Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-27

GENTLY significant
Row, in this article Prince ia presented as
doing nothing which prudent and courteous
man might not do. That is the light in which
he is presented by The Star, with A very hand
some netice OF his place of business. What did
he actually do? Mrs. Hume, about Christmas
time, went to his store, bought a pair of slip
pers; and, according 10 her belief, and tn OF
Mt. Hume's sister and another lady who accom-
panied her, paid for them two five dollar bills
not a ten dollar bIll-snd went away. Three
months afterwards, in March, Mr.. Prince
having no re ason, according 20 the evidence of
his wife, To charge this lady with passing a cOun-
tertelt bill, and having no confidence himself.
according TO the testimony of Bennett, that she
had done it-endeayOrs 10 collect that note from
her. We ueed not search far for his motives. II
was not conviction that the bill came from
her. have no doubt it was for just one reason.
and the facts respecting his conduct, which
have appeared at this trial. justify me in
imputing motive to him l think he did il be-
cause he thought he could collect il from Mr..
Hume's wife; that Mr.. Hume was a prosperous
man, and that he would not want TO see his wife
charged with anything OF the sort. And there
occurs to me at this moment another reason for
Princes cOnduCt-theTe may have been another
reason, and that i the excuse given by his wife
with tears in her ewes, that he had been drink
ing; that lie had been on a spree. And | would
rather give 20 him the benefit of having been
guilty of his conduct while lie drunk. He
endeavOrs 20 collect il. He dnally goes II a mag
istTates office, and Mr.. Plant saws he did il in \
manner that meant business. He wanted the
note collected, or further steps threatened.
anu ne O'lOWS up the constable out on the side
walk. as Behnctt says, telling him that the nDt-
must be collected, and Mrs Hume threatened
with arrest. That il the conduct OF Mr.. Prince
at III At stage of the case.
Well, it comes to Mr.. Huma's knowledge
tie goes 10 see Prince, but finds his wife, and
with tears in her eyes. and for the sake of Mr.
Hlme's friendship for her father, she asks him
10 take no notice OF the matter, and out of ths
Kindness of his heart Mr.. Hume drops il. Then
at the prOcuratiOn OF Prince around comes tn
constable again; again the threat OF arrest OF
- no tDE a a
Mr.. Hume pays the money to save annoy
ance- And then comes the subsequent conduct
of Mr.. Prince. will not go into the details Of
his domestic life. We asked nothing about il.
and il came out upon the withdrawal of an OBJ
lection by the other side. | do not even men
ton what that testimony was. ] close the veil
over that glimpse into his domestic life, AMI
into the character of the man, too. And d.
that not because 1 think he is entitled TO for
bearance at my hands, but because il is my
personal preference to say nothing on such
subject.
We have this mans (Prince) conduct drawn
here by himself and by the witnesses pursuant
TO sitting, which he has, by bringing this &C.
ton, furnished the public. And the Star to this
day has not published the unfavOrable aspects
IN which his character and conduct have been
presented. 1t might have done so, as a public
journal giving the proceedings of court. They
have let the veil fall over his conduct, and it
has only been presented to you, gentlemen of
the jury, in a judicial proceeding, and to the
portion OF the public who happen to come in
here.
leave these facts without further comment.
ought, however, TO allude 10 General Caring
toms Introduction of these parties to you. Mr.
Prince was introduced TO you as a merchant and
a mechanic. And he repeated the words mer-
chant and mechanic a dozen times. If you had
been twelve artists, gentlemen of the jury.
PTiHCe-T no Is a stamper of initials and flowers
upon ladies under gaTments-would have been
introduced TO you as an artist. But, because
most OF You are merchants or mechanics.
Prince is introduced As merchant and me
ChaIic. And again, our client was referred tn
over and over again overgroWn corpora
ton. You know As well as do the purpose of
such an Introduction.
He thought he could get some undue favor out
OF YOU for merchant and a mechanic.
