The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-29
Even.hnnded Justice.


scales, who dealt evenly with all. 1t may
have been that in the days when Cicero prac
tised law the analogy was apparent, but GER
tain It is that the scales at present must be
nicely balanced with gold in order that the
same exertions should be made by certain
lawyers for client. The trial OF the man
Twitchell is the best evidence Of how money
can secure defense which poverty could not
attempt. We feel no hesitation in speaking
frankly of this case, as there is no danger of
anything we may say influencing in the least
the final result. The twelve men on whom
the decision of the question depends are
closely looked up and guarded from the sight
of any newspaper, and their judgment
or their prejudice cannot be changed by any
word OF ours. The defense has been despe-
rate one. No pettifogging motion, no objec'
tion, technical or material, no effort to bias
the jury's mind, has been spared by the pri-
soner's counsel. Those who have read the
trial cannot fail to note that an entirely differ
ent object has been had in view than the
securing of true statement OF the guilt or
innocence of the prisoner. That seems to
have been lost sight of by the defendants
counsel. They have sought to clear their
client by fair means or through the conceal
ment of truth. Instead Of acting as though
they we're convinced of the innocence Of their
client, they have betrayed constant desire to
cover up circumstances, and not to give the
whole truth to the conrt. Now, if the theory
be correct that the object of lawyer is to
succeed, and that he owes no duty to the
court or the community, then is
he justified in resorting to every artidCs to
cheat justice of her due, provided he receives
a sufficiently large fee. But We cannot believe
that such is the real attitude which the mem
Der of the bar should bear to the court. He
is its sworn officer. He takes an oath to do
what To merely be faithful to his client
No. To be faithful to both the court and his
client. And further, "Not to delay the ends
of justice for lucre or malice" Is it in con-
formity with that oath that he resorts to
every means to secure delay, to exclude
facts, and to prejudice the juryP We think
not; and believe that, whatever may be
the opinion of some, the great mass oflawyers
unite in holding that the ends of justice ara
the first which call him, as a sworn officer OF
the law, to seek to find. Yet, with all the re-
sorts to desperate efforts, the defense OF
Twitchell has not succeeded in breaking the
fearful link of circumstantial evidsnce
with which he is surrounded. 1t
stands there, each link trihs,
but all united in a chain which Her
oules could not free himself from with all his
stra,otb Whotauar douht NAV haua haa,
felt over the question Of guilt or innocence of
the accused, 1t received a destructive shock in
the testimony Of DR.. Lewis. The blood upon
the shirt, even had he been wearing it at ths
time he carried the body in, could not haze come
from contact toith the corpse. 1t was sprinkled
blood, which must have stained the linen
when it spurted out from some object. When
did so, and what was the object from which
came, and what caused it to come in that
manner, cause fearful inferences to be drawn.
Yet with all this, the defense seeks an &C
quittal by proving good character previous to
the murder. What does general reputation
amount to in contradiction to crime perpe-
trated? Did not DR.. Webster of Boston stand
irreproaohable in the eyes Of the world, and
did his character save him, or was he unjustly
treated No, against one such event out
ward appearances avail not straw's weight.
It has been argued that man cannot be
hung on circumstantial evidence. 1t is usual
thing in our Oyer and Terminer. 1t seems
to us, not many months since, with haste
admitting of no delay cripple and a fanatic
were led to the gallows for numbering two old
women. What was the character of the evil
dence on which Winnemore and Gottleib Will
liams were hungf Did any one see them do
the deedf Did any motive adequate to it ap-
pear AT the trialf Was the absence of motive
good defense No. One was hung for muir
dering weman who had always treated him
kindly, and by whose death he could only be
loser; the other for killing another old
woman to get possession of ts0O dollars. These
were all the motives assigned. No one saw
either do the deed. The door Of the house
was opened by Winnemore, and he was found
alone with the murdered woman. On that
evidence he was hung. Is there no similarity
between the two cssesf The door OF the
house corner of Tenth and Pine is opened by
Twitchell, and be found alone in the house
with his wife and the murdered woman. An
object In her death is plainly shown. The
possession Of $4,000 worth of property
Is the goal sought to be arrived at. Yet one
was hung through the exertions Of the very
counsel who now declares that oiroumstantia
evidence should not hang the other. We d.