Deming graphic., 1921-06-21
LIVE IN Ell PASO AND
GET By WITH MtRDER

Those who are not 50 fortunate. or
unfortunate. as 10 reside In FL Paso
cannot help wondering why all the fuss
over the proposed capture Of the des-
peradoS who killed Police Captain
Phoenix and wounded another officer.
What would Fl Paso do with thu gun
men II they found them? IL is not
known for certain that they committed
any other crime save murder. and mur-
der In FL Paso Is about on a par with
breaking the traffic ordinance. The
wonder Is that the cutthroatS don't
give themselves up. ~ through the nee
esSary hut temporary Inconvenience
and 20 free 10 ply their trade
But while il Is easy TO direct sar-
caSm at III PaSo il Is not So easy to
avoid the same when il returns upon
ms like boomerang. The faults which
are 81 apparent in the administration
uf justice in II PaSo are the faults
~ many American communities. There
iS little sympathy wasted over a guar
dian of the peace dead In his own blood
in the gutter. He did only his duty.
~ is true: he iS dead and gone: his
e.. pendentS are soon lost 10 sight. But
" the poor assassin. modest, retir-
ing dragged before the bar Of justice
while his dependents wait in anxiety
tr him TO appear with the proceeds
rr nights robbery. IL is more than
human SenSihilities can stand lest we
weep upon his shoulder send him forth
o. his kind with a verdict Of acquittal
nd encouragement to meet the haZ-
rdS of his profession.
Il is a curioSly evident fact that an
american jury will always consider
the plight of the accused before the
anguish and pain caused by the law
breaker Yet the person outside the
iaw is the author, not only Of his own
troubles. but the grief that touches his
own dependents and those Of his vie
Tins
We have many persons wha try to
tell uS that society l. to blame for the
crime committed 10y outlaws and that
therefore there should he no punish
merely detention. isolation, cor
icctiun. whatever these terms may
mean. While 1t may he possible 10 re-
claim wrongdoer here and there II Is
the opinion of criminologiStS that The
criminal bent is Inherent and almost
impossible tn eradicate. Most cr'mi-
uals are such because Of the attraction
n unearned money. AMI diversion
,piced 10y adventure. II must be- ad-
mitted that bad economic conditions
induce crime encourage those with
criminal benfS. To that extent and
thar only is society responsible for the
breaking pf the compact. But society
has right Ia protect itself and il must
do ~ or suffer extinction.
At heart the criminal is cOwarlly.
lie never fights in the open. but shoots
those unarmed Just aS the Mexican as
sa,.in struck down Capt Phoenix at
IN Paso. The law-ahiding citizen has
no defense against the gunman. except
such as the police power affords. In
proportion aS the police power j
weakened by 50 much Is the criminal
clement enlarged and emlnldened.
Where jurieS fail To hang the murder
crs Of those who are charged with the
execution Of the law they discourage I
the sacrifice often involved In the pro |
lection Of the community.
4 full realization Of the dispicable |
character Of the outlaw is seldom 1
brought home to the citizen until his /
savings are stolen, his house looted. /
his mate killed 10y desperate intru-
der Under cover the armed robber