Yukon Valley News
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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 1905.
THE IDI.EMAN CASE. |
W. J. Idleman, charged with em
bezzlement while in the customs
service, was acquit'ed by a jury at
Juneau on Dec. 13. The verdict of
the jury was not unexpected and
seems to be approved by the people.
Idleman was first brought before
the court at Rampart in 1903. The
same deep interest in the case and
sympathy for the accused was felt
here that was so clearly apparent at
Juneau. Prosecuting Attorney
Harlan evidently realized this, and
none will deny that his manage
ment of the case was vigorous,
tenacious and able. According to.
the testimony and the law as ex-1
plained oy me louri, many wnc ui
opinion that at least the technical
guilt of Idleman was firmly estab
lished. But the jury did not find
him guilty: a mistrial was the Best
the prosecution could get. It is
not believed that any jury could
have l>een secuied here which
would have found him Ruiity. In
fact, the hung jury was a distinct
triumph for Judge Harlan.
Is this an indication that trial by
jury tn Alaska can not l>e relied on
to mete out justice to criminals?
By no means. It simply emp’ia
>ues the truth half asserted at
Rampart and fully expressed at Ju
ueau that law tempered by the
instincts and sympathies of the
people is more just than the rigid
rules bour.d in any b»*»k
Mieman may have ctnl>e*/led.
according to the cold torm of the
taw. may have been liable to the
penitentiary. Hut he had a prede
cessor on Steel creek, and that
predecessor had a shotgun and.
i-asked H> hr* teisma of the law
ami the presence of the gun. he »
said to have committed many acts
which, though they may have been
lawful, were none the less brutal
and unjust. Americans, smarting
under what they considered unjust
exactions on the Canadian side,
would scarcely have time to tip
tbeir hats to the American flag at
Steel creek before they were cov
ered by the shotgun and robbed.
Evidence at the trial went to
show that there was a change at
Steel creek when Idleman took
charge. Sometimes if the prospec
tor didn’t have enough money to
pay the outrageous tariff on his
scant outfit Idleman would make
up the deficiency. It between them
they could not raise the amount
Idleman would cut down the bill to
fit the cash. Sometimes the pros
pector would pay part and promise
the balance. Of course it was not
long till Idleman’s accounts were
muddled. It is doubtful if he him
self could tell much more about his
affairs than that he was often broke.
Of course this manner of con
ducting the affairs of his office was
more or less '’criminal” on Idle
man’s part. But it was merciful to
a large number of hard-pressed
American citizens, who will not
fail to respect him for it.
The full extent of the iniquities
suffered at the Alaskan boundary,
for a period, will never be known.
Shame sealed the lips of some and
a sense of impotency quieted oth
ers. Impositions by officials may
have been within the law, and the
favors shown by Idlentan may have
been without the law. If so, it
only proves that law used to de
spoil instead of benefit the people
can not retain public respect.
'Plie \IeHHfi((e
Touching Alaska
Following is that part of the
president’s message devoted to
Alaska
Alaska, like all our territorial acquisi
tions, has proved resourceful beyond the
expectations of those who made the pur
chase. It has become the home of many
liardv, industrious and thrifty American
citterns. Towns of a permanent character
have brrn built. The extent of its wealth
in minerals, timber, fisheries and agricul
ture. while great, is probably not compre
hended vet in any just measure by our
people We do know, however,that from
a very small lieginning its products have
grown until thcv are a steady and material
contribution to the wealth of the nation.
Owing tothe immenaitv of Alaska and its
location in ihe far north, it is a difficult
matter to provide mans thing* essential
in its growth and to the happiness and
comfort of its people hv private enter
prise atone It should, thereto e. receive
reasonable aid from the government
The government has already done ravel
lent work tor Alaska in lav mg .able* ami
building telegraph line*. Tbs* work has
tarn .|aar in the mom economical ami
efficient nav hv the signal corps of I hr
arm*
In some respects it has outgrown b
N. V. HENDRICKS
ESTABLISHED 1904
| Alaska Commission Buying Agency
SEATTLE, WASH.
