Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-12-26
pALMeR's CONFESSION

II Il he true that "An honest confess
sion Is good for the soul" Attorney
General faimcr's confession TO a con-
srcssionai committee last week that he
called on The prosecution OF the coal
@trikt criminals because he feared an
uprising. must give him some small
feeling Of compensation for having
ihus Inundated the great Government
~ the United States. Judge Anderson.
n tho Federal Court az Indianapolis IL
noted for dealing out justice to all who
rome before him. He has handled
criminals Of national standing before
and Il was so apparent 20 all who were
ronSersant with the actions Of John
Lewis and his follow criminals man
fpniating the coal strike that they
would. la an probability. be found |
suiliy II tried before Judge Anderson, |
mat the Attorney General permitted |
fhia band Of Criminals under the name /
~ union labor 90 tcrrorigc the Govern
'ncnt OF the United States into "A
surrender 20 the band let as suppose
IN exactly similar case. Suppose that
cur country were the victim Of an
organized band of horse thieves and
That our sheriff had succeeded IN cap
turing the leaders OF the band and that
after our county attorney had the
cases IN our district courts ana had
The evidence IN HIS possoaaion that
practically guaranteed their conviction
that lust az that point the county
attorney would appear before the dis
ffiet Judge and ask for "A dismissal OF
ihe eases and give as his reason that
Dc feared TO convict these leaders be-
cause they belonged TO q band OF horse
thieves who were terrible and dospcf-
ate men and who would cause an M.
rising Ia Lincoln county II these lend ,
cfs OF theirs were convicted What
would you. as law abiding citizen
mink or such proceedings At the n
g loHe OF the civil war thor, was a spirit ,
- unrest which WIS taken advantage !
~ by bands Of criminals certain 4
kansas county was terrorlzed by such
hhhd OF horse and cattle thieves who
PAD thelf headquarters Ia the nearby
indian country Finally the decent cit l.
<ens elected a county attorney for the y
lprpoae Of cleaning out the organized Il
hieves. soon he had three Of Tho "a
raders on trial at Winfield The Al
hieyes had she court oo,ycd ana sub 3,
eis lent 90 their power So that on the oi
aA - the trial the court room was q
iiiod with Tho members OF the gang. es
a s. certain point IN the trial the pros IN
cniinR all1rney asked certain ques- q
Ion which II answered as every one ga
new IL could be would incriminate "
evcroi other members OF the gang III
4 this point one ~ the gang leaders pc
nlled out a revolver. stepped before 81
lao county attorney and said Young OF
inn. don't you ask that question m
sslin.' The county attorney arose and Nj
'okod over the court room TO see II IN
= could locate a single friend but an
scr3 eye was set against him. so
he gang evidently held supreme
over IN that room. Then facing the
nowd the attorney said III there is
man ia this room who win take
io news 10 my wife and tell her how n,
died by God | viii ask that question ~,
gain" Al that crisis there arose CO
the rear OF the room. with his ha
rex 20 the wall 50 none OF the gang 10
luld shoot from the rtar. and ID,
andine on chair. holding two W
volsers which covered the gang ne
said 10 the attorney Go ahead IN,
lily and ask your question. / win OF
ke the news TO your wife l win also de
he the news 10 me VIE OF any man ms
no interfcres with YOU" There was no
mistrid IN that county. There OIL
as 40 uprising There was law and II
der established ana ~ II there To lor
rs day. Suppose Attorney General mr.,
aimer had been OF the same material so,
that county attorney! Would not s,n
pa feel lot better today Would pa
IA not be prouder OF the United tic
lAtes Government than YOU are to- 20
~ The