The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-02-02
The Trial of Brown-Judge Murdo OK d.

We published, some weeks since, under the
first half Of the above clption, all article re-
hccting somewhat severely though respectfully
upon the conduct OF Judge Murdoch for the
exercise Of ill-timcd lcniency towards the
pirates and robbers who were taken here and
tried before lis court. That article was copied
by nary Of our exchanges; among others by
the Lansing Mirror. Judge Murdoch. in
letter to tic Ed. of the Mi ror, bearing date
Jan. IL, takes exception TO our statement and
in column of that paper dsspates, to the sat.
isfacton Of his friend Mr.. Chatterton and OF
himself at least, all our charges
On Grst reading the letter Of exculpation,
we thought to let it pass without reply. Our
personal relations with the Judge are of the
best character, and it is not in our heart to do
him an uukindness he has been retired from
the bench and probably in all his lite will never
be Judge n yain ; it might be as well to leave
our fiiend before the public in as good shape as
possible.
But, on the other hand, We profess to treat
men and parties fairly, to touch personal or
official character as rarely as possible and to
say nothing except what we can establish. and,
for the reputation of the Times As a reliable
Journal, we are compelled to notice the letter Of
our esteemed friend, Judge Murdoch.
The publication Of his letter and our own
comments would take up too much space. and
We therefore condense into paragraphs the facts
as stated by the Judge. leaving his pleadings
out. Of course:
lst Brown was indicted, plead guilty. begged
mercy, was sentenced for two years after
wards on an appeal from his wife and children
6 months were taken off. The Judge 'had no
right to know that he was McGregor Con-
stable, or how much money it had cost to catch
him - some Of "ihe best citizens of MEG re gor
| visited the Judges private residence before the
trial and begged light sentence on account OF
his iarnily-the very men too who had spent
their money freely to catch him were the visi.
| tors
81. Bell was 10 be sentenced for 5 years, the
full term, but before his sentence, Keys. an in
dispensable witness against him was indicted
| for another offence, and this fact caused the
Judge to take of one year.
Sd. Howell, a large porsly man, almost blind,
turned his sishtless balls up to the Judge and
received a sentence of 2 years and months
| 4'h. English George was not let off on
parole as the Times charges, but he had trial
before a jury and was found ''not guilty"
5lh Deuel. went for one year, but this shor,
time was given bccarse of the apr eals of the
best men in McGresor in behalf Of his wife and
children.
9Th Keys gave bail for $500 and left the
country. The amount Of theft charged against
him was only 500 and the bail was governed
accordingly. and if the hail is not responsible
the Editor Of the Times ought to have been gen
erous enough to tell his readers that McGrcg
or Justice took it, instead of leaving the infer
ence that I am responsible for the absence o
Keys"
The above are the points made by the Judg
the balance of his letter consists of allusion
to the horrors of Lynching,, appeals to the fe ell
ings Of his readers with an occasional reference
to the goodness Of his own heart and that O
/
that the Col. regrets having censured him, AM
winds up by saying that "the people of Nc
Gregor though wronged by gang of william.
and desiring. at one time, more punishment fo
them, now say generally that they are satisfied
Our comments on each roint must necessarily
be brief:
LIST. We insist that the Judge "Aad a right
to know that Brown was Constable" or lie
has no RICH, to the exercise of discretion as 70
A Judge has no right to receive visits at his
''p'ivate residence from the friends or the foes
Of prisoner who is to come before him for trial
this admission leads to the idea that the
Judge was in the habit Of trying the merits Of
cases at his "private residence and not upor
testimony in open conrt--an inference which
| is confrma tory Of the charge which his enemie
have heretofore made against him, but whic
we have on all suitable occasions condemne
as unwarranted by even the color of fact b,
if Juryman may have no private convers,
ton with any interested party to a suit durin
the tendency Of the trial, what right has Juds
= to hear parties at his private residence?
I The goods stolen by Brown of Mr.. Werd
/ Gan industrious, worthy. poor man, who all
had "a wife and dear little chldren') amount,
a to near $5O0-they were secreted for weel
, under the bed uron which this "heart-brokt
. wife, slept, and though the Judge may ha,
chad no right to know" this fact, yet as it douh
r less came to his private ear, it should ha,
n balanced his right to pity for the "sobs a,
tears after detection overlook them.
e I'd. Bell, we are informed by men who
r official duty about the court enabled them
a know the fact, was not convicted on the test
t mony Of keys-on the contrary, hrs testimo,
was damaging to the State. Nor was Ke
I indicted until after Bell was sentenccd-his ca
q may have been before the Grand Jury, but Il
Judge had "no right to know it /"
i Sd. Howell, though partly blind. could see
steal goods all winter he was cunning al
4 hypocritical and affected almost total blindne,
Dept Sheriff Tultle, who has just returned fro
Fort Madison, tells us that he is as well
ever. His sentence, however, was heavy co
sidering the sympathy which his sigh,ltss bal
awakened; but probably no one visited u
u private residence of the Judge in his behalf
18th. English George, we now learn, 70
''tried by Jury" but the charge Of the cou
was such that no man could regard it and co
y vict him. While the Jury was out, and stan
: ing for conviction to 5against, father ins,ru
tions OF lenient character were received AZ
. when the Jury came in with their verdict IL
Court had the indelicacy to anticipate the
. finding and to approve in advance, the wisdo
: of q decision which they were instructed
q reach
5th Deuels case was probably not pery b:
. he is believed to have been more fool ,hs
rogue, and but few regret The lightness of i