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Show Vol 2, No. 38. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MAY The Irotvy of F It appearing that the grand jury has acy of George A. Sheets, Ezra Thompso far found practically nothing to do son, John S. Daveler, Arthur J. Davis, in the way of investigating crimes, polygamous and otherwise, and in order that they may be thorough in their investigation of all matters pertaining to offenses against the law information has been lodged with them setting forth in substance as follows: On reliable information and belief, it is alleged that a crime has been committed against the peace and dignity of the state of Utah, in this: That on the 24th day of March, 1903, George A. Sheets wilfully and knowingly intruded himself into, usurped and took possession of the office of chief of police of Salt Lake City, Utah, without having been elected or appointed thereto, as required by law, and that he unlawfully exercised the' duties of chief of police, against the peace and dignity of the state of Utah and in violation of section 4086 of the revised statutes of Utah of 1898, which reads as follows: Every person who wil fully and knowingly intrudes himself into any public office to which he has lot been elected or appointed, is guilty of a misdemeanor. That the unlawful and criminal intrusion of George A. Sheets into the office of chief of police of Salt Lake City on March 24th, 1903, was the result of a conspiracy entered into on or about March 23, 1903, by and between the said George A. Sheets and Ezra Thompson, John S. Daveler, Arthur J. Davis, Thomas R. Black, Willis E. Vigus, Christopher B. Diehl, George L. Nye, Wallace R. White, Frank Knox, John C. Lynch, Thomas Kearns and Perry S. Heath, all of Salt Lake City, Utah, by which it was determined and agreed to assist Sheets to intrude himself into, usurp and take possession of the office of chief of police of Salt Lake City in the unlawful manner herein described, which conspiracy constitutes an offense against the penal laws of Utah, as shown by Section 4156 of the revised statutes of Utah of 1898, which reads as follows: If two or more persons con spire to commit a crime they are punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars. The connection with the conspire . Thomas R. Black, Willis E. Vigus and Christopher B. Diehl is shown by their action on the morning of March 24th, Price 30, 1903. that there was at least a doubt that tween Sheets was entitled to the office, and that he further had every reason to know, as previously stated, that Sheets had been rejected by the city council the night before. The connection of Thomas Kearns and Perry S. Heath with the conspiracy is shown in various ways, they being the instigators of the conspir- together installed acy.Wherefore, it is requested and deGeorge A. Sheets in the office of chief manded of the district attorney and of police in the face of the public acof Third the judicial distion of the city council of the night be- grand jury of of state trict the Utah, that they infore, certified and sent to Ezra Thompalson, one of their number, by the city vestigate the circumstances herein eviby recorder before Sheets was installed leged, and if substantiated return true bill a that dence, they in the office, by which action the counmentioned herein the persons cil formally rejected Sheets as the pro- against for unlawful intrusion into a public posed chief of police, and which formal office and for conspiracy to commit a rejection had been acquiesced in and crime against the people and the state consented to by John S. Daveler, Arthur J. Davis, Thomas R. Black and of Utah. Jl Jit Willis E. Vigus, as members of the It is well known that Senator Kearns city council, all of which was fully and Perry Heath were the instigators known by each of the above persons of the, move which, by their untiring including Christopher B. Diehl. George L. Nyes connection with efforts, resulted in the grand jury bethe conspiracy is shown by his written ing summoned. The object of Kearns opinion as city attorney of Salt Lake and Heath was to overawe the MorCity, furnished to Ezra Thompson on mons in regard to prosecutions for althe morning of March 24th, 1903, stat- leged polygamy, and to thereby scare ing, in effect that George A. Sheets them into supporting Kearns for to the United States senate. had not been rejected by the city council, but had been formally and legally Such, however, is the irony of late, accepted by the council as chief of po- that the body of inquisitors called into lice of Salt Lake City, when Nye had being by Kearns and Heath is now every reason to know that Sheets had investigating the conduct of the aubeen rejected, as appears from his pre- thors of its being. Astute politicians vious actions and purported legal opin- and wise political manipulators arc Heath and Kearns. ions. o Wallace R. Whites connection with the