Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-10-22
LOCAL NEWS.

THE DowSEY CAsE-As there is some dl
versity of opinion respecting the cause oi th'
late removal of William B. Downey from Tx
Office Of Commonwealth Attorney for Lou
doun county, the following correct statement Is
published. He was charged with traudulently
altering an Indictment made by the grand jury
against George w. Ryan, aud after long and
thorough examination Of the case, Col. Lee,
late military commissioner OF this division,
made the annexed report, upon which the
order for removal was at once issued:
In reviewing the evidence in the case, and
| from my knowledge OF the man. nave no
no doubt that Mr.. Downey changed tins In
dctment against Mr.. Ryan after it had LETT the
grand Jury and been recorded in the records OF
| the court.
He has made so many statements about the
matter that his friends have lost all contden
il him. The prejudice against him IN Loudoun
county is very strong not so much on account
of his political course as his personal manner,
which is extremely dislgreeable. lie IS AFRO
CANT and ignorant. and has great love OF no.
toriety, and brought the difficulty upon him
self by his own action.
The court would have quashed the indct'
ment if Mr.. Downey had allowed the state
ment OF his counsel Judge Thomasl to stand,
but he withdrew it, still perssting that he
made the change before it went to the grand
Jury. The court ielt that the case must be
tried, and do not think that political prclu-
dice had anything to do with their decision. MIR.
Downey unfortunately is very unpopular IN his
own political party, and his Indictment action
the past two years has done much to inurc the
ID nd INV
ion is sustained by the best men OF the party
10 Loudouu.
Ii Mr.. Downey should DC tried by the Lou
DOM Comfy Court, | doubt not that he
would be convicted of the offence. and believing
that he made the change in said indictment
through ignorance, although the evidence Is
against the conclusion have drawn, and with
out any fraudulent intent, | would respectful
ly recommend that he be either removed from
Office or publicly reprlmanded by the Com
handing General.
could not get the testimony OF the three
magistrates who signed the enclosed paper, AZ
Mr.. Dowuey informed me that they were away.
He evidently did not wish them 70 give their
evidence in public. II they could have bene
fitted him he had several days notice to have
them summoned, and | wrote him to set the
day himself for Investigation, but he never an
swered my letter. l gave him several days
notice to have his witnesses summoned, also
notifying the clerk of the court TO summon
witnesses on the other side. | must confess
that my sympathies were with Mr.. Downey, |
and [ gave him every opportunity to clear |
himself OF the charge, but he had no defence |
to make, and his friends who were present |
asked me not to examine them, as they could |
not state anything to his advantage. gave
Mr.. Downey three days to make out written
defence, but it has not come to hand, A few |
weeks ago Mr.. Downey, at my request, wrote |
me letter explaining his case, which III
tended to have forwarded with his report but |
he asked me to allow him to take it to use in
making up his defence, and it has not been re
turned. His contrary statements and action
in the whole case have Disguised all those who
would like to be friendly to him.