, 1922-12-27
FEDERAL COURT Is
WORKING HARDSH|PS
ON PEOPLE OF WY0.
Innocent Being Made To Suf.
fer Through Being Compelled
To Go To Cheyenne, Says
Sheridan Post
(sheridan POST

4 On jan B, 81 residents OF north
seastern Wyoming will be called on
TO go to Cheyenne and defend them
selves in the United States district
court, at a great expense, against
charges of violation of the prohibit
ton law. q
Some of these may be guilty while
1t is quite probable that some are
innocent. 1t makes no difference,
however, they must go to Cheyenne,
at great personal expense, to avoid
a heavy fine and possible penitenti-
airy sentence.
They are compelled to go to Chey-
enne w though they may be in
nocent, simply because some person
has asserted they may have sold
whiskey. The burden of proof is
entirely upon them to prove their
innocence. and none upon the gov
eminent, to prove them guilty. I tbs
a hardship for some of these people
90 ray the transportation to Cheyenne
even though they may be declared
mot guilty" afterwards.
In one instance st is asserted that
a foreigner was sent in here duriss
fair time to gather evidence against
those who may be engaged in the
traffic of liquor. All it is necessary
for this man to do is to make a
written report charging anyone with
having sold him whiskey on a GER
tain day or with having had some in
his possession, and he is guilty In the
face OF the government. and must
prove himself innocent
Reserves Code Of Justice
1t is generally understood that a
man is innocent In the face OF the
Law until he is proven guilty, but In
these cases it appears he is guilty
until he can prove himself innocent.
However. it is not so much the
guilt or innocence at issue now, but
the fact that these people are COM
PEELED to go to Cheyenne to make
their defense at great expense, when
there is a federal court room in Sher
idan for trying people Of this district
on federal charges.
Since the erection OF this building
about 15 years ago, there has never
been but one term of court held here.
the inclination being all the time to
take the people to Cheyenne for trial.
Appeal is Fruitiess.
The appeal has been made for hold
ing the January term of the federal
court in Sheridan. because of the
saving it would make to a number
of our people, and 1t is to be regretted
that no attention has been given the
appeal.
There are many times during the
year that our people are called to
Cheyenne, the state capital, because
their business cannot be transacted
elsewhere. Therefre 1t seems that
when there is an occasional opportun-
ity for business to be transacted else
where than in cheyenne, that oppor-
tunity should be given the city asking
the favor.
Sheridan does not ask that people
should be SEN here from Casper or
Cheyenne on court charges, although
it is just as fair for Sheridan to claim
1t as for Cheyenne to do SO. All that
has been asked is that the people of
northwestern Wyoming, who can save
money by being heard in Sheridan,
be given an opportunity to appear in
court mere
On A stooI-Pigeon's Word
1t is said that in one Of the cases
coming up in Cheyenne next month,
a young man has been arrested on a
charge made by a foreign s~tool-pigeon
clsiming that on a certain day in
August or September he had sold
said stool-pigeon liquor. That the
young man is innocent OF any such
charge on any day is generally believ
ed whore he is known, but the evil
dence is certain that on the day In
question and for several days he was
in the mountains On q hunting trip.
Because an error has been made In
this case the young man will be COM
PEELED to stand the expense OF a Chey
enne trip. and see to It that any wit
nesses lie may need have their expen-
SEES paid.
1t isn't Just, and Sheridan should
be allowed the necessary terms OF
court to take care of the prisoners
to Re arranged from this part of the
state.
wyoming pays sufficient tribute TO
Cheyenne in other ways, that other
cities should be allowed some consid-
GRAFTON when their claim is just.