New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-08
FACE YOUR ACCUSERS.

WHY cannot q single whisky case be brought
to trialf A line or two in the morning papers,
the other day, announced still another postpone
ment of the Baisdell-E ckel case. Let us sec
how long this thing has been going on.
After delays innumerable and nexplicable,
the case was peremptorily set for hearing on
day fixed. When the day came, of course,
one of the defendants counsel was sick.
This time, the particular ailment was in a
very useful part of a whisly-ring lawyers
equipment his mouth. The gums were sore"
On the strength of this, one days delay was
granted. Next day, when the case was called,
the fertile counsel for the defense, having re-
covered the use of mouth, was able to argue
that the absence of two ENTHUSIASTICALLY i'm
portant, of course-in Europe, forbade any i'm
mediate trial The Judge thought,
perhaps, the facts could be elected without
these witnesses. Then the sore mouth
was tried again, but the selfish Judge did MT
seem to think that an objection at all to an
immediate trial. Then it was urged that papers Of
The first consequence had not yet been obtained
from Washington. The 0dously oblging Dis
trict-Attorney at once offered to telegraph for
them, and to use his official influence to secure
their prompt production. But brief delay
was secured. When next the case came up,
some of the defendants counsel were suffering
Gas they were enabled to state in person
to tho Court "intense physical agony"
The heartless Judge thought Counsel
were subject to such attacks; but still he ac-
corded another days delay. Then the counsel,
having by great good fortune recovered from
the intense physical agony just in time to
make the discovery announced that there was
a technical error in the writ summOning the
jurors, inasmuch as a different Judge attested
it from the one trying the case. The Court
pronounced this utterly trivial, but nevertheless
within the privilege of the defendants if they
chose to stoOp so low and grasp at such frlv-
olous pretexts for trifing delays.
On Tuesday last, then, after these protracted
and painful efforts on the part of the defend
ants counsel to secure fair trial by postpon-
ing all trial, they were once more brought to
the rack. Naturally, one of the counsel was
again sick, and of course the others could MT
think Of dong injustice 70 thor clients by
going on without him. And so the case goes
over again till next Tuesday. If, now.
the Government can summon board OF
slllful physicians to sit up with all and
singular, the defendants counsel, from this hour
until the opening of the Court next Tuesday,
there is bare chance that they may be forced
to seek some other technical ground for beg
ging the delay on which they seem to rest oil
their hopes of escape.
We have no wish to PREJUDICE this case,
Messrs. Blaisdell and Eckel may be perfectly
innocent; we hope they are. We only know
that somebody has been outrageously robbing
the Government in this City, and that they
stand accused of it before the Court. If
the accusation is wrongful, we sincerely
hope they may be able to prove it. But
gentlemen. people who shun investigation are
popularity supposed to have reasons for doing
so. Perpetual AMI palpable efforts to avoid
trial come to be taken rs in the nature of con-
fession of guilt. Unless you want the commu-
nifty TO adopt that view of your case, you must
stop your quibbling technicalties and face
yo;lr accuscTs