The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-10

We cannot understand why Judge
Shackelford should be singled out by the
two Winchester papers and made the
target of vicious editorials undertaking
to reflect upon him. Judge Shackelford
is no more chargeble with the matters
complained of than any man charged
with official duties in Madison county,
ranging from constable TO circuit court
judge.
1t must be borne in mind that Mad
ison county is not a local option county,
and the benefit of the local option laws
can be had only in certain parts of the
county. While it is true that the coun-
ty court has jurisdiction of all viola
tions of the liquor laws committed with
in the confines of Madison county, it is
equally true that each magistrate and
the police courts and the circuit court
have concurrent jurisdiction.
1t is unfair and unjust to single out
one man and say that he is responsible
for existing conditions. There are eight
magistrates in the county of Madison,
one police judge in the city of Rich
mond and a police judge in the city of
Berea and the circuit court, that can
deal with this class of law violators.
1t will be borne in mind that the city
of Berea has made a determined and
steadfast fight against bootlegging, and
the same can be said of the police court
of the city of Richmond, also the coun-
ty court, presided over by Judge Shack
elford.
The police court of this city was con.
stituted for the express purpose of look
ing after the violations of the liquor law
coming within It's jurisdiction in the
said city, and the records of that conrt
show that it has been energetic in the
discharge of its duties. The police off
GERS have been diligent and have brought
many violators to the bar of justice.
The Winchester Sun undertakes to say
that Judge Shackelford, being on the
ground, is-clothed with authority to pro-
coed by warrant and is not required to
await the action of the grand jury, and
undertakes to excuse the circuit court
indirectly by intimating that it must
await the action of the grand jury in this
class of cases. This is not the law, and
the circuit court can proceed in all mis-
demeanor cases by warrant without the
Intervention of the grand jury. In addi-
ton to this, the circuit court is armed
with the very strong power of twelve in
telligent grand jurors coming from the
body of the people, and who can come
nearer fer-eting out the violations of law
than can any court not armed with such
authority.
1t is not our purpose to make invidi-
Gus comparisons. nor is it our purpose TO
enter into newspaper controversy which
would be undignified and undesirable.
We further wish to say that the news
papers of this city have treated Clark
county's distinguished candidates for cir
cult judge and Commemorative attor-
ney with the very greatest courtesy, and
all three of our papers have spoken well
of them and have not sought directly or
throw mud. We think that we can
safely say that this course will be
maintained by our worthy contempora
ries, the Register and Paragraph, and
certainly this paper will not depart from
its established principle of refusing to
single out any man and make him the
target of newspaper assaults.
Judge Shackelford has taken very
dignified and very sensible view of the
TRADE of abuse that has been heaped up
on him. He refuses to draw the high
office of circuit judge into gutter poll,
tics, and for this we com mend him.