But, gentlemen Of the jury, have no fear
that you viii be moved by that sort of argu-
ment It can be dignited by the name of ar
gumeLt. You are here engaged, under yOur
Oaths in the solemn duty OF administering JUS
tice between man and man; and the intrOluc-
ton TO you by the plaintitfs counsel of his client
as a merchant and mechanic, and Of our client
as an overgrOwn cOrpOratiOn-fOr the purpose
OF inducing you TO stretch conscience and show
to the plaintiff partiality-wil utterly fail Of it,
purpose. You know very well that there was
no other motive under the sun tor dwelling
on that over and over again. This man is pre-
senttd here in tie character of a model mer-
chant and mechanic. Now | want TO ask you II
he bears out the character very well? Those are
very honorable occupations, for which all OF US
feel great deal OF respect. But if a man lives
in a community for twenty-five years 1.-THE
period the plaintiff says he has resided
hcre,) living a life of sObriety, OF industry,
and OF honesty, avoiding contention, avoiding
false accusations avoiding speculative lawsuits
avoiding bringing bis cTedibility into disregard
avoiding many OF The practices mentioned in
The testimony IN this case-what Is the ont
growth of il all? IL it this little chapter in the
life OF model merchant and mechanic that
has been exhibited to you in this trial? No, is
an OutgrOwth OF q very different nature. A life
OF this kind for quarter OF century sends its
roots down far and deep; il grapples as with
hooks of steel, the affections and the confiiepccS
OF neighbors and friends, and 1t grows up in
simple strength and dignity, becoming an object
And little playful newspaper paragraph falIs
VI on such reputation just as harInlessly az tn
rattering of a single rain-drop upon the gIet
branches Of a sturdy oak. Now, what kind of q
model merchant and mechanic is this Prince.
You have little chapter OF his life before you,
l make no further comment on it.
Then my clients have been represented a.
sitting imperially in their editorial chairs, ami
have been denounced as an arrogant p0ra-
ton. You heard the stentOrian tone in which
the terms were used, and know how their AFRO
gsrce in the editorial chair was dwelt upon by
General Darlington. Gentlemen, you know the
editors and managers OF the Star. You know
Mr. Collins and Mr. Noyes, and Mr.. Kaufman,
sc. L do not think they are specially ar
rogant. / think that in or out OF their editorial
chairs their modesty is just as great as that OF
General Darlington; and that is great COM
pliment, because you all know with what diff
dence he hides his light under bushel. AMI
gance of this corporation.
And We have been charged with the enormity
OF insulting the dead. Gen. Darlington is here
representing Mr.. Prince, and not Mr.. Charles
Wallach, and do not know that Mr.. Wallachs
personal friends or relatives would feel under
any Obligations to Gen. Darlington for dragging
Mr.. Wallach's name into his argument. Mr..
Walach did not see tit to bring the case to trial.
The thing rested for over year, and do not.
for my part, believe that il MIR. Wallach had
lived he would ever have brought it to trial.
But the only mention Of Mr.. wallach has been
by Prince. Ii the ashes OF the dead have been
disturbed by any hand, it is by the hand o.
Prince.
Gen. Darlington, too, says that he has been
insulted, in that he has been charged with
urging before you a speculative lawsuit. We
have not made that charge. Here again, if Mr..
Carringtcn's name and fame, which are both
eminent, have been blown upon, the breath thai
has blown upon them is that OF his client. The
only testimony respecting Mr. Darlington adj
duced at this trial is the statement OF Prince
the plaintiff to Prince the pawnbroker.
think you believe that statement was
made. Prince, the stamper, may have told
the truth about his counsel, and may not
| DO not care for the purposes of this
vii, Their he has not. Bnt il Mr. Darlington
wants TO wreak vengeance on the man who has
slandered him, his clients tongue is the tongue
that has done it, if he ods slapdered. There Is a
another thing about this speculative lawsuits