The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1918-09-05
PROSECUTION OR PERSECUTION?

secured office rooms.
PROSECUTION OR PERSECUTION?
@. P. Holland was forced to face
prosecution in the Justice Court in
Liberal last week, on charge of fell
onious assault, over the shooting of
one Elmer Oldham by Mr.. Holland,
several weeks ago.
|. The sudden desire which seems to
have come to Mr.. Light to do all in
his power to send Mr.. Holland over
the road is lamentable to say the
least His action in this case has
not been pleasing to lot of people,
and the Democrat fails to see any
reason or logic in the methods en-
ployed by Mr.. Light.
There are several questios in re-
gard to this matter that do not look
we'll for our county attorney, and
leads one to think that outside infiu-
ences are working in the case. The
shooting occurred almost month
ago, and altho Mr.. Holland gave him
self up at the time, no arrest was
made. Then Mr.. Holland asked that
Oldham be placed under a peace
bond, and this, we are informed, Mr..
Light refused to do. What we want
to know is, why the arrest was not
made sooner, and why the request for
the peace bond was not granted?
Is it possible that the courts Of the
county are open to disloyal per-
sons like Oldham, but are not open
to loyal taxpayers like Mr.. Holland?
1t has been proven by two witness
es that Oldham made threats that he
would kill Holland, and yet Mr.. Light
failed to give Holland the protection
that was in his power. Knowing the
man as he did, Mr.. Holland consid-
cred him dangerous, but it has
seemed all along that Mr., Light has
been willing to take the bare state
ment of Oldham as against Mr.. Hol-
land, members of his family and men
working on the place. We were not
before aware that county attorney
had the power to appoint himself
Judge, jury and court, and administer
justice according to his personal likes
and dislikes.
Now we want to compare the two
men-Holland and Oldham:
Holland has lived a number of
years north of Liberal, where he is
farming extensively. He is consid-
cred law-abiding citizen, and stands
high in the estimation of the best
business and professional men of Lib
eral and Seward county. In every
Liberty Bond, War Savings Stamp
and Red Cross drive Mr.. Holland has
been tireless worker in his part of
the county. He has bought gener-
ously of bonds, and stamps, and has
given to the Red Cross. In every way
he has established his loyalty and
whole-hearted sympathy with all
movements to further the war activ-
tiles of the Government. His credit
is good in Liberal, his word is accept
ed by all who know him, and he is
looked upon as one of the substantial
men of the county.
Then take a look at Oldham. He
came here practically homeless
wanderer. No one knows from
whence he came or his station in life.
His actions among the men on the
ranch were such that they avoided
him, and they testified that he was a
"trouble maker" This in itself would
not be strongly against him if it were
not for the fact that he is not good
American citizen-that he is disloyal
to our Government.
Yet our county attorney, rising up
in the supreme dignity of his office, is
willing to take the bare, unsupported
word of Oldham as against the state
ments of Mr.. Holland and his house
hold.
We claim this is rotten.
A little history Of the trouble be-
tween Holland and Oldham may not
be out of place, as there may be those
who did not read our former state
ment Of the case.
Oldham worked on the Holland
ranch last season and came back
again this season. When the w. S. S.
drive was on, Mr.. Holland solicited
the hands on the ranch to buy stamps
but Oldham would not take any. He
was opposed, not only to buying him
self, but exerted his influence with
the other help that they should not
buy. He made the statement that
the stamps were no good and that
they would never get their money
back, and continually harped on the
statement that the men who bought
were foolish to spend their money
for stamps. He also made the state
ment that the money that was given
to the Red Cross was used by those
in charge for the purpose of having
a good time. These statements and
others are not merely hearsay, but
are embodied in three affidavits in the
| possession Of the Democrat.
At the War Stamp meeting Mr..
Holland reported Oldham as probably
disloyal, and later notified Mr.. Dob