New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-28
SHODDY JUSTICE.

We observe that one or two highly respect
able papers, whose continued hostility to the
retention Of such man rs Collector Murphy
in any Government Office is outspoken and
weighty, feel themselves bound to indulge in
sort of shoddy justice by withdrawing any
objection on the score of his shoddy transac-
tions with the Government, because, as they
say, the Commission which investigated them
did not find evidence enough to convict.
But this is precisely what has been known
from the beginning. We explicitly stated that
the case before the Commission fell through
and we published card from one OF the
Commissioners which said
The testimony was very conflicting, but the prepon-
derance seeMed be in favor Of the defense and we
accordingly 80 reported TO the Secretary Of War We
were I'm no sense court had any OF the attributes
Of O military civil tribunal.
But the Commissioner added these significant
words
Whether the standard samples produced before us
had been changed whether any witnesses on either
side had been suborned whether any one who should
have come forward were absent we did not know, nor
could we Nor the question Of the honesty OF aH OF
Murphy & Griswold's dealings with the Government
considered by us at all.
No charge was made before the Commission
on these points, because there was then no
evidence for it, The charge is now made because
hereisevidence forit. Among others, ex- Marshal
Murray, over his own signature, has told
part of the damning story. Mr. Murray has
not been a Republican of our school, or to our
liking, but he was long prominent man In
the Seward Weed wing, while Mr.. Murphy was
one of its humblest servitors; he has been MIR.
Muphy's intimate friend and patron; he Is
man of far greater capacity and standing, and
of equal responsibility. Yet here is what Mr.
Murray said the other day, in our columns,
over his own signature:
Imade grave and serious charges against Thomas Muir
ply involving his moral honesty and his political stand
ing and integrity The charges implcate him In acts
which amount to crime against the law and outrage
against humanity. II they were not true, have been
guilty Of crime in making them, and am amenable to
the laws of the land. II Mr. Murphy has the courage
10 bring me into court OF justice-that may have
an opportunity Of proving the truth Oh those
charges 10y legal evidence-we both shall have 10
submit the question to jury Of twelve mon. have
not the slightest hesitation in submitting myself to that
ordeal and Will facilitate the tardy operation of the law,
By giving written stipulation to waive the usual days
in which answer, and will my answer upon him
hours after the service OF his complaint upon me,
will DO ready to proceed to trial on three days notice
after joined Or he prefers to proceed against
me crimnay, will give like stipulation to waive the
usual preliminary examination before magistrate, and
give required ball. In order that the case may go be-
fore Grand Jury Immediately and will be ready TO
proceed trial three days notice after the indic
ment Is filed.
We have heard at none of our courts of any
effort by the aggrieved Collector to avail
himself of these liberal offers. Yet, if Mr..
Murphy is an innocent man, Mr.. Murray is a
criminal who ought to be on BlackwelPs
Island, and the trial that should send him
there can be fairly begun in forty-eight hours.
Does any sane man have any doubts as to
why it is MT r