Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-19
ALEXANDRIA, ID. C.)
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 10. 1883.


The Grand Jury for the County having been
discharged, and the whole business connected
with the Randolph affair beinslaid ovet until the
next term of the Court, which does not meet uu'
Ill the first Monday in October, it may be con-
sidered our duty TO give the public some partlcu'
lars. relative to the matter. which il was not
proper should be treated upon whist the case
was actually undergoing investigation For Oh.
yious reasons, the subject being still unsettled
and to be again taken up, we shall be as brit as
possible, and refrain from the mention OF more
than is necessary to give history Of the pro-
ceedings as far as they have gone.
1t viii be recollected that the. day on which
Mr.. Randolph committed the assault upon the
President, the Grand Jury were in session That
body, immediately AM properly. presented this
breach of the laws aud disturbance Of the public
neace. Mr.. Randolph, however, had made his
ESCAPE from the presence Of the Marshal OF the
District, the Presidents Secretaries, coterie
of his personal friends, and Mr.. Silas f. Bur-
rows: and this fact together with an impression
that some difficulty would occur by an attempt to
ares, him in Virginia. as well las some have ma.
liciousIy supposedly as desire to make the most
of the business, created necessity tor bold
step On the part of those concerned. Accord
inply. it was at once announced, and rumor says
officially announced through the Globe, that a
here by a "p,ND OF RrFFIAN coNFEDERArEs;'
that this assault was the fruit Of this cOnspra.
ey;" that Mr.. Randolph was excited TO the deed
by these "ruffian confederates," and afterwards
preserved, protected. and aided in his escape, by
the same "BAsE CREW." The District Attor
ney himself, determined TO- support these charges,
entered at once into the subject with great zeal
and artor, and laid before the Grand Jury his
attempt to do so. with the avo~ed design of in
dieting certain persons in aiding or assisting in
the assault. or 10 assisting the escape of the as
sailaut. For a month the Grand Jury have beer
patiently and laboriuusy engaged in an examina-
ton of all the facts which the District Attorney
has been able to lay before them. The failure Of
MIR Peasants, the editor of the Richmond
Wing, to obey the subpoena Of the Court. rather
abruptly terminated the examination; and the
Grand Jury were on Monday discharged.and the
Court adjourned over. Mr.. P was summoned
here to give up the name Of the writer OF an ex-
tract of letter, which appeared in his paper.
detailing an account Of the assault, containing
such terrible expressions as these-"l and
friend accompanied Randolph to the boat" &c
&c. Mr. P. respectfully denied the power OF
the Court to bring him to the Districts at the
same time making oath that he is entirely isno'
rant Of any "plot" or " conspiracy" Whatever
and that the extract of the letter referred to was
handed to him BY gentleman OF Richmond and
inserted as a matter of news. &c. &c at once
showing that his evidence, if obtained. will be
entirely unimportant
As FAR as we can learn, the evidence adduced
only proves what is known already to the public,
and no more. II is certain that the whole at
tempt to make out conspiracy has. SO lar prov
ed miserable abortion. That Mr.. Randolph
was accompanied to the wharf by his uncle
that, to prevent his being murdered by the un,'
breAas, sticks, swords, &c, Of the vaorous gem
temen who surrounded the President, gentle.
man present did shove him from the boat TO the
wharf-that he walked away in sight Of those
who saw the assault, and were bound to have
taken him-that he went up to the hotel delibe'
rately, and as deliberately mounted horse and
slowly rode away.-is all true and fully proved;
and if this shows a conspiracy-a base plot-a
combination of coniederates-why, all honor to
the District Attorney for the marvellous disco
very!
We have read of Meal Tub Plots, and Gun.
powder Plots, famous in their day; and the pre-
sent generation will have the honor Of transmit
ting to posteri,y one equally as famous-the
Nose pulling Ptot-wanting only Doctor Titus
Oates in the latter case, to give it the dignity Of
the English precedents.
How strange that this business could not have
been conducted with perfect propriety! The