Imperial Valley press., 1925-01-22
WHAT'S THE MATTER?


why the recent increase in the number of vio-
lent crimes in Imperial county," is a question that
must of necessity arise in the minds of law abiding
and women.
Since last September there have been seven murd-
ers IN the valley proper and another one years
DID, was brought to light during that time. Add to
these, two violent deaths in Caexico when Off
GERS of the law compelled to take human lives in
order to their and there the appalling total
OF nine lives lost by violence in little over three
months. Certainly this is a record to compare with
the "od days"
Nor the reason for the violence be rightly laid
at the doors of those entrusted with upholdng the
law In all but two cases. the persons responsible for
taking lives have been brought into court In one of
these last two, men under surveillance and
the authorities believe their ultimate capture is certain
This then leaves but murder in which the murderer
has not been accounted for
Of the six cases in which the murderer was appre-
hended four are yet to be tried. Two have gone to
trial, and in each of these two cases. the jury has
brought in a verdict of acouittal.
Is this then the to the question at the be-
ginning OF this article? Is it the knowledge that I'M
perlal county Jurles notoriousy lax in bringing in
murder verdics that prompts the lawess individual to
commit murder?
The recent verdict in the Jones case is termed
miscarriage of justice by the district attorney Nor
can any honest and fairinded citizen accuse the dis
trlct attorney of seeking for alib Even Jones at
torneys expressed surprise at the verdict and
certain that in the light of evidence produced by the
district attorney their client would be lucky get off
on manslaughter charge. Acquttal did not enter
into their calculations.
perla county during the last to be taken
as sample of our moral, fibre, we are certainly
very broadmnded in views of what constitutes
crime and what does not -
It is not giving officers of the law an even break
to ask them to apprehend criminals, prepare the
for trial, fight the legal opposition to which every
accused is entitled and then have jury bring in
adverse verdict when the evidence clearly
a conviction.
Until some better method is found, we doubtless
will have to depend upon juries to bring in verdcts in
criminal and this being true it becomes
tial that impartial, fair-minded men and women who
can weigh evidence accurately and give their decisions
according to the evidence presented and according
duty.
Here again another fault of Imperial Valley citi-
Zens might we'll be exposed. That is the methods and
which will take to avoid performing of
the sacred duties of citizenshp-that of acting
as jurors. True should seek it, but the same
token should try to avoid it unless there is le
gitimate for SO doing
A citizen drawn for jury duty must subordinate
his wishes to the good of the community and must
then be willing to carry out his oath juryman
neither doing any injustice to the accused hesat
ing to bring in verdict of guilty when the evidence
warrants.
Until the citizens of Imperial county realize this
truth and put%it into practice 1t is unfair to criticize
public officials who handicapped at best in carry
ing out the duties of their Offices the awess will con-
tnue to hold the law in contempt, and we expect
to read of more acts of violence.