The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-02-27
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

The STANToN-THoNAs IMBRoGLIo-GKNERAL
THOMAS BEvonv JuDoE CARrrER.-A very large
| ro.vd assembled at the Criminal Courtroom
yester tsy, nling all the valuable space outside
the bar within the bar was not crowded, As no
one was adm tilted there except attorneys
At 10 O'Clock Gen. Lorenzo Thomas took his
| seat at the bar Of the court. His counsel,
Messrs. r. T. Merrtck, Of this city, and Walter
| s. Cox, of Georgetown, A. well a. Jos. II. Brad
| lev, esq, occupied seats beside him.
An hour WAS occupied In calling up and sen.
ssim ns% sSS hs
Hon. 4. R. Riddle and Matthew II. Carpenter,
| Of Wisconsin, appeared for the Government.
penter to the bar OF this court, but the Court
thought he could actin this case without formal
Mr.. Carpenter, said that owing to cirsum:
kstances-to his health and to the necessity OF
was compelled to ask that the case be postponed
|suntI 10 O'Clock tomorrow.
Mr. Merrick was reluctant to object TO ason-
| tinuanee, especially where ~ ground was tbs
state Of counsers health, but the defence wished
on With the sd ths 6sssi ssss
able 70 go, and then adjourn until tomorrow. j.
The Court said that ordinarily the infrmity Of
| professional gent Is sufiicient cause Tor
The continuance OF a case. The defence had not
Informed the court for any pressing need of pro-
Mr.. Merrick had supposed that the Importance
of the case as matter OF public concern would
nave spared him the necessity OF mentioning ~
| as a reason for the speedy action OF the court
'f Mr.. Carpenter said, In reply, awe will put in
our case intwo hours, and eestainly the public
service will not languish much In that time"
The Court was about to postpone the case,
Mr.. Merrick said: / would ask that the case
he removed from your Honor sitting In Chambers
to your Honor holding the Urimiasi Court. From
conversation learn that such couvse Will be
agreeable to the gentlemen on the other side.
Mr. Riddle said no reason had been given for
a. last into the CriSinsi Court, and The action
suggested would be anticipstive OF the ordinary
Mr.. MerricE. II the Court pIeases--.
case now as at any time. The process In this
e esSmi natioa Of the ease, II might as We'll have
been issued by the Court as by magistrate, u
the .oa ssd The Seea
the parties nor the character OF the case. Built
nS. sTtS TO his into %" the
Mr. Coz suggested a doubt, whether, while the
Criminal Govt wa. in session, the case could be
The Chief Justice ssIe The sugge;stion seemed
eommitted-a court sitting apart from Its grand
jury. Such Inquiries were to be r made ~ the
n.y IL by mSd a. new
and It was said to ts ruled not that the transfer
,ioaH take place but that 4 may take Place zee
Gca.t isss n.StSins Va. 70 b s slRYs$b ~ the
Mr.. Merfiss then said Den. Thomas, who has
s to Load %
c%ias Court VIZ a. m.
yy Of Var f 10 XII the Snt IKE M
There was no personal feeling in reg ,rd to Gen.
TeS Tsomas impssoneS or u to subject him t to
amy Inconvenience. He certainly ssQli not make
hamssli prisonsnT until some body asked bin to
NJ e.f said that Gen. Thomas had been sur
re >desed BY his bail, and was In custody Ger
IAN M, Gsrpenter said that the baiI-bond did not
bind the 6ondsPen 70 return Gen. Thomas to
me Th ma uass said that the Ta bond of General
Thomas had bean returnedj tbst bond was
. %aSsS aeu ~ ThoS s sat1sy oSsa
the marshal. But this subject dig no come be-
fore The prsssnt tribunal - ~. n pc fe n
'h m nao Merries observed that the Court must
5s.. Court thought that, as the opinion Of the
,,anrt a. - the character Of Gen. Thomas con.
cured with oxp se.ss SltsSSt sny reeoEni
ppsnnn ,nba, sU aen' Thomas was arrested
BY order OF the Court, it ", 'u'a oe on P'o'''1'
l6gs to be taken hereafter. mas be dis.
NJ CpA mDbeu INV oeheiui Ahs'
chsf9ed. ~ie
MI Carpenter asked pardon for the simp:
suggestion that an arrest was merely remedy
to enable The Court to exercise its Jurisdiction.
There was not need In this case for the exercise
OF such remedyj nobody desired to hold General
Thomas, or supposed that he was going to run
away. II an arrest was n mere matter OF pre-
caution to use II when no preca ution was needed,
II was an act oioppression, and the Courtw not
The Court said he had concluded to grant the
motion to discharge Gen. Thomas. TWAS stated
by the prosecution that Gen. Thomas did not
seek to evade tho process OF the law-that he 10
here now, and VIII be ready to respond to the
law wheneyer called upon. There was no need
OF haste. 1t would be butsfour days before the
grand jury Of this District would meet to In
quire into all offences committed here Under
these Circumstances, his duty as an examining
magistrate was clear " waste let the case take
the ordinary course An examining tribunal
guise from itself that the matter brought Into
Controversy by the case was undergoing an ordeal
before the highest tribunal, and felt that while
that ordeal was in progress and a grand Jury
about to assemble, Its duty was to discharge Gen.
Thomas, and thereupon Gen Thomas was set at
liberty.