, 1869-01-29
portland Correspondence.
PoRrLArD. Japuary %.


l. PoRrLAsD, January 20, 1869.
FR1EsD NEWELL III have spent some time in
walking about over this little Metropolis Of Ore
gon, and if the erection Of fne buildings is evi,
dence Of the prosperity of city, it can be said
with truth some Of the merchants and bankers
here shave fast accumulated even If they
may soon decay" There is not. perhaps. anOth.
er city on the Pacific coast of the same age,
where so many fortunes have been made within
so few years, as there has been in Portland,
Oregon. 10 this little city there is to be found
more than dozen Of men, who are worth from
two hundred and fifty thousand to a half mill
lion Of dollars each, while there is few men
here, reported to be worth a much larger sum,
all of which has been made here within the last
ten or twelve years.
LADD's NEW BANK.
In this city is to be seen some of the finest
buildings on the Pacific coast; one 10 particu-
lar, Mr.. W. s. Ladd's New Bank, at the corner
of First and Stark streets, which has cost, with
the lot, $4,000 10 gold. There is but few, If
any, finer buildings on Broadway, New York, or
Chestnut street, Philadelphia. than "Ladd's
Bank" now being finished. 1t is an ornament
to the city that has already many fine buildings,
and will stand as a monument of the industry
and prosperity of its founder, when we shall have
passed away, and the Keys to its strong vaults
are held by his sons.
CONVICTION OF RANDALL.
The much talked of trial of x-Postmaster, E.
G. mot A. ". Randall, which has occupied the
attention of many persons here, as well as
throughout Oregon, (particularly the postmas,
ters,) has at last been brought to a close in the
U, s. District Court before Judge Dsady. Mr..
Randall was indicted at the November term of
the Court on the charge of breaking open
registered letter, containing gold dust, and steal
ing its contents. At the first trial the jury diss
agreed new jury was sumoned be was tried
a second time, when some of the ablest lawyers
in the State were engaged, both for the prosecu.
ton and defence-Judge Strong for the defeud>
ant, aud Logan for the United States. He was
ably defended, but far more ably prosecuted, for
every one admits that Logan made lthe ablest
speech every delivered at an Oeegon bar The
result was that Randall was convicted of a grave
characterization of his oath of Office, and steal
from the U. S. mails. His attorney, during the
trial, took exceptions to the ruling of the Court
in relation to the exclusion of some immaterial
evidence and acceptance of one of the jurors,
and made motion for new trial, which was
ably argued BY Judge Strong. The Court took
the matter under advisemept for a week TIE
23d Of this month was set for the fual disposition
of the case. At an early hour the court room
was filled, all anxious to know the fate Of R4u>
dali. AT the appointed hour the Court was
opened, and Judge Deadly read carefully pre-
pared resume of the evidence, and gave bis opin.
ion in clear distinct manner supported by
several decisions of the United States Courts IN
similar cases. Randall was asked by the Court
it be had anything to say before sentence was
pronounced upon hlm, whereupon be arose and
said IT few words lie denied his guilt, tut trus.
ted that the guilty parties would yet get Justice
The Judge then passed sentence upon him
twelve yeaLs at hard labor 10 the penuentiary.
The opinion of the Court was given 10 a clear,
calm, comprehensive and impartial manner.
which must have carried conviction to the miu d
of every one present. that E. G. Randall was
guiltv OF the crime charged in the indictment
Thus closed the trial of a man who has bad
political rewards far beyond his merit and has
been favored with position 10 the select circles
OF Portland society. 1t is expected by many that
Senators Williams and Corbett will use their
senatorial influence with the President, TO obtain
a pardon for Randall Many persons are waiting
TO see what influence those Senators will have
with President that they labored hAId to con.
vict (but faIled) of "high crimes and misde.
meanors." K