Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-12-15

Cnrnr TkfUMPa1ST.-The public
mind is in an unfortunate mood, in this
country, in relation to violations OF law
Criminals are more numerous IN 1.-the
land than they ever were before and
they are more generally tolerated. Pub
nc feeling seems to be strangely lndIf-
ferent on the subject. Juries reflect the
public mind, and frequently refuse to
fnd verdicts Of conviction where such
rerdicts ought to be found. And many
of the courts are, In this regard, almost
valueless. Combinations Of wealth and
influence are found to be capable Of
shielding almost any villain from legal
punishment. A most alarming proof
of the truth of what we say was the yer-
dict of acquittal rendered in the Martha
Washington case. In fact the whole
trial in that case was solemn farce,
and was directly calculated to produce
or foster in the public mind disrespect
for the judicial tribunals and disregard
of law. At the outset an ill-considered
and useless order was made by the
court, which it could not and did not
enforce, and which had the effect of
working actual prejudice to the cause
of justice. In the progress of the case
the counsel for the defence stopped sud
denly, when only about half their wit
nesses had been examined, and when
the rebutting witnesses for the prosecu-
ton were not present. Whether they
foresaw that by SO doing the case would
go to the jury without full evidence can
only be conjectured, but such was the
result. The witnesses for the .prosecu-
ton could have been produced in a few
hours, but the court would not wait
moment. The District Attorney was
forced to commence the argument of the
case without proper preparation. When
he had closed, the defence announced
that they would not argue the case.
This ruse cut off the argument of Mr..
Stanbery, and prevented the case from
being fully presented to the jury in ar
gument. This trap was sprung so sud
denly that even the court found itself
caught, and was obliged to adjourn to
take time to make up its charge. 1t
couldn't wait to get important testimo-
ny before the jury, but it could wait to
fix up charge such as it never deliver
ed before, and never will again. The
Jury returned verdict of not guilty
It may be that they did it conscientious
ly, but by doing it they turned loose
upon society as dangerous a set of Grim
inals as any country can produce. We
do not believe there is living man.
conversant with the facts, who sincerely
thinks the defendants in the Martha
Washington case innocent of the charge
upon which they were tried.
The verdict of acquittal in the Ames
shooting case, at Cincinnati. was anoth-
er proof of the Decentralization of public
feeling. 1t was a case of deliberate
shooting with intent to kill. The de-
fendant, however, goes free. He is at
liberty to ply the pistol or bowie knife
again, when it suits him, and society
may take care of itself if it can.
There is to be trial in Louisville
soon. Ward is to be tried for the cold
blooded and deliberate murder of But
Ter. Very recently we met gentleman
of responsibility and intelligence from
central Kentucky. We asked about the
Ward case. He said it was most
atrocious murder, but that he had not
the smallest belief that Ward would be
convicted. We asked why. "Be-
cause" said he, "his family is very
wealthy, and they are connected with
many other families of great wealth.
A million of money can be brought to
bear upon the trial" We asked if that
was the way matters were managed in
Kentucky. "Oh," said he, ''if it turns
out as have said, we shall still be be-
hind Ohio. Look at the Martha Wash
ington easel" We trust our friend may
prove mistaken, and that justice will not
be Knocked in the manner predicted by
him.
Can there be no remedy found for this
monstrous tendency of the times? If
there cannot, then we shall soon reach
crisis in which it will be untrue to say
that we are people governed bs just
laws. We shall be virtually in the con-
dition of those communities in which
the law of the bowie knife and club is
e,,nraroa Cc;ofo HozafJ.