The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-27
TEE TURNER CASE IN MACON, GA.
Cnrioas LEGAL observation-disclosures ed Of the
Accused.

Curious LEGAL observation-disclosures ea Of the
Accused.
From the Macon Ga.l Telegraph jnly 1871
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION BEFORE UNITED STATES
CUNNISSIONER MORRILL,.
United states rs. N. NJ. T,ane,'-Charged with
having 10 his possession and attempting TO pass
large quantities OF counterfeit national bank cur
rency OF the United States. The United States Com
nlsseners Court met yesterday morning ut ten
O'Clock, pursuant TO adjournment and was called to
order and silence commanded by United states
Deputy Marshal james Cox.
The United States Commissioner, W. G. Morrill,
then read the following document
OPINION OF THE COURT
Upon careful examination OF the record and the
law rs applicable TO the before the Court, IL
appears the evidence Is not sufficient In the opinion
Of The Court TO authorize the binding over the party
accused.
The anldavt and warrant charge the accused
with two distinct crliues:-
Wnb auempngto pass in January last, counterei,
q With completely with Marian Harris in circulating
spurious money.
In the opinion Of the Court the manner in which
the accused obtained the 800 note is satisfactorily
accounted Tor, and his subsequent action in the
matter Is entirely consistent with the theory OF Inn0
Cence.
With regard to The secono charge, Marian Harris,
In her confession, explicitly denies that the accused
had any knowledge whatever OF the spurious money
her possession, aud the testimony Of Mr.. Cowan,
government officer shows that the facts in posses.
sion Of the government corroborate the statement
OF Marian Harris, by which the guilt is thrown on
other parties.
IL Il therefore ordered that the prisoner, H. Nj.
Turner, be discharged from arrest and his bondsmen
released.
The Marshal win adjourn this court sine die
The Marshal had no sooner obeyed the instruc-
ton OF the Court than the large crowd OF negroes
who were present shook the building throughout
WIN theI applause
Opinion Of the Georgia Press ON the Acquittal
OF Turner.
From the Macon iGa.) Telegraph. July 23l
The examination of Turner, the coored postmaster
Of Macon, has ended in his discharge, there be-
Ing in the judgment OF the United States Commits
soner, good ground for binding him over Tor trial
for the offence OF connterlelting. When the exam
nation was first closed. on Saturday night we are
mior n, mat the Commissioner had prepared pa
states Court In the sum OF 1000; but the produc
ton OF new testimony, on Tuesday, satisfied that
gentleman that there was no sufficient ground upon
which TO base prosecution. 1t Is probable that
the unusual course OF procedure In reopenng
the examination, after IL had been once
formally closed, NAV give rise accusations Affect
ing the Integrity OF the court but our Information
upon the whole subject matter leads us TO believe
that oil such charges and suspicious are unfonnded
AUD that, In point OF fact, Turner ls actually npo-
cef.s OF the crime OF passing counterfeit money
wing IL TO be such or OF any completely with tie
woman tltarrisl IN these fraudulent transactions
We say this the more cheerfuy because IL will make
no kind OF difference In regard TO the retention OF
turner IN the Macon Post Office. That most desira
bic result OF this explosion has been certainly
reached, that Turner is compelled to he dismissed
from the Post ONCE not for counterfetIng, ont for
even perhaps worse moral crimes for IA man in his
position. The General Post ONCE Department in
Washington has, or will have, in q few hours, sach
evidence OF bldeous moran delinquency on the part
of turner IN Its possession that II cannot retain him
II II w0uldj 1t dare not retain him, unless II dare
make itself the scof Of the whole country.
From the Augusta lGa) Chronicle, July "a
The United States Commissioner has released
Turner. This to be expected after the action al
Atlanta. We should like to have Judge ErskiDe e
opinion OF the matter, as he present at the first
examination OF fnrner at Atlanta, when Turner first
appeared before the United States authorities
''subpGnaed" az prisoner wel-autlenticAted
TuInor attributes turner's release 10 Instructions
rom Washington, Chased on policy We should
IKE 10 know what policy If meanty II Turner
has promised to disclose all about these counterfeit
notes 1t Is well enough TO relea.e hun as witness
for the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES evidence We have
always believed that he was but the tool of others
who were the real criminals that should he brought
10 justice. But II ihe policy he to save the black
wing OF the radical party 10 Georgia why it is On,
another fraud upon the people OF the slate and
country. DQuLIless Iuruer viii rDsiuru