The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-21

but they had in regard to the monte table. Having
done that, tho prosecution thought 1t necessary 70
call the attention of the to what was the cus
tom OF the country, because everybody was aware
that what was regarded altogether BILE in
one country was looked upon being entirely
ascreahao'e In another. Things which
garded as moral and proper in some coun are
regarded "a immoral and improper in others For
instance IL was the custom in China for children
70 XIII their parents, and parents their children
ms was one OF the means by which excessive
population was prevented As a matter of course
this was one of the most heinous crimes that could
be committed in this countryside crime of muir
der-murder OF the worst and most horrible kind;
and would 1t be fair to judge of the truth false
hood oil Chinaman for such a reason1 In Eng
land, not more than hundred years ago, it was
the common custom for ladies moving in high and
fashionable circles TO keep faro tables, to invite
parties to their houses to win all their money, and
to send them home absolute psupers. Santa Anna
was cock fighter, and no discredit was thrown
upon him for that because it was the custom of his
country; but what would be thought OF General
Scott if he to be known to go into a cockpit
and indulge in that kind OF pastime Laughter
This was a mode of amusement which wac common
in Mexico; and 30 was bull batting in Spain, which
was horrible enough, but still it was fashionable
amusement. Suppose an American lady were to
be known to go TO see a bull haht, what would be
said OF herr Why every one OF her acquaintance
would say, "Never let me her again" But
shoud that tend to discredit the testimony of a
Spanish ladyI
The Empires. of France being Spanish lady,
had tried 10 introduce the amusement into France,
but il seemed the people OF that country either had
more sense or a more refined taste, and would not
have it; yet would question the testimony
of the Empress of France because she was fond Of
bull-Eghts.
So, In Mexico, this keeping Of monte table
was common thing, even for men of eminence.
Wright was in Mexico. ICGe be was Ameri-
can citizen, but being in Rome, according TO the
old rrn erh he did he ms a
Mr.. BRADLEY. And in Turkey as the Turks do.
A laugh.l
Mr.. FrNpALL. Even had the gentleman put il
upon the ground that this witness was keeping a
monte Die here, they would have been asking TOO
much TO ask this Jury to discredit him for that
reason. IL was well known that keeping gam
bling house discreditable enough here; but
who ever heard that man was not to be believed
on his oath because be kept gambling house,
This argument, therefore, would not do here; but
it was perfectly preposteraps when applied to the
state Of manners and morals in Mexico. No wit
ness ever was upon a nd who made more ia
vorable impression than this witness Wright.
considerable tittering He was an enterprising
and adventurous man, and, like bis country men
generally, ready to turn his hand to any thing.
Mr.. CASLIsLE. A pretty picture of his country
men, trulyi
Mr. FrsDALL. Stage-driver at one time, keep.
ing a circus at another, and monte table at
another, and even engaging in a balloon specula
ton; snd Is there any thing discreditable in
thar
But it bad been further said that the witness
Wright had shown some zeal in this prosecution,
and had gone to Morea to get these papers
What if he ddl He a witness on the part OF
the United States and it was difficult to obi ain
witnesses in Mexico who mad the intelligence OF
this witness, and who could so well adapt himself
TO this important mission. He does not deny il.
On The contrary, he glories in having done what
ne could to ferret out his most infamous fraud
The jury had seen his manner; they had listened to
his cross-eIa and be appealed 10 them il
they bad seen any indication on his part of hostie
feelings towards the defendant They saw indi-
cations Of patriotic feelings-of feelings for jus
ticc; and should that initiate against bis truthful
ness' Certainly not. There was nothing what
ever In the testimony OF these witnesses to i'm
peach them. But, supposing that Togno and
Wright and Atocha were left out of the uues
ton, there not Ave witnesses left who had
proved that the defendant nothing but
dentist? Was there any reason 10 suppose that
dentistry better in Mexico than il was any
where else? They all knew what il was here
They knew we'll enough that il took long time
here TO max little fortune at the business; but
here was a man who was mere itinerant dentist
doing nothing else in the world until in the year
lSt4, be was found suddenly starting 10 with
$50. 0O0 in his pocket, and lending money TO the
government of San Luis >Potosi-this million aire
without whose aid the government of that State
could not get along. The government ia in trou
BILE; all the resources of the country have failed
and they are obliged to go to the defendant in
their extremity to borrow money, which be lends
them in copious sums He has, besides this
$50 600 to invest in mines and buy mules and
men OF science and build haciendas and put IN
s,eam gines and host of other expensive
things! Must he not tell you how all this came
to pass' Won't you ask him where be got all this
money! The Board of Commissioners were struck
the same way.
Mr. Evans, one of the commissioner had the
same doubts and desired to be better ip formed on
the subject. All The array of counsel which
the defendant had be fore that board to secure TINS
A 49,,
agreed upon that he should make bis appearance
himself and give explanation. He made il
and the commissioners were satisfied; but thew
ought NOT to have been satisfied; for, however
honestly or uPris hty they might have intended to
discharge their duty, II was ground of complaint
by the people u the country that the commission
did not take sufficient pains to be satisfied There
was no sort of evidence before this urv that this
dlthculty, which struck the commissioners on the
very threshold, Uas removed in any other way
than by tho defendants statement True
there was paper before the Boa I'd of Commission
ers which had not been admitted before this iurv
At any rate, the commissioners were satisfied: and
this jury ought to be satisfied They were not TO be
told that because the commissioners were satisied
with the explanation given to them this iurv
would be satisfied also They were actipg undcr
thelr own Judgment and consciences and not &C
corning 10 those OF Messrs. Evans, and PAYNE and
Smith. They were to try this case by the evidence
before them. The jury wanted evidence, and un.
III tney had that evidence they ought not TO be
Sa'iSueo, TOT 'he presumption that he did not
show thls Sufficiently to the commissioners and
that IT was not true. And were they TO believe
against all experience and common sense that his
defendant suddenly came into possession of this
immense amount Of money without being able TO
give reasonable account OF itl Surely they might
say with the poet
sob, jud gmenn Thou art fled to british beasts,
And men have lost their reasonl
He would not press this point further. /. vas
clear that the defendant had rot a dollar beyond
what he earned by bis profession. He thought
they had established couclusively, by testimony
which must address itself 10 the common sense
and expert nee OF every man, that this oath was
untrue; and II II was untrue, he knew il TO be
untrue when he took it, and that be was therefore
a guilty and perjured man. If there were no
other evidence than that, he should be willing TO
rest The case there, and to ask them TO punish this
man tor this proved offence. But that wasnot all
and nothing like all; for he went on he would
show the case to be blacker and blacker
Inc next question to which he desired TO call the
attention OF the jury the abb
lie would not trouble them with rssdi,o The
memorial again; but it was manifest upon the s,cs
oil that paper that II that story was true if he was
engaged from the 18th of July 1874, to the lat Of
0, tober, 1876, in these gnihcent cstabEsbmsr,.
ii he had invested S 800 900 in these ooeratiors
and had erected all these buildings a nd emploved
these five hundred men and their families, he mus,
have been personally present. 1t was against Ali
human experience to suppose that a man would
embar IN 30 large an a. venture and leave il to
AZ inf dtsseo