Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-04-20

~ Philadelphus Van Trump OF
Lancaster Ohio, one of the most no
tor.ous Copperheads of the State,
has placed himself on the record as
a great scamp, and should be made
to come down from the bench
of the Court he has so much dis
graced. He is fair specimen of
that class of Copperhead politicians
who prefer their party to the safety
of the Government, and who would
sacrifice every principle of justice,
of law and order to screen from
punishment a notorious murderer,
who might happen to belong to his
political creed. 1t is high time the
Judiciary of the State, should be
cleaned of all such political knaves.
Read the following in proof of his
knavery;
- CHARGES AGAINST A JUDGE.
Mr.. Stevenson presented the fol.
lowing memorial:
To the General Assembly Of the State
of Ohio:
Your memorialist, Charles Miller,
of the County of Fairfield, and State
of Ohio, respectfully represents and
complains that Philadelphus Van
Trump, Judge of the Court of Com
mon Pleas Of the Seventh Judicial
District, has been guilty Of such
conduct as renders him unfit to re-
tain his position as a judge, in this
that on the Goth day of February,
1864, one John See, of Fairfield
county, murdered two soldiers in the
city of Lancaster, Ohio; that one
Samuel Lautz, was charged with be-
ing an alder and abettor in the COM
of said offense, and fed, as
fugitive, from justice, and was con
cealed from the officers of the law in
the city of Columbus, Ohio, for the
period of several days; that said
Judge Van Trump was cognizant of
the fact that said Lautz was a fugi-
tive from justice, and was with him,
when concealed, as his counselor and
advisor, and interested himself in
seid fugitive, and pre-
venting his apprehension; that your
was invited by said
Judge, together with one Simonton,
Of Columbus, Ohio, to visit said fugi-
tive, Lautz, in his toom, where he
remained concealed, in Columbus,
and where your memorialist heard
said Judge advise said fugitive, and
counsel with him as to the proba-
bility of his being convicted of the
offense charged, and give his opin-
ion as to his guilt; and. also, heard
the said Judge Van Trump say, in
the room where said fugitive was
that, elf we had our coun.
ty few more like John See, 1.-THE
the Abolihonists' reign
woold soon be over in Lancaster"
that John See is under Indictment,
in the Fairfield Court of Common
Pleas, for the murder of said soldiers,
and that said Judge Van Trump was,
at the time of the commission of said
ofense, presiding, and now presides,
over SAID Court, and will he the
Judge, to try said case, unless re-
moved from his Office; that, in his
decisions for continuance, and pre-
motions in said case, the
said Judge has manifested the same
partiality and feeling indicated in
his remark heretofore quoted. Your
memorialist, therefore, makes this
complaint, and prays that the Gene
raj Assembly will take such action.
under the Constitution of the State,
as will occasion the removal Of said
Judge Van Trump from his judicial
Office, in order that justice may be
fully done in the above case. and In
others of similar nature, pending in
said Court, over which said Judge
now presides.
(Signed) CHAS. MILLER.
After some discussion as to the
nature of proceedings demanded 10
response to the above memorial, 1t
was referred TO select committee
ofthree, consisting Of Messrs. Steven
son, West and Lang, and the Ser