El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-15

1.-TWO draft evaders and their father and former United
States soldier met an Arizona sheriff and depu-
ties who had come to their mountain home in Graham
county to aid United States deputy marshal in aTestng
them for failure to respond to the draft call The father
killed The sheriff and his two deputies killed
The United States deputy marshal escaped because he
approaching the house from another direction and he with
drew after the killings without having been detected
Citizens Of Graham county considered it deliberate
murder Of the three officers Of the law. Tom and John
Powers and Tom Sisson fled from the mountain house
Posses pursued them for days. only follow wrong trail
into the Chircahua mountains and finally gave up the
chase baed The outlaws for such they had become
captured last week the Mexican line by detachment Of
United States troops and have been turned the
Graham county authorities They are now in the county
jail at Stafford.
The probabilities are that they viii be tried on charges
Of first degree murder They be convicted promptly
AND SENTENCED TO A LIFETIME OF KNITTING
SOCKS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY AT FLORENCE.
Imagine it, Three desperate mountaneers, draft
sisters charged with the murder Of sheriff and the two
other officers who guardians and enfocers of the law
which these men themselves should have respected and
obeyed, crafty fugives who elGded posse of than
5000 including most Of the sheffs Of southern and
eastern Arizona not to mention several troops of cavalry
and army aviator o twO-these to be
demned to long and peaceful life in Florence prison.
well fed well sheltered easier life than ever they could have
provided themselves their mountains If they had
Obeyed the law.
The state must try these men because the murders were
committed In territory which the state has jurisdiction
Had they murdered the United States deputy marshal while
be attempting make the arrest the federal author
ties might have had jurisdiction Had the murders Of the
sheriff and his deputies occurred Indian reservation
otker federal land the would have gone fed
sral court This point is mentioned because United States
district court the death penalty upon conyic
ton for murder The state courts Of Arizona cannot since
the eye teeth Of the law il that state have been pulled
At the behest of George William Purdy Hunt capital pun
shment has been abolished In Arizona and the order loving
law abiding people Graham county who voted for that
abolition the fruits Of their folly cast up before
their eyes.
Sentimentaliss with smatterirg of criminolOgy may
shed tears poor misguided lawbreaker but what
they say now? Is there be support protec
ton for officers Of the law, must they take their
chances Of being murdered in cold blood with all sympathy
reserved for the murderers after the act?
Let be admitted that there wrong convoution IN the
brain Of lawbreaker There n In the brain Of
draft evader the first place. and larger in that
Of former sergeant Of the First cavalry, who helped make
fine traditions of that regiment back IN the days Of the
Apache campaigns but who nevertheless aided and abeted
draft evader Something wrong with the brains doubt
dangerously wrong And there times when the need