The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-07-14
THE FAGAN CASE


When one human individual. or SCI
of human beings, sets out to pronounce
judgment on the acts of fellow men,
the self-applied task is always more ol
less ticklisb. Judgments are of as
wide range as are the leanings, preju
dices, ignorances, and host of other
impelling attributes, of those judging.
Naturally, we have heard various
views on the Pagan case of last week,
when the most thrilling and dramatic
episode ever played out in the Hood
River county was performed with a
pardoned convict as chief actor. What
ever may be the sentiment on the
numerous attendant angles of this
tragic and regrettable affair, all opin-
ion converges in directing criticism at
the Oregon Parole Board for their re-
lease of Luther Pagan without taking
all Hood River county officials into
their full confidence at the time Pagan
made his application.
Luther Pagan was imprisoned after
conviction for a crime of the most SER
ious nature. 1t developed at his trial
that he might be possessed Of such
perversion of aroused passion as to i'm
pei him to commit other terrible
crimes. This is just what happened.
Whatever mitigating circumstances
,,oo, Lo,,o Loar dayaIouad at tho trio1
these circumstances should not have
been permitted to eclipse the strong |
intimation that Pagan was possessed
of tendencies that placed him in a
class of potential evildoers.
Theoretically the system of parole for
prisoners touches our finer feelings and
wins our ratification. 1t contemplates
reclaiming our erring fellow men. But
in our study of the fallen, whom we
hope to uplift, we should consider all
of their ~inborn traits, abnormalities
and subnormal qualities. In the final
analysis our scheme must survive or
fall as it affects or benefits society as
a whole. Apparently, the Oregon Pa
role Board merely took into considera-
tion the outward aspects of Luther Fa-
gan, prisoner. If they had pondered
on the possible working of his mind
they would certainly have directed
thorough investigation in Hood River \
county. They would not have consid
cred alone the recommendations Of the
sheriff, recommendations of set form,
more or less, as the sheriff is supposed c
to accompany every prisoner committed I
with data written in on formal blanks.
They should have communicated with z
the sheriff at the time of the applica- r
ton for pardon. The views of the trial .
Judge and district attorney should have :,
been secured. Too much was at stake. i
The consequences of their acts might v
result in too grievous and tragic incl y
lent, for their act to be merely per-
a
The whole incident, appearing to us o
low like horrible nightmare, makes I,
is think of a terrible train wreck or :,
,ther catastrophe, traceable to human n
'versight, error or thoughtlessness. "
iowever close to perfection we humans d
ray approach, there is ever the possi- y, -
ility of human mistake. In this case G
he parole board, perhaps grown cal cl
)us or careless in the handling Of hu- D
nan destinies, failed to investigate a.
ere in Hood River county, the only
ountry in the country where citizens dC
'ere particularly interested in Luther nj
agan. A railroad switchman, per a, q,
Drming his duties so often that he, too, uI
as grown careless or calloused, over er
'oks some detail of his work, and the
age is set for tragedy. ~ ~
The Oregon Parole Board again erred W,
! that they did not notify Hood River
)unty officials of the conditional par ~
On of Luther Pagan. When Pagan VI
sme here, the mere act subjected him
} a return to prison. He was freed on
le condition that he leave the state.
ocal authorities should have known
! of the circumstances Of his release sti
ID they could have acted accordingly. We
Hood River county was fortunate a., az
st week that tragic events were not All
ultiplied. We are TO be congratu- sol
ted in having a marksman like Her su
an Pregge, whose cool aim and va va
eady hand, closed the thrilling Incl =
'nts Of that Wednesday afternoon in he
dramatic a manner. Hermann ~
-egge performed an unpleasant duty, ~
st as you or | woul d kin a mad dog n
inning at large. lie acted as an in n
rument of the law.
The Oregon Parole Board should re-
m fervent thanks to God for the
Of q man like Hermann
-egge. We shudder to think what rel
voc Pagan might have wrought on sec
S msddened rampage. Co
rat
shi
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