The Nevada Democrat., 1859-08-10
The Rrihnrx charrs. .

| Vne Bribery Charges
In the Sacramento Union, of Monday, we find
long card from Mr.. Il. o. Beatty, in regard
to the charge that bas been made against Mr..
Latham, Of having attempted to bribe the mem
bers of the Supreme Court. In Latham's own
defense against this charge, it was admitted
that Judge Murray did at one time entertain
the opinion that Latham had attempted to
bribe the Court, but the letter OF Judge Hey
denfeldt was designed to prove that Judge Mur-
ray had subsequently become satisfied that the
charge was unfounded. But other evidence
goes to show that Murray never did up to the
time of his death change bis opinion as TO La
tham's guilt, although be may have become
satisfied that the charge could not be substanti-
ated, for the reason that Beard through whom
the proposition was made, was a pdrticsps crimi-
MS. and could not be forced to testify. That
Latham, through Beard. made proposition to
Murray which the latter regarded as bribe
offered, scarcely admits of a doubt.
In the card Of Mr.. Beatty is embodied state
ment of Judge Terry, which gives the most def
mite Information upon the subject that has yet
been published
JUDGE TERRY's STATEMENT.
l came to Sacramento to be sworn in about the
18th day of November, 1855. Either upon that day
or within few days thereafter Judges Heydenfeldt
and Murray consulted me about the legality end
propriety of expeng Mr.. Latham from the Bar.
Both of these gentlemen being present, of them
(I think Judge Heydenfeldt was principal spokes-
mani stated that Mr.. Latham had got into con-
versation with Mr.. Beard, made some Inquiries about
Boards friendship with the members Of the Court,
etc.; then spoke OF the of Davidson vs. Gorham
told Beard that the authorities were about equally
divided the case might well be decided either way
without any violation of principle and that he would
be willing to pay $4,000 for favorable decision to
his client Beard reported this conversation to Muir
ray. Heydenfeldt called on Latham for an explana-
ton. Latham did not deny having offered the money
to Beard, but said it was offered-not to influence
the decision Of the Court but as an inducement to
Beard to procure an early decision and give him in
formation of the character of that decision in ad
vance of its being made public. Upon this statement
of Heydenfeldt the Judges were unanimously of the
opinion that eUen on LGthGns O,on statement he
deserved expulsion from the bar. But statute
had been passed in 1851 Judge 7. spoke Of it the
"Field Statute), attempting to restrain the Courts
in their power Of expulsion. The only question
among the Judges was as to how far the inherent
power of the Court to protect itself would enable
them them to go beyond the letter Of that Act.
1t was further stated in the same conversation,
that the Court had not acted the matter when
Beard first reported the conversation between him
and Latham to Murray because it was thought ad-
visable not to agitate the question pending the fall
election, but wait until the newly elected Judge
should come upon the Bench.
Judge Terry further stated, that up to the day of
Judge Murrays death--intimate as he was with him
he never heard Judge Murray retract the charge
against Latham or express any doubt Of his guilt.
The following quotation from Mr.. Latham's
Nevada speech, as corrected by himself, in one
important point at least, is positively contra
dicted by the statement Of Judge Terry:
81 am satisfied, however, not from personal know
ledge derived from Murray but from the statements
of others, that there was time in Judge Murray's
life, in the summer of 55, when this offense is al
legged to have occurred, that Judge Murray did be-
lieve that not through him, but through Joseph r.
Beard, Clerk of the Supreme Court, intended to
make improper approach to him. But was
never told of his belief by Murray; and also say
that, besides an inuendo that was thrown out by
anonymous scribber in the Sacramento Union, in
the Senatorial contest of 81 that never dreamed
that Judge Murray continued to entertain after '55
such ideas relative to myself l state to you, fur
ther that when the press states that Judge Murray,
Judge Heydenfeldt, or any other officer upon the
Bench ever intimated to me that my presence there
was dsagreeable to them, they state another most
infamous falsehood. No such intmation ever
given to me by anybody"
Here Latham says that neither Murray
nor Heydenfeldt ever intmsted to him that
such charge existed, but it appears from
the statement of Judge Terry, that Judge
Heydenfeldt did call on Latham fer an expla'
nation, and that according 10 LAtbam's own
version of the matter the three Judges were
unanimously Of the opinion that he deserved
expulsion from the bar. Latham is also Hatly
contradicted by number of his friends who
have published cards in order to clear him of
the charge.