Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1922-03-18
WHY THIS SECRECY
Of PUBLIC NATURE
IN COURT RECORDS?

There document on file IN the office Of the clerk of
the district court which remained sealed by order of District
Judge Mark r. Averil and which contains complaint di-
rected against W. j. Douglass one of Nye comtys most
highly respected citizens wherein his integrity is i'm
pugned This document sponsored by Nyc couny grand
Jury and is said to have been signed by Lloyd Horton the
foreman acting individual yet the public is denied
cess to the record.
The against whom charges have prepared
assisted in blazing the trails leading Nyc county, and
was here before Judge Ayer any member of the
grand jury heard of such place Tonopah and be
fore some of them left the old country and before majority
of them ever heard of Nye county.
What right has Judge Aver to order the suppression Of
public documents by having them sealed2 What right has
member of the grand jury all the members east odum
upon the good of honored citizens of this community
by their secreveness This present grand jury has taken
whole lot upon themselves and it high time that the
lers were called accounting. 1t is high time that halt
was called the activities of judges who instrumental in
damaging repuations and who appoint grand jurors who will
bow to their individual wishes
While the complaint against of the most reputable
citizens of Nye county ordered sealed and suppressed in
the office of the clerk of the copy of the instrument
remained for days open to the public gaze on desk IN
the office of the sheriff yet effort at service of citation
was made The against whom these damnabe charges
are preferred can found almost any hour Of the day. either
his home his place of business on the Main street OF
TOnopah yet effort made to have service on h per
sonally The authorities evidently bent upon casting
odum upon the good name of man who has gwen away
more money than all the grand jurors combined saw or
earned
This grand jury is farce. The members are running
Nye county in debt Not with the services of the dis
trict attorney who is supposed to serve IN the caPy as
legal advisor to actions they fit to induce the court
appoint another legal advisor They acknowledge the duy
elected district attorney is not competent to look after he
interest," and by hook crook succeed IN having 'e
court appoint one to their liking.
II IS the taxpayers who are paying these bills and they
should up and take notice So bitter has become % g
era feeling about Tonopah concerning the acto5S Oh r'
grand Jury which was selected by Judge Mark H. AVeri
evidently to do his bidding that there is talk gong inc
rounds this very minute concerning bringing the recall o
effect in an effort retire from office TINS man NVer
Some public officials fOrgeuI that they IAN 10
realize thev are either elected or appointed as servants Oh "
people They themslvs up kings or queens ana asg
they are the great 81 am and that they are really lowering
themselves when the condescend to permit he voter "
payer or newspaperman examine public document He
officials inclined to be very ecreve regarding Poo @ a"
fairs and Just because who may possibly nave an
action pending in asks that the document be
these officials accede the demands or request and epe
ally that party be of the same political altn. g M
Public documents should be open to the inspection OF g
public Far better would be if the clerks OF th court anu
the custodans of other public records were omPee9 A law M
publish daily the list of filings setting forth briefly m
of action or the contents of deeds as well as
assignments and other matters OF a Similar ha'ul' WIN ~
the public should be advised. -, 3,
In California there a law whereby the county cle[h ~
compelled under statute publish list of all divorce aco
that filed The is true regarding oher SC"' T any |
in some states the law broad that the nature OF all eS
documents is published daily. ;or
The proceedings of the boards of county commissioner
should be published at least month filings rela''e 70
mortgages being placed on property should be made puD
that the business man may be advised of the hnaneal
Ons of his patrons transfers of real estate anu tb
property should be given publicity ana @ I Fled from
people be advised of all actions that may be leu o
day to day. ,,,,; hlo
There is no excuse for any official wtnholGng m he
documents from either the press or the puOG .h+ h vii
hoped that the next Legislature will enact law IN In sn
compel the publication in legal form at least .? a." atn M
that may be made in every public otfce IN 'ns % f b
county would be put any great expense as es .,
legislation but the other hand the average ba
be many times repaid by being able to keep aavso
true conditions existing in the county wherein ne reSlu L.
At the next general assembly the people are gong TO e
mand the abolition of the grand jury system IN tns S,a
the Bonanza going insist that any candloa'e f +be
Tor office pledge himself herself to vote ana "O'A
passage of Sueb meaSure