We Buy and Ship for you, Only on Commission
Call on our Agent or write to us
present laws, while in others those laws
have been found to be inadequate. In
order to obtain information upon which I
could rely I caused an official of the de
partnient of justice, in whose judgment I
have confidence, to visit Alaska during
the past summer for the purpose of ascer
taining how government is administered
there and what legislation is actually
needed at present. A statement of the
conditions found to exist, together with
some recommendations and the reasons
therefor, in which I strongly concur, will
be found in the annual report of the at
( torney general. In some instances I feel
that the legislation suggested is so imper
atively needed that I am moved briefly
to emphasize the attorney geueral's pro
posals.
Under the code of Alaska as it now
stands many purely administrative pow
ers and duties, including by far the most
important, devolve upon the district
judges or upon the clerks of the district
court acting under the direction of the
judges, w hile the governor, upon whom
these powers and duties should logically
fall, has nothing specific to do except to
make annual reports, issue Thanksgiving
, day proclamations and appoint Indian
; policemen and notaries public. I believe
! it essential to good government in Alas
ka, and therefore recommend, that the
congress divest the district judges and
the clerks of their courts of the adminis
trative or executive functions that they
: now exercise and cast them upon the
■ governor. This would not be an innova
tion; it would simply conform the gov
ernment of Alaska to fundamental prin
i ciples, making the governorship a real
i instead of a merely nominal office, and
| leaving the judges free to give their en
I tirz attention to their judicial duties an 1
at the same time removing from them a
! great deal of the strife that now enibar
I rasses the judicial office in Alaska.
i ai.tu rrvuniinrnu uiui wic saiitrir.w «»i
, the <H»trict judge* and district attorrftys
| in Alaska be increased so as to make
them equal to those received by corre
sponding officers in the I'nited States
after deducting the difference in the cost
of living; that the district attorneys
should he prohibited from engaging in
private practice; that t inted States com
missioners tie appointed bvthe governor
of the territory instead of by the district
judges, and that a fised salary be pro
vided for them to take place of the dis
credited "fee system.” which should he
abolished in all offices, that a mounted
constabulary I* created to police the ter
ritorv outside the limit* of incorporated
town* a vast sretiou now whollv without
police protection, and that some provis
ion he made to at least lessen the uppres
sive delay* and coats that now attend the
prosecution of appeal* from I he district
court of Alaska, there should heady
vi»m»w of the relating policial dtatrlets
ami an increase in the number mt judge*
A', ash a .hould have a delegate in the
tong res* Where poaathle the enngresi
should sol to the von .tract two rtf needs <
wagon noth. additional tight house1
C. H. GIBBONS* M. D.
Physician and Surgeon.
Office Hours; i to 3 p. m. and when not other
wise engaged.
Office and Residence. Second avenue.
GKORGK A. SALISBURY,
Attorney and Counsellor,
Rampart. Alaska
•». MNDLEY GREEN,
Lawyer.
Office at the Courthouse.
OFFICE OF
Commissioner and Recorder
Rooms 1 and 2, Courthouse
>
THE
HEETER
TANANA, ALASKA
S. E. HEETER. ED FERGUSON,
PROPRIETOR MANAGER
rlKSTfLASS
Wines, Liquors and Cigars
I
Heeler’s Pack Train
Leaves for (ilen Even
Five Days.
Freighting and Packing
To unci From All
the CreekH.
Good Teams Good Service
should he provided. In my judgment it
is especially important to aid in such
manner as seems just and feasible in the
construction of a trunk line of railwav to
connect the C.ulf of Alaska with the
Yukon rivtr through American territors
This would be most heueficiat to the de
velopment of the resources of the terri
tory. amt to the <• uafnrt and welfare of its
people
Salmon hatcheries should he estahlisl •
ed in mans different streams, so as to
secure the preservstion of this valuable
rood A*h Salmon Ashertes and canneries
should he prohibited or, certain of the
rivers where the mass of those Indians
dwell who live aloiost esclusivelv on Ash
The Alaska natives are kmdlv. Intelli
gent envious to learn >nd willing to
• one lurte *4 SSM •
*
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