The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-28
THE GOVERNOR AND THE
SMITH CASE

THE GOVERNOR AND THE
SMITH CASE
The Ardmoreite can but feel sur
prise at the manner in which Gov
ernor Robertson has rushed into print
in the matter of the state of Okla
homa VS.. Clara Smith, and feels
that his statement to the effect thai
there has been more or less horse
play" upon the part Of court oifi-
cials. in connection with the case
thus far. comes in bad taste from
the chief executive Of this grea,
state.
without desire or attempt to pass
upon the merits or the dement's OF
the information As filed against the
defendant by County Attorney Brown
the information in which the woman
is charged with shooting and causing
the death Of The late Jake Hamon'
we would call Governor Robcrtson'a
attention to that axiom Of law which
holds every defendant guiltless until
proven guilty. and ask him if the
same broad and liberal rule of action
does not presuppose that every mu-
nicipal, every county, every state OF
ficer faithfully discharge the duties
incumbent upon him, uhti the con
uary is shown?
Russell Brown as the states attor-
ney in and for Carter county. has
certainly thus far done his duty as
he saw and understood it--perhaps
more than his duty as public opinion
and public sentiment view the matter
There is no evidence to show that
Russell Brown. or any other Officer
Of the judiciary of this district, has
been indulgmg in horseplay. ana un'
/ I'll the records of the court indicate
such TO be the case, it seems TO uS
/ that the governor Of the state couic
seek the limelight better along some
other line, than 10y giving out to th'
press the story which may be said tt
indicate. reading between the lines
that the states counsel has sought
the center Of the stage through play
ing battledoor and shuttlecock WITT
the ends Of justice.
Mr.. Brown will go out Of office as
the public prosecutor OF this county
on or about January 3, Mr.. Math
crs, the incoming county attorney
has stated publicly that he will b'
DISQUALIFIED to conduct the proseou
ton against Miss Smith, inasmucf
as he is one Of the attorneys for th'
defense.
1t is currently understood ina
Mr. Mathers will recommend the APP
pointment Of Mr.. Brown as specla
prosecutor in the matter. Il is pos
sible that the Hamon estate vii
employ additional counsel to assis
in tho prosecution Of the woman
However. b. that as it may. the dis
trict Judge i the man who should
and who will name the lawyer wh'
will look after the interests OF th'
people iu tho case against the de-
fendant. and until this sworn office
Of the state OF oklahoma, with any
other officer. or independent OF any
officer. shows an inclination or mani
TESTS q desire 10 become "a party u
thwartng the ends Of justice, III
governor Of the state, nor any stat
officer has cause or reason TO stel
in and interfere or TO make genera
and higesoundinG charges Of horse
play"
The Ardmorotc will not 20 as fa
as has gone the governor W I'M
state, according to press dispatches
and say aught as To whether or no
clara smith should DE found guilt
Of the killing Of the man whose owl
anti-mortem statement was TO tn
effect that his mortal wound wa
accidentally self-nillcted. We wi
not intimate. as did the governor,
press items quoted him correctly
, that Clara should be found guilt
Of manslaughter. Neither viii "
seek TO play upon that chord OF pub
. lie sentiment which finds S. tunin
. In tho "unwritten law and dra'
pictures Of an innocent and wronge
, young girlhood avenged and Wind
Gated hy the world-wcury woman.
Rather we will leave the matter a
it should have been left bv the gov
=, crnor of 'hs state. iu the hands ,
, tho judge ~ the district iu l
p hands or the county attorney. bon th
i hands ST the jurors who win p1s
upon the guilt OF innocence Of u
defendant