The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-07-07
CONDEMN EFFORTS
TO COMPROMISE
(. CLAYHOLE CASES
State Press Aroused by La
test Scandal Involving
Politics and the
Courts. ....<


The Louisville Times and Courier
journal have again found It necessary
TO give pointed publicity 10 the Breath
~ county murder and conspiracy ca
ses. Judge Hurst was elected Circuit
Judge IN that district by smaller
vote than clayhole precinct would
have given against him II tho ballots
had not been destroyed on the morn
ing OF the election. He was insisting
upon trying the men who conspired to
do this dastardly job, in which four
men were killed. The Courier Journal
prevented this by exposing this second
chapter 10 the state, Then the cases
were moved 10 Boyd county, which
was satisfactory to Judge Hurst. The
rulings in the trial OF part OF the de-
PENDANTS there are of such trend,
and propositions following the trial
are so brazen and astounding, that
the large newspapers are giving the
situation vigorous editorial attention.
The Times says: ..
an this public way The Times re-
spectfully calls TO your attention the
Clayhole murder trials. II regards
your membership as one OF the chief
protectors OF the law and, through the
law. OF the states good name. II sub
mits TO you that the incidents leading
up TO the final revelation OF attempted
compromise" and miscarriage Of JUS
tice In these trials call for an investi-
cation which win courugeousiy and
without favor establish the facts in
these cases concerning judges MI
gants. prosecutors. defense attorneys
and witnesses and II necessary, will
institute mpeachments before the
Legislature.
,lf the State Bar Association shall
signalize It's Louisville meeting. be-
ginning today. by the appointment OF
n commission so constituted as 10
make real inquiry, then this meet.
ing will take rank as one OF the most
important assemblages ever held in
Kentucky ..
The whole effort In the Clayhole ca
ses,--an effort moreover which has not
met a strong bar or bench In resIs-
tance.--nas been TO call on all reckon
ing OF the election battle in which four
men were killed. Prevented by the
press from obtaining a dismissal OF
the cases al Jackson; and then pre-
vented from having the cases tried by
the Judge who was the direct bene-
ficlAry OF the election in which the
murders occurred, the political sinister
forces trying 10 cover up the murders
have worked INCREASINGLY to achieve
the same result In the changed venue
OF Boyd county. on the stage the pup
pets have been dancing, but the wires
attached TO them have been pulled by
strong and ruthless hands beneath.
THE following paragraph from the
Associated Press dispatch today not
only justifies a suspicious attitude to-
ward the litigation. but gives the State
Bar Association every basis for an in
quiry:
"Mr. Watkins said that A.
Z II. Patton said he could arrange
compromise II the defendants would
agree, II Muslck would not agree
Patton suggested that they tthe de-
fendants) discharge Musick; that he
new what he was talking about and
that the compromise could be made,
He further stated that we should make
a motion and ground for a new trial.
but not have II acted upon until he
could see Judge Halbert."
These murders arose wholly out of
politics. The fight in the state in 1921
was for the control OF the State Sem
ate. The Republicans centered their
efforts upon the election of Mitch
Grain, in the Breathitt county district.
The Claysole precinct has a normally
large democratic majority. and II it's
ballots could be destroyed the chances
for Grains election and subsequent
control OF the State Senate We're ex-
cellent The polling place was raided,
the ballots were destroyed. murder
the violence did not defeat the Demo-
cratic candidate for the Senate the
elimination OF the precinct returns
aided materially in the election OF the |
Republican Circuit Judge.
From that time forward the indict-
ments and trials growing out OF this |
case have been surrounded with indi-
cations that a sinister movement is a
foot 10 protect not only the murder
ers but, by obtaining their dismissal. |
TO protect those who sent the armed |
men to the polls and thus were re-
sponslble for the murders. Only the
defense counsel, Mr.. Musick, now
seems to stand athwart the effecting |
of the same compromise" at Catletts- |
burg which public opinion prevented |
at Jackson. The switching OF the Dem
cratic defendants to first trial posi-
tion, and the addition by the Boyd |
county grand jury conspiracy in
dictment was followed by the convic-
tion OF the Democrats. The scene was I
thus perfectly set for renewal Of the
proposal that the whole Clayhole MUIR
der affair be forgotten and every
body sent home free. The rulings OF
Judge Halbert refusing to permit tes-
timony concerning the destruction of
the ballots; requiring conspiracy
trial Of the Democratic defendants;
and sustaining an objection to con-
spiraoy trial OF the Republicans de-
PENDANTS, are part OF the record which
should attract the attention of the
State Bar Association.
This situation, men and women of
the State Bar Association. affects JUS
tice. the states good name, public or