The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-29
ONLY Two Men Responsible

| SuDJeCIGu LllG lCI1loAAAHA5
Is, 900 residents of the good county 10 a
rare form of public embarrassment by
appointing Walter M. Standard sheriff to
succeed the late Sheriff John White.
Whether their action will be completed
by the posting of the Offices necessary
bond bv Mr.. Standard and the taking OF
the oath remains to be seen.
We hope it will not.
Our interest is primarily that OF a sister
county. AS one county suffers in the attl-
tude of the general public, so do all others
in Southeastern. North Carolina, as well
as the entire state. And that Brunswick
should feel the stigma of having a sheriff
with a criminal record should be the con-
Germ of all sincerely anxious in having
the highest type of men fill law enforce
ment positions.
AS is well known, Mr.. Standard has
both federal and state court records.
The federal one is not as serious as
the other. According to"records here he
was convicted in 1927 of a liquor law 10
lation and sentenced to serve a year ana
a day in the Atlanta penitentiary. that
was 20 years ago and he has PAID this
debt to society.
AS to the state record, Mr.. Standard
resigned as Brunswick Recorder under fire
in Superior court in 1912 during his trial
on charges of malfeasance in office.
This was no small discrepancy in official
misconduct.
The evidence revealed that as Recorder
L. I'D ,,;+bLo1J ind ooroo nfc in IA p9SaS IN
which evidence had been presented before
him in court. The Grand jury returned
a true bill in May, 1912, and the case was
presented before Judge Leo Carr later In
the wear. In the midst of the trial, ac-
cording to the records, Judge Carr halted
the proceedings and informed Mr.. Stana-
land that he would accept a mol pros
if the Recorder would resign and not re-
quest any compensation from the county
from the date of the Indictment. This Mr..
Standard did.
In the latter case, he showed that one
is fully entitled to doubt his qualifications
for filling the highest and oldest office
in county government.
No man with a criminal record should
even desire to be a representative of the
law.
We are informed that when Mr.. stana-
land was on the Brunswick bench that
on at least one occasion his past was re-
called to him by a defendant in his court.
Now that it appears he may become
sheriff, similar expressions from defend
ants with which he will be forced to have
contact may be expected. That this is
seriously damaging to the prestige and au-
thority of the office goes without saying.
Now, some questions.
Did Mr.. Standard withhold the IA judg-
ments as a means, and a mighty powerful
one too, to improve his political strength
: in Brunswick?
i Would he use the authority of the office
! of sheriff for a similar purpose?
' Would law enforcement in Brunswick as
we'll as the necessary public respect Tor
I the law, deteriorates as he fills the more
r than three years term Of the late Sheriff
White?
5 Do the citizens of Brunswick want a
man in their highest office for whom they
! will have to apologize for his past?
Will the Republican party, always a
: strong factor in elections in that county,
1 use this excellent supply of political am
runition for an assault to return to
power? And, remember, there's a mighty
important election coming up next Nov
ember?
: These are just some of the issues the
citizens of Brunswick must consider.
, The Star has no desire to tell them
what to do. But this newspaper rightfully
r feels that it is not only its business but
public responsibility to help protect an ad-
joining county and the whole state from
, public ridicule and scorn which this ap-
, pointment will produce. We are also vital
ly interested in seeing that all public of;
r fices are filled by the best persons avail
, able.
Perhaps a movement will be started to
, eradicate the danger brought on by the
two commissioners - Chairman r. O.
Lewis and Burris Chinnis-in their success
full sponsorship of Mr.. Standard over the
candidate proposed by the third board
, member, Steve Mintz. 1t is the law that
the bonds of Brunswick officers and fiscal
agents must be executed by a surety com
! pany or companies and not privately
Whether one will accept Mr.. Standard
is another question. We wouldn't. Neither,
) do we believe, can the majority Of the
: good people of Brunswick.
L Had the county's qualified voters elected
him sheriff, they would have no one tc
Il blame but themselves.
Now, however, if he goes into office
they can hold only two men directly re
sponsible for placing him there. And these
two have just as much moral accountable
iy as Mr.. Standard for whatever tran
; spires, either good or bad, during his