Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1915-11-11
EDITOR BYRD TREGO
FINALLY WINS OUT
TWO FAMOUS CASES AGAINST
BLACKFO0T NEWSPAPER MAN
DISMISSED ON MOTION OF
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

Byrd Trego, editor of the Idah,
Republican, was arrested at his HON
in Blackfoot Is months ago, charge
with running 16-year old orphan
girl who lived in his family. The
case gave him statewide notoriety al
we'll as statewide condemnation a
the time, SO far as the public was
able to form an opinion from what
purported to be the facts. Mr.. Tregt
was subsequently convicted, as th<
result of trial which is now refer
red to as one in which "every tricl
known in the art of persecution wal
resorted to, and was sentenced tC
serve term in the penitentiary. Thu
case was appealed to the supreme
court, where the verdict was sci
aside and new trial granted. Be
cause of the notoriety the case gave
him and the belief that the mind OF
the public was prejudiced against
him in the community in which the
case originated Trego secured a
change of venue to the Fourth Judi
cial district court of Twin Falls
county, where both that and another
case charging Trego with criminal
libel were dismissed by request OF
the prosecution, the following &C
count of which is found in the Twin
Falls Chronicle of October 18th:
1.-THE two famous cases of the
state against Byrd Trego, the editor
of the Blackfoot Republican, enc for
a grave statutory offense and the
other for criminal libel, came up in
the district court here Monday on a
change of venue from bingham
county. On motion of County Prose
cutor Ralph w. Adair of Blackfoot,
both cases were dismissed for lack
of evidence. The prosecution of Mr..
Trego disgraced the judicial annals
Of Bingham county, and from every
angle had all the earmarks OF being
trumped up
I'm May, 1913, Byrd Trego was ar
rested at his home in Blackfoot,
charged with the crime of running a
16-year old orphan girl that for three
years had been a member of his
household The accusation startled
the whole state, and the sensational
trial which followed was closely
watched. The trial was before the
judge who became notorious in tho
famous Carl Machald insanity case,
and who was political enemy of
Trego. Every trick known in the
gentle art of persecution was resort |
ed to by the gang of shysters who |
for political reasons wished to ac-
complish ruination of Mr.. TT go,
politically and in his
good name. Public sentiment was
worked up against him
and, Of course, under such circum-
stances his conviction followed.
'AThe state supreme court, however,
refused to become party to such
notorious Observation-Disclosures Of JUS
zee, and in decision that has be-
,omo as famous as the case, revers-
ID the trial court and severely scor-
ID both the court and the witnesses
or the state, especially one, Rev. o.
? Christian, formerly superintendent
# the Children's Home at Boise,
rom which institution the alleged !
-ictim was taken into the home of
dr. Trego. This man Christian, it {
las been learned from reliable au I
hority, was forced to retire from
he management of the home, and v
as left the state, leaving his wife :
t Boise, it is said, in Strengthened
The supreme court, o
mong other things, said in its de- b
ision
Evidence insufficient. Testimony r
OF corroborated. Gave girl good o
ONE, she grew up and became dis b
and ran away to public tt
ances and otherwise betrayed her t.
Promised to reform her n
,nduct. was given another chance O
nd did not make good. Did not
ant to return to orphanags and CT
hen she found she had to go she tt
arted a scandal to "get even" with W
le Tregos. 81
/" Superintendent o. P. Christian
the Children's Home started prose m
ltion on conflicting statements OF &C
70 girl. who was peeved. Did worst tr
ing for her and probably wronged cd
,fendant. Was over Jealous" he
County Superintendent Alice in
each not candid witness. seemed w
flair to defendant and determined 81
have prosecution succeed. Admits to
acticing deception to increase