The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-19
Testimony at Custer Trial
Is Proof People Want
Law Enforcement
Continued from Page One)

a. ihuUutu lIgill IGLt NflltJ
certain men, according to general
reputation, were men who ran either
gambling house or booze joint.
Then again, number of witnesses
on both sides would testify that they
thought these men were deputy sher-
ifs, so it was a little difficult to tell
whether they were joint operators with
a desire to wear white hat and
pistol, or a deputy sheriff with q
penchant for booze and poker. So.
anyone seeing and hearing all of this
testimony can readily understand that
the jury must have had in mind that
this condition must cease, and these
jurymen are all to be congratulated
on the fearless way in which they
passed judgment as the result Of this
testimony.
1t was noticed that the state seemed
anxious 10 get men on the jury who
were men of family, and after the
evidence was introduced II was appar-
ent that the state had in mind bring
ing home 10 the fathers of children
conditions that existed in this county
so that they might reflect that II
such conditions continue TO exist
some one must furnish the people to
do It. In other words, II joints must
be run why should not your boys be
some of the ones who run them? II
houses OF prostitution must exist.
would it not be possible that you are
furnishing some OF the inmates for
these places? The fact that the jury
returned a unanimous verdict should
Ee sufficient warning 10 all officials
that the officers charged with enforc.
ing the law has no right TO say what
law ne shall enforce.
Verdict Great Victory.
This is n great victory for those
who have advocated and insisted that
these things could no righted in the
courts. and II must again restore con.
fidence in their governmental institu-
tons whenever sufficient interest is
taken in their working.
/ The defendant may run again for
office. but the writer does not be-
licvc that TO be the case. He may
say TO himself that he was not found
guilty of any moral wrong, but he
cannot get away from the fact that
something was presented at the trial
sufficiently strong TO convince every
man on the jury that he was not a
fit man to be the sheriff of this
county. II makes no difference
whether the jury signed one or five
counts; the result was that he should
be removed from office. and this
thought must have been In the minds
OF the Jurors based upon the great
mass OF evidence, and no man car
successfully bo u candidate in the
face OF the record as shown in the
trial Of this case, a large portion Of
which was not even denied by the dc
tense.
Hundreds Told Of Conditions.
As one Of the attorneys represent
ing the state In this trial DO not
care to make much comment. II 4.
enough to say that u large number o
people In every corner OF the county
felt sufficiently interested In the wei
fare OF their community TO appea
here and relate the facts as. 10 IN,
lawless condition In their community
and this was shown to the jury b!
| something over one hundred wit
nesses. II was for the jurymen Il
pass on whether that condition shouli
continue, and they, without a singh
dissenting voice, rose up in their seat
and said Il shall not.
/ think that the men on that fur,
were conscientious citizens and r,
turned their verdict based on wha
they had learned as jurors in thl
case. Thcy must have believed IN
evidence thoy heard. A fair trial wa
all that was ever asked in this case
and the state Is convinced that a. fai
trial was had. and the result was
verdict that the defendant should N
longer be tho sheriff of this county
Now Up Ia People.
There has been feeling for a lon
time among many people that IN
conditions as complained Of should no
be permitted to exist. Whether the
shall exist Is now placed in the hand
OF the people themselves IL the
want good men for office they shoul
: interest themselves and see that the
get them,