Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-10-31
Trial of Mayor Hall.

The closing scenes of the trial of
Mayor Hall, in the Oyer and Terminer,
for willful neglect of duty, in not audi
ting the fraudulent claims against the
county, paid by the Comptroller, were
witnessed with intensified interest by
crowded Court. Not a few were at
tracted to Court in consequence of
rumor that VIM. NJ. Tweed would be
put to the bar, and day for his trial
fixed At half-past ten o'clock VIM. M.
Tweed stepped into Court, followed by
his counsel, W. o. Bartlett, John Z.
Burrill and two or three personal friends.
The Boss seated himself at the table and
signed paper. He then hurried out,
looking considerably flushed. 1t appear
ed that the reason of Mr.. Tweed's abrupt
departure was a notification from the
District Attorney that his presence
would not be required to-day. The ubi-
quitous Count Johannes, George Wy
mers, Jobson and all the celebrities were
on hand to-day. There was scarcely
room inside the rail for the greater num-
Der of lawyers who attended. James
H. Ingersoll and John G.. Harrington,
jointly indicted, appeared in custody of
the Sheriff, and through Mr.. Root of
fered bail in $4,000 each. Judge Brady
consented, but said, under the circum-
stances, he could not fix day for their
trial.
Mr.. Stoughton then rose and addressed
the jury in very earnest and emphatic
tones in behalf of Mayor Hall. He said
as a citizen, he rejoiced that the cit
frauds were brought to light. He de-
MED that the case was trifling one, as
Mr.. Peckham termed it for, if the
Mayor was guilty of willfully aiding in
the plumber of four or five millions of
public money, he was the wickedest of
men. But Mayor Hall was utterly inca
bable of such wrong doing. For -
years he was district attorney; for two
years chief magistrate of this metropO-
lis. Nevertheless he was denounced by
partisan press, his family ate the bitter
bread of tears, he walked in the shadow
of death, but thank God. (here counsel
seemed to be entirely overcome by his
emotions), thank God, he saw these
twelve men enter the box and he hailed
them as his deliverers. Even the wit
nesses for the prosecution, men who sat
there, he knew not by what bargain,
proved no guilty knowledge in the de-
PENDANT One of them, who now walks
the streets unchallenged, and fearless of
punishment, acknowledged, while detail
ing his operations, that he did not think
the Mayor knew anything about his
plans and bargains.
After the whole testimony for the
prosecution had been heard, the Mayor
came into court and offered to submit
the case under His HOnor's charge, but
no. it should receive the gloss which his
learned and eloquent friend Peckham
| could give it. Yet, in reality, the in
Qictmcnt and all. the talk about mon
strous frauds dwindled down in Peck
hams hands to this that the defend
ants crime consisted in failing to meet
the Board of Audit, although he re-
fused to certify until a judgment was
obtained against the city, and on this
judgment certified there must be no
crime. He was amazed that political
hate, supplemented by personal hatred,
| could direct such prosecution against
any reputable citizen. The prosecution,
as the jury must have seen, substantially
abandoned the charge, yet the case was
not withdrawn He always understood
that the prosecuting officer stood be
tween the people and the accused,
ready, if the charge was not fully sus-
tanned. to abandon the case. At the
very utmost, if the Mayor was not guilty
of any offence in certifying himself,
without the presence of other members
of the Board, and in the midst OF his
multifarious duties, was it not a mere
technical offense of the very lightest
character, especially as no one breathes
a charge that he ever gained one dollar
of the money plundered from the city.
Mr.. StoughtOn continued at great
length contending that all things prov
ed the Mayor innocent, and the jury
must render verdict accordingly.