink at other violation,