Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1915-06-12
THE LAST
IN A CELEBRATED
COURT CASE

Hironymous, previously convicted OF
grand larceny for stealing four head of
catGle from the herds of Stickney and
Strosnider, the cattlemen, was SEN
fenced by Judge Hart to a term in
the State penitentiary of not less than
years.
The offense for which Hironymous
was convicted is hagrant the defense
made was purely technical and there
is no doubt of the justice of the ver-
dict rendered However, after many
hours deliberation the jury recon-
mendcd mercy, otherwise the sentence
would doubtless have been more Sc
we're
The case has been pending since last
September and every technical impe
diment known to the attorneys OF the
defendant was used to prevent a
speedy trial. All that was accomplish
ed by these tactics was to prolong the
imprisonment of the defendant who,
at the last, had no evidence to intro
duce.
In a number of previous cases of this
character in the county prosecutions
have failed and the impression was
growing that cattle thieves were i'm
mune from punishment in Lyon coun-
ty. Resident stockmen were begin
ming to seriously consider the prob
lem whether they would be compelled
to go out of business entirely or take
the law into their own hands and or
ganize vigilance committees for the
purpose of creating in this vicinity
the same unhealthy atmosphere for
cattle thieves that formerly existed in
Montana when one of the surest meth
DDS of suicide was to steal horse.
Cattle stealing was becoming so
common in Lyon county that despite
the abundance of hay to feed, stockmen
were beginning to avoid the county as
a place to feed because of the serious
losses from theft From thousands
the numbers brought here for feeding
had dwindled to hundreds and threat
ened to cease entirely, thus causing
great loss to the ranchers generally
This conviction, the first in the
county for this p=rticulra offense, has
done much to restore confidence
among cattlemen that they will have
protection in Lyon county. Hirony-
nous is among the first to be con-
victed in the State.
Every attempt was made by the
attorneys for the defendant to involve
the record of the trial with error which
would enable them to successfully APP
peal the case to the Supreme Court
and by tedious delay and piling up ex-
pense finally secure the discharge of
this malefactor by creating fear that
the Court and officers would be unable
to uphold the law relating to crime.
Failing in all their attempts the attor-
neys asked for 4 stay OF twenty days
in which to make motion for a new
trial. Failing to make the motion
Hironymous was taken to Carson on
the 5th to commence lis term of inn
prisonmcnt
Great credit is due to Judge Hart
for the fair, impartial ard firm manner
in which he presided at the trial. His
rulings were prompt and clear and his
charge to the jury carefully guarded
and protected the rights of the de
fendant as well as upheld and main
tanned the rights and dignity of the
State.
The xceptionally strong prosecu-
ton conducted by District Attorne!
Campbell, assisted by Judge Hauser
specially retained in this case by the
State Cattlemen's Association, was
earnest and strenuous, despite the dis
couraging fact that the prevailing SEN
tment was that their efforts would be
of no avail. A further discouragng
fact was that continual criticisms were
directed against these two lawyers
because of the expense to the taxpay-
ers of the county and the general be
lief that they could not convict any
person for cattle rustlirg.
The concerted and effective effort
of all the officers of the law to whom
all credit is due for securing punish
ment for the crime in this case hac
done much to restore confidence o.
law abiding citizens and property
holders that people can and will be
protected in Lyon county The ex
pense compared with the benefits t.
the community is nothing compared
with the losses which are the newt
able consequences of unpunished law
lessness.