The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-16

would issue no patent that was not of pub
lie value.
The laws upon the punishment of officers
for bribery and corruption was next read,
and it was decided that the specific offence
must be charged under these laws.
In regard to the rights of officers, man
had a right to carry on business outside of
his office, and, abstractly speaking, right
to receive present from his friends.
When the propriety Of receiving presents
was questioned, it must be acknowledged
undoubtedly improper for public officer
to receive presents except under extra
ordinary circumstances. He had fire.
quently been offered compensation by his
friends while occupying public Office, but
he had always held it as a strict rule not
to receive a reward from any one. SO that
in this case Colonel James had an unques-
tionable right to sell the product Of his
brain, and there was no limit as to where
he could exercise his right. Yet, in his
strict sense of propriety, he had declared
his unwillingness to sell it in the district
over which his jurisdiction extended.
The principle in law allowing the intro
duction Of evidence of good character to
be introduced where the jury was in doubt
was next explained.
AS to the Indictment, he did not agree
with the defence that it was not good in
form, though its legality in this respect by
no means obviated the necessity of proving
everything charged in it.
He trusted the jury would consider the
matter with due care. The propriety of
questioning the character Of the accused
could only arise where doubt existed as
to guilt or innocence. Evidently the
81 900 had been paid for specific purpose.
There was no contract, it was true, but
this was not necessary. Mr.. James had
acted in manner highly proper in refusing
to receive the money when first offered
him, and he honored him highly for waiting
until he found that the purpose for sending
it was wrong. One-half the men in his
position would have preferred to keep the
money, and return it afterwards, rather
than refuse it at once.
He next spoke Of the inventors Of
patents as the most useful class of society.
He respected them more highly than any
class, not. even excepting clergymen and
lawyers. He had known Elias Howe, the
sewing man, and several others,
and they were as simple minded as chill
dren, and always Of upright and pure
character. In their child-like simplicity
of manner and unswcrving purity Of pur-
pose they seemed to carry out the idea
set forth in Scripture that to be true
Christians we must become children; for
of such was the Kingdom of Heaven.
He admitted the instructions prayed for
by the defence, and had attempted to
embrace them in his charge. He asked
the counsel to inform him if he had
omitted any portion of them. "Gentle-
men Of the jury" said he, in conclusion,
/" The case is with you. IF YOU are not
ready to give your verdict where you are,
you may retire. We will wait for you"
The jury, after a few moments absence,
returned with verdict Of "not guilty,
according to the charge in the indicu-
ment."
Colonel James was therefore discharged
amid the rcjoicings Of several Of the
members of his family who were present,
and the congratulations Of his friends.
The court then adjourned until this
morning.