Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-10-24
C@r-espande c. pf the New York Tribua ae

/ Cnr:espande c. III The New York Tribune
Tn Cas-. OF hCsEa .-Esete eaaror-,k. Kog-
:as, ssp.. "a, 1o55.-0ns;be l7th instant, II =
district Court .sscniUleG :; Lesyunwnrtk. IS
Gra sd = .,r.rs We're Present. and Chef Justice
Leceni,te Sgas about 10 swear aud impsnnei
sixaoen OF tl:sin, whcnM Crea 5 counsel n ov cd
,bat the accnsed ae lronght from prist.n nat
IA might OBJECT to the m.tnHer of choo sing the
Grand u'y, and to challenge for cause. One
of the Grand Jurors was engaged with Clark
in the attack NJ Crea when the latter shot
him. Notwithstanding this fact the Judge
overruled every motion for defendant, and al
so refused to sign bill Of exceptions, or ex-
plain by what rule he selected the l6 Grand
Jurors. The Grand Jury was then sworn and
the Court adjourned. Next morning Le-
compte secretly added three more to the jury.
On Thursday afternoon the Grand Jury came
into court for instructions in the NJ 'Crea case.
Instead of publicly instrGcting them the
Judge sent them back to their room, and del
egated r. R. Rees, the Chairman of the Ruff
fan mob that attacked Philips, TO instruct
them in their duties. Being still divided,
they sgain forced their foreman to lead them
into Court. The foreman, who is one of the
fire eaters under Stringfellow, Atchison & Co.,
was exceedingly angiy at their obstinacy, and
as they came into court exclaimed, s'They
Can't agree; three are for presentmcnt for
murder, five for m nslaughter, and eleven
against finding any bill.'' This announcement
Judge, without instructing the jury that in
such they should return the bill ssigno-
red sent them back to their room and caus-
ed other business to be brought before them.
A majority of the jury, however, being in IA
vor of ignoring the bill against M'Crea, refu-
sed to act upon any other business until his
case WAS finally disposed of, and therefore re-
turned again and again into court without ma
king any presentment. This was continued
till Saturday, when the Judge, perceiving that
he, to go on with the business before him,
must do justice to M'Crea by giving the jury
proper instructions, dismissed the Grand Ju-
ry, and adjourned the Court until the second
Monday in November. Such adjournment
is not legal, being authorised by no statute,
and is, in fact, dissolution of the Court. As
such it Mas doubtless intended, in order to de-
tain NJ Crea in prison until next spring, that
another effort may be organized to pack
Grand Jury. The baseness of the Judge has
not been unobserved, nor will it pass without
notice. A petition will be presented to the
President praying for his removal on the
ground of corruption and inlbecility in office,
and their is not single attorney of respecta-
bility in the Territory who will not sign it.
When this man came to the Territory the
people looked upon him with hope and conf
dcnce but ever since he sold extra judi
cial opinion for an interest in the proposed To-
cation for the Capital, public opinion has has.
tily changed toward him. Since his encoar-
agement of the ruflans OF this nelghborhood,
by showing disposition to frown down all
charges brought against them, the citizens of
the town have found it necessary to appoint
special police, and the greater part of the ci-
tizens are obligei to carry arms to defend
themselves from outrage.
F.S. The night after the Court adjourned,
Hughes, the captain of the ru.tisns who mobbed
Mr.. Phillips, with gun prowling
al ound the house of Mr.. p, from midnight un
4
b,nd OF lawIess Aissourians concealed in
the bush near the town. awaiting opportu-
nifty to attack our citizens aud destroy the prin-
ting press of The Terriiorial Register. Three
hundred well-armed citizens are prepared to
recci, G them, and sentinels are posted in every
part Of the town With signals for general rsl-
ly.