conspiracy is shown by his pubPOLITICAL MELANGE. lished opinion to the conspirators on the night of March 23rd, 1903, while To those who are howling for the claiming to be the assistant attorney of the Liberal party, general of the state of Utah, to the reorganization effect that Sheets had been accepted Truth will say it is not likely that by the city council as chief of police, such a movement will be successful when he had every reason to know at .this time, nor is it needed. The that such was not the case, as appears men who are trying to bring such a from his previous actions. inThe connection of Frank Knox and result about are those whose John. C. Lynch with the conspiracy is terest in the matter is not at all unshown by their action of the night of selfishness. Tom Kearns and Perry March 23rd, or the early morning of Heath are the precious pair who are March 24th, 1903, in signing what purbehind the scenes trying to pull the ported to be an official bond of George A. Sheets as chief of police in the wires and make the disgruntled Gensum of five thousand dollars, when they tiles waltz like marionettes for their had every reason to know that Sheets sole benefit. Tom Kearns and Perry had no legal claim to the office, it ap- Heath are the monkeys who would the balance to pull pearing that they agreed to sign the make catspaws of from their chestnuts the fire. Had even the bond, or did sign it, before two these notorious characters on kept the city attorneys alleged opinion out their unclean hands of political as and been had rendered, question the had those twain house matter; pot appears from other actions and cirremained quiet, there politicians cumstances. have been some show of sucThe further connection of Chris- might cess attendant on the effort to organtopher B. Diehl with the conspiracy Is ize an independent party in Salt Lake. shown by his signing his name as a JH Jit witness to the alleged official bond of But the time has passed when George A. Sheets as chief of police above referred to, and by his adminis- Kearns and Heath can achieve any tering the oath of office as chief of po- political successes here. The people lice to Sheets when it was no part of his official duty as city judge so to want neither or either of them to do, and when he, as a lawyer, knew lead. If we must be bossed, as be 1903, when they . re-electi-on 5 Cents Mormon rule under Joseph F. Smith, or Gentile rule under Tom Kearns and this branded importation of his, known as Perry Heath, most people would accept Joseph F. Smith. And what a spectacle it is to look upon, this fight Kearns and Heath are. trying to make against the church! These two. who entered into unholy These-two- , and alliances! coin-staine- d obtained a senatorship through corrupt means! These two, who debauched a state! Who would have debauched it again had not others stepped in and prevented it. They, lead an independent movement! They lead the old Liberal party, which had for its motto: before Principle As well select Belial as a party! of the brigadier general heavenly hosts, or a jackal as for a bunch of sheep. This pair would engage in war with the church because they failed to do business with President Joseph F. Simth. who bell-weth- er J jjt A political movement sVould mean something more than a scramble for office. Every revolt in the history of mankind- - has had some principle it, but who could look upon the e would-btwo leaders in this proposed There are the struggle and say: men who are struggling for the right; I will follow after? Old feelings are being harrowed up, old sores reopened. Kearns and his first lieutenant, Heath, are taking advantage of this condition, which they have largely brought about, to stir up men to action. But they cannot succeed. If there is anything to be achieved, some man with a reputation for honesty, intelligence, sincerity and ability will have to go to the front and plant the standard on the. rallying point. None such will be 'ound to engage in the business' of stirring up old animosities and working to turn the wheels of progress backward. Kearns and Heath are doing their work in an underhanded way, not daring to come out in the open, because they know their influence is lost. Why, time was not so long ago, either when a note of warning from the editorial page of the Tribune was like a blast on the bugle horn of the leader of old; worth ten thousand men. But so impotent has the paper become since it passed into the nands of Kearns and Heath that its utterances are looked upon with suspicion and when fre read in its columns any proposition for a change of any kind, we involuntarily ask ourselves what job is being put up now in the interest of the syndicate which desires to ' control Utah. A self constituted, arrogant, ignorant, swelled up, puffed up codfish aristocracy will not be tol-- . erated by the people of Utah or Salt Lake City. No carpet baggers, no po-be1-hin- , d |
