The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-27
McWILLIAMS INDICATED


auditors may also have been potent to his ndct
ment and these auditors evidence of being unfair
in that the whole burden of their to white
wash the commissioners and make McWillams the goat
In McWiams first trial the commissioners varied
greatly in their testimony So conflicting the evi-
dence that hung jury occurred.
In the trial this week of the occurred
when Attorney Vincent for the defense compelled Com
missioner Sullivan testify that his given
the first trial Pressed for an explanation
he asserted that he discovered that he had made
when he read heard the testimony of Commissioner
Knowles.
Naturally the defense made all they could of this
confession Evidently the jury reflected Sulvans
testimony in the first trial misleading his testimony
in this was to doubt Farther, they may have
held the opinion that witness who admitted that he
subject to correction in his evidence by the testimony
of his colleagues, of doubtful value in any event
Sure it is that Geo. L. Suivans testimony against Nc
Williams ignored by the jury in coming their
verdict
The prosecution by District Attorney Burgess was
vigorous and every possible effort made
ton but he hopelessly handicapped by the unrea
bility of the witnesses he was compelled to rely
Attorney Vincent fought with his accustomed zeal
for acqutta and won, was a foregone conclusion
when he destroyed the whole structure the prosecu
ton when he practically impeached Sullivan
The malfeasance settled-or as good as
settled-the Supreme Court will doubtless dismiss the
application for supersedeas in the of
missioners next Monday
The general conviction in the community is that Nc
Williams was used by the commissioners lead posi-
ton where he was technically guilty of doing
then desperate attempt made to saddle all the
soners oenses against the people upon him as con-
venient goat to carry their sins into legal desert.
| The corrupt scheme failed. The penalty-a very
weak and trifing one-has fallen where it should in the
conviction of the commissioners and their
Office.
At this term of Stimson came in and
plead guilty to possession of liquor 1t will be recalled
that he and his employer Geo L. Sullivan indicted
for dstlling and selling whiskey The against
Sullivan continued the filing aidavts signed
by Drs Russell and Rockefeller that Mr. Moynhan, one
of the numerous counsel for Mr. Sullivan, sick.
haps he Far be it from dispute eminent au-
thority matter of that sort But impressed
with the idea that he is sicker of his Gunnson county
cases and his remaining client than anything else
Defending who have defense is hard a job
even for the silver tongued Charley Moynihan.
notable of this series of suits is that in no
single except the McWilliams case (and quite
plainly frame-up engineered by who sought to
shield thenselves) has prosecution of indictment
turned by the late Grand Jury failed result
viction. In very large number of the pleas of
guilty were at entered following arrest The sole
remaining against Geo. L. Sullivan and Stmson
Riser, those against the former continued above
stated and the remaining indictments against Mr. Riser
said to have been dismissed because of his plea of
guilty
We not impressed with the belief that Mr. Sulli-
will escape prosecution on his bootlegginp and dis
tng charges if he does seem to exert much null
The evidence against him conclusive than that
against most of the who have already paid their
fines and served their He ought not to he
permitted to escape.
However, if he gets away with it and drags out his
whiskey to final dismissal, fact remains that
he is thoroughly iscredited his power for
evil is practically nil The county will be able to
reorganze and start saving money. Taxes may heav
lily reduced and equally good results obtained
from the expenditure of far less money than in
the past.
Gunnison countys "Augean Stables" have been
cleaned and great credit is due the Grand Jury Dis
tric Judges and District Attorney the County Clerk of
the county, and in judgment, moiety belongs to
Senator Hetherngton and the editor of this paper both
of whom have fought for this result with unremttine
zeal for the past three years
We congratulate the people the progress already
made and prophesy ups in the near fu
ture There ought to be msappro funds re-
covered.
ONE thing is very about the new President:
He knows how to keep quiet in attractive manner
From the standpoint of Presidential candidate sue
ceed himself he has made bad break That Civ
ing Gov Pnchot the chance settle the anthracite
strike His has made the Governor formidable
candidate and still Mr. Coolidges golden silence"
quite likely to overcome that handicap. He has
gated the idea of merging the railroads and shows
signs of trying to forget that there is such thing
League of Nations proposed International Court
In fact he gives evidence of being rtclass polk
itician If there is anything earth that pull the
out of the hole into which have showed it,
to mind it is the inspired oyster graduated
tor the presidency
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