Haney Wasn’t an Officer, But a Vigilante
To the editor:
I would like to comment on former Lewis County Sheriff John McCroskey’s commentary in The Chronicle May 18 (page Main 8, “It’s Risky Business Being a Lawman”). McCroskey included John Haney in his list of local officers who have died in the line of duty.
He stated: “In 1919, civilian John Haney was shot and killed after being deputized to assist with the arrest of ‘protesters’ who had shot and killed four soldiers in the Armistice Day Parade a few days earlier.” I was surprised to learn that people who defend their home and rented hall against attack are called “protesters,” and that vigilantes deputized in the heat of passion are considered “law officers.”
Erroneously believing that union men were hiding in a cabin in the heavily-wooded Hanaford Valley, Frank Van Glider led a gang of vigilantes who had been quickly deputized. “The posse decided to split up and surround the cabin. When they met almost face to face in the thick underbrush, one of the posse men yelled “Halt! Who goes there?”
When no one answered they began firing. The gun battle raged for more than an hour. Posse member John Haney, a 49-year-old farmer and father of 10 children, was shot three times. There were no Wobblies present.
The next day, the newspaper reported that a major gun battle had taken place with the Wobblies. When the truth came out a few days later, Haney’s death was declared an accident, and no further investigation was needed. Because he had been mistaken for an IWW member, it was justifiable homicide. (Page 139, “Ripples of a Lie” as cited in interview with Jim Barner (Jan. 28, 1981), and Centralia Daily Chronicle, Nov. 19, 1919, page 1)
I am the daughter of Eugene Barnett, an innocent unarmed eyewitness, who was framed to keep him from testifying for the defense and sent to prison along with seven other innocent union men in the Centralia incident of 1919. Because the prisoners remained friends for life, I was fortunate to know many of the people who were actually there. My book, “Ripples of a Lie,” a biography of my father that includes the Centralia incident, was published in 2011. It is true and my facts are proven and documented.
McCroskey’s statement is simply not true. I’m sure he does not wish to perpetuate this lie. Yes, he is certainly right that we expect a lot from our police officers, but we also expect honesty. I hope that poor Mr. Haney will not be included in the new memorial bringing more insult to his family and further embarrassment to Centralia.
Ten children grew up without their father because he was killed, not in the line of duty as implied, but in a shootout with his fellow “officers.” It is true that on TV the truth is learned and crimes are solved in 60 minutes, but in Centralia it takes over 90 years.
Esther Barnett Goffinet
Lewiston, Idaho
Editor’s note: Information on Goffinet’s book can be found at www.EstherBarnettGoffinet.org.
DUIs Take Lives of 28 People Every Day
To the editor:
I was just as horrified as everyone else by the recent shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, in which 28 people died. It was a senseless loss of life and certainly deserved the public outcry it received. This letter is in no way meant to reduce the severity of that event.
The same number of people, 28, die everyday across the U.S. in DUI-related accidents. What surprises me is that there is no public hue and cry against these deaths, which are also senseless and are 100 percent preventable. Many cases of DUI-related deaths involve the impaired driver killing members of his or her own family traveling with them.
While the public attitude has changed over the years, it still has a long way to go. In the 1960s and 1970s it was “OK” to have a few drinks and get behind the wheel, as punishments were little more than civil fines.
Fast forward to the 21st century and you find that the public has little patience for DUI drivers, but it continues to happen. Innocent people are dying at the rate of 28 per day. There needs to be more public education regarding just how little an amount of alcohol in someone’s system can impair them, and the laws need to be stiffened.
Currently, the fifth DUI charge will result in it being a felony. Five times? Everyone deserves benefit of the doubt and the first DUI (with no collision/injury/death) should be a chance for the person to learn and move on. Anything after that is a pattern and needs to be handled as such with stiff jail time.
Looking at the problem from a national standpoint, it can seem overwhelming but it actually comes down to this being a local problem for every community. If we work together to reduce DUI-related incidents in each of our communities, the ripple effect will happen across the nation.
These are preventable and needless deaths that we all have the power to stop and we need to work together to not drive under the influence and make it clear it is not OK for others to do.
Warren McLeod
Lewis County coroner
