The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1917-06-27
SWIFT JURY FAILS TO
REACH AN AGREEMENT
Stands Eleven to One for Acquittal
After Deliberating for
Day and Night

/ Thiiti httADSi otlh6 lOi a oas anu q
night the jury in the second trial OF
VIM. Swift, charged with being an
aecomplice of Guy Mitchell and Lee
Sepulveda in stealing six head OF
cattle from Henry Levy last March
failed to reach verdict and were
discharged Sunday afternoon. The
jury stood eleven for acquittal and
one for conviction.
The jury was composed of six wo-
men and six men as follows: Miss
Hattie Ferguson, Mrs. Flora Nor
riss, Mrs. Katherine Aikens, Miss
zay Barber, Miss Ethel Simmonds,
Mrs. Mary Marsh, B. c. Archer, j.
l.. Weidener, K. M. Hanson, A. T.
Castleton, George Wilbur and J.. II.
Johnson.
The case was called last Wednes-
day morning and the jury was secur-
ed the same day. AS in the former
trial the defense was represented by
Attorney A. L. Haight. At the open
ing of court F. H. Sears announced
his withdrawal as associate counsel
The State was represented by Dis
trict Attorney Geo. J. Kenny, assist
ed by A. N. Salisbury of Reno.
The taking of testimony began on
Thursday morning and the case was
not submitted to the jury until short
ly after 1 O'Clock Saturday afternoon
the morning session being taken up
by the argument of counsel
Practically the same witnesses tes-
titled in this case as in the former
trial of the case, which likewise re-
suited in a disagreement. The de-
fense, however, sprung a surprise
by placing Swift on the stand in his
own defense. He told a remarkably
connected story, calculated to bear
out his contention that he was the
innocent purchaser of stolen goods
and whatever the jury may have
thought of his guilt or innocence, it
is plain that the State failed to prove
their case, to the satisfaction of a
large majority of the jury Hence
the general street impression is that
it is a Scotch verdict, viz: Not pro-
ven"
A noticeable feature of these
cases, and one which reflects no Gre
dit on the community, is the out
spoken sympathy expressed for at
least two of the accused even among
those who frankly state a belief in
their guilt. The third member of
the trio, who turned States evidence
comes in for nothing but denuncia-
tion.
The prevalence of such a perverted
idea of justice and right is incoB-
ceivable in the light of every material
interest in Churchill county. As a
community largely engaged in rails
ing feed for stock, we are extending
an invitation to stockmen from all
over Nevada and California to make
this their winter feeding grounds. 1t
would naturally follow thet this invi-
tation carries with IL d promise of
protection to their herds from ma
rauding bands of rustlers. Once
stockmen are convinced that this
protection is not to be accorded it
takes no prophet to predict that they
will give Churchill county a wide
berth in the future.
This paper has kept quiet during
the progress of the trials, having 10
disposition to prejudice the public
either for or against. 1t has no per-
sonal interest in the case beyond
what is manifestly to the interest of
every man, woman and child in the
county, IL: to see that justice is done
alike to both the criminal and his
victim. If the word goes forth that
cattle rustling is to be regarded as
a legitimate industry in Churchill
county and that conviction cannot
be had even though the proof is
overwhelming, or that even If con-
yicted the culprit can count on suf-
flcient local influence to insure MN
immunity from punishment, then we
are in bad way, indeed.