LIFE THREATENED,
SAYS WALLACE.
HAS RECEIVED LETTERS FROM
ALL PARTS OF COUNTRY.
ONE MAN SPEAKS OF
A ROPE.
ANOTHER HOPES HE'LL BE PRES-
ENT AT EXECUTION.
Because of These Threats the Judge
Declines to Surrender Bench
Until His Commission Ex-
pires -- His Statement.
"Since I have taken office I have received many threatening letters on account of my attitude as to Sunday law enforcement."
This sentence, delivered near the close of an address of ninety minutes' duration, startled the hearers of Judge William H. Wallace from their lethargy yesterday afternoon. For the greater part of that time they had sat with half closed eyes, especially the policemen who were witnesses in city appeal cases, while the judge expounded his reasons for wishing to continue on the bench until January 1. The legal precedents and cases cited by the court had almost lulled the coppers, who had worked all night and who wanted to sleep, into the land of Nod. Then came mention of threatening letters and open eyes.
"These letters have come from all parts of the country," continued the judge. "From Denver, where they shoot ministers in the pulpit; from Paterson, N. J., the hotbed of anarchy; from Chicago, St. Louis, and other cities. One man wrote that he hoped to be present to witness, within five years, my execution. Another spoke of bringing a rope. Still another has written to me every day a postal card not fit to go through the mails."
DIETY DIVERTED BULLET.
By this time the judge's audience was very much awake. The story of the threatening letters had never been alluded to in any of Wallace's former explanations or statements. The judge continued to state that the enforcement of the law was a thing that had to come, saying in this connection:
"God directed the bullet that was fired at Francis J. Heney in San Francisco so that it would not interfere with the enforcement of the law."
Judge Wallace commenced his statement by letting another secret escape. It was to the effect that E. C. Crow, formerly attorney general of Missouri, had given him legal advice upon which he based his contention that he should hold office until January 1. The basis of Mr. Crow's opinion was the act of 1871, which created the criminal court. Judge Wallace said that court decisions had failed to disturb this act.
"And besides," said Judge Wallace, speaking of the succession as soon as a successor qualifies, "is it good law? If so, then the appointive judge is absolutely at the caprice of the man who comes in and that ends it. The new judge might want to come in in two weeks, maybe in four. The man in office has some rights.
SPOILED A SPEECH.
"Take my case, for instance. I was to have delivered on Monday night an address before the Sabbath Association of America, a national gathering. Then this judgeship muddle came up and I was forced to decline. I was also invited to join, in the East, in the organization of a world-wide law enforcement league. I could not go on account of this matter."
Then, after citing a number of cases of what might happen if there was no judge of the criminal court, Judge Wallace said:
"Of course there are a lot of fellows who say: 'If there is a technical case, dump Wallace. No matter if it is reasonable or not. The public demands it.' But see what the constitution says and the statutes," and the supreme court and so on for an hour and a half.
Then the tired policemen were told to go home and return again on Monday.
Judge Wallace made a hurried exit from the court room at 5 o'clock. "If I can get into my house and get my grip I will go to Jefferson City tonight," were his parting words. He is to confer with Attorney General H. S. Hadley tomorrow.
