The copper era and Morenci leader., 1916-04-21

community to express their views in the premises, and I shall be very cer- tain to obey the mandate of this con- mittee. I, as an individual, did men, tion to Sheriff Forbes the name of Joe Spires, recommending him as a suitable person for a deputyship, but the sheriff did not appoint him. Per haps it would have been well had he done so. Spires had proven himself to be a reliable and painstaking officer. I did not mention to Forbes the name of Moore If Moore made written application for a deputy ship and requested my endorsement thereon, he undoubtedly received it. Moore had served as special officer of railroad company of which I had charge. The conditions under which he served were trying in the ex- treme; he performed the duties of the office with exceptional ability and fidelity and doubtless, under proper direction he would have served the sheriff's office with equal efficiency.
 Conditions Intolerabe
 However, all of this is more or less irrelevant. It is the duty of a sheriff to select his deputies and he alone is responsible for the conduct II an office of trust finds himself un- able from any cause whatsoever, to fulfill that trust, it is his duty to himself as well as those who have confided to him that trust, to sur render it. A citizens committee, hay i ing in view the welfare of this com munity, requested Sheriff Forbes. to appear before them, told him that in their judgment the welfare of the community could be best conserved by his immediate resignation from the office of sheriff. He opened not his mouth, but his attorney, MT. Ed win Jones, stated that Forbes could not, in justice to his friends, con- | ply with the request of the commit tee. He further stated that the only mistake that Forbes had made in the conduct of his office was that he had retained Joe Wiley, one of his depu- ties, a little too long. The citizens committee has not at any time men, tioned the name of Joe Wiley nor, in- deed, of single one of Forbes depu- ties, and why the blame for the last outrage committed by the sheriff's office should be allocated to Joe Wi | ley is not apparent to the committee. There were three representatives of the sheriffs office implicated in the killing of Mrs. Bates. The revolvers of all three were discharged at or into the car of Captain Bates. A shot from one of these revolvers killed Mrs. Bates-from which one, the public does not know, nor is that a matter of moment. The concern of the committee is not with individuals but with conditions. MT. Forbes has proven his inability to conduct the office in the proper manner and it is 1 the belief of the committee that the welfare of the community can be best conserved by his immediate surren- der of that office.
 Only One Question
 Laying aside the lesser irregular ities correctly or otherwise imputed l to the sheriff's office since the in- cumbency of Sheriff Forbes, this community must face the following indisputable facts: But little over a year ago, two men were murdered by two deputies of the sheriff's office. Within the week wife and mother has been shot to death on a public highway in the outskirts of this town by some one of three represen- tatives of the sheriff's office. Is this state of affairs to continue or not? Each citizen, must answer this ques- tion for himself or herself at the polls within the next thirty days. The citizens committee has so arranged that an opportunity will be given to the voters of this county to express themselves upon this question and in so doing it has performed it's duty. EPES RANDOLPH,
 Chairman, Citizens Committee
 Tucson, April 15, 1916.
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