New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-24
CONTPvpTS and LIBELS.


T,hus far the attempt of the Brooklyn Ring
70 revenge itself upon a subordinate OF The
TpIruNE for the attacks of this paper has not
been successful. Some of the politlcai man
ayers whose rascalities we have exposed anu
whose alliance with plunderlng Otlcials we
have denounced in the plainest language
have boosted with perfect openness OF their
intention not only to damage The TRIBUNE,
but TO innct personal punishment upon one
of our attaches whom they suspected OF VIII
ing the articles that hurt them most severely
Whether Judge McCue was instlgated TO COM
plain to the Grand Jury in order that an OPP
nortunity for the desired vengeance might
thereby be created of course we do not know
but the Ring was prompt to take advantage
of the chance which his complaint Afforded
them. His case was presented to the last
Grand Jury; the same witnesses were
called that were summoned the O'hel
dav; the same questions were ASKED
tbe same refusal to disclose professional
condolences was given; and the jury failed TO
find bill. Judge McCue represents that ne
has now no further interest in the case
Nevertheless it was brought again before the
Grand Jury this week, and District Attorney
Britton, whose animosity in the prosecution
has been as vigorous as it might have been
expected to be, considering the number of un-
palatable truths THE TRIBUNE has told about
him, was ready with commitment papers pre-
viously drawn up to imprisOn Mr.. Shanls as
soon as he had been entrapped into an appa-
rent or technical contempt of court. On those
papeIs, without being allowed to see his
counsel, Mr. Shanks was hastily sent to Ray
mond Street Jail. Yesterday writ of habeas
corpus brought him before Judge Fancher,
and it appeared that the commitment was
void on its face, and the order of Judge Gil
bert was entirely unauthorized mere judicial
usurpation.
The complaint of Judge McCue, if the
Grand Jury see fit TO entertain it, we shall
know how to meet in proper season, for we have
made no random accusations, and we have
counted the cost of our words But mean
while the outrage upon personal liberty and
professional rights of which Mr.. Shanks was
made the victim on Wednesday shall not be
overlooked. There was no desire on the part
of District-Attomey Bntton to obtain Mr..
Shankss testimony as TO the authorship OF
articles in this paper Mr.. Brltton would
have been greatly disappointed if his
improper and impertinent questions had
been answered. The responsibility for
charges which we have made on our own
authority rests not upon the individual who
may have written them out for the printer,
nor upon the journeyman who puts them into
type, and nobody knows that better than the
members of the disgraced and defeated Brook
Ign Ring. If any man has been slandered by
The TRIBUNE his remedy is plain. THE
TRIBUNE is something more than a name. 1t
is tangible, responsible corporatiOn,-a body
which the law can reach as easily as it can
reach an individual. When the Ring poll
ticians forsake the attempt to repair their
shattered characters in order that they may
prosecute one man whom they suspect of
taking part in their exposure and discom-
future. they confess their desperation to all
the world.