New-York tribune., 1873-05-27
.IuDICI4L TOMEOOLkRY.

Those who love leniency, and who do not
think it matter of much consequence IL the
United States mails are robbed, Will read with
approval the story of Samuel Williams, son
and late clerk of Postmaster Williams of Sha-
ron, Penn. Last week he was convicted of
opening letters. The evidence against him was
sufficient to satisfy the jury. One fact was
that during his absence from Sharon, last Sum-
mer, no complaints of letter robbery were
made. A report of the case says: "The chain
of evidence proved too strong for him, and,
though provided with the ablest counsel, the
"jury pronounced him guilty" He bid his
friends farewell with many tears and prepared
himself to receive sentence. AT this stage OF
the case O sudden light dawned upon the mind
of the Distriet-Attorney, who, upon " a calm and
" dispassio aate examination of the whole case,
doubted the defendants guilt, and, believ-
" ing that if guilty the terrible ordeal through
(which he and his friends had passed was
"sufficient punishment, he caused him to be
released So young Williams "tOOk the
" first train for home, and is now with his
parents"
Now let us briefly sum up this case, pre-
senting only the salient points. 1. The mails
in the office in which this young man is a
clerk are constantly robbed. 2. Gan able and
indefatigablen Special Agent of the Post
Office Department works up the case, and
brings the clerk to trial 8. "The chain of
"evidence proves too strong for the prisoner,
"and the jury find him guilty" A. When the
time for sentence comes, the prosecuting off,
Ger Of the Government begins to have his
doubts, and tells the convict that he may go
home to his parents! And whyf Because
"the terrible ordeal through which the prs-
"oner and his friends have passed is a suf
fcient punishment" That is, because the
young man did not like the prospect of
long imprisonment, and because his
friends were very sorry for him, the
District-Attorney decides to let him go
scot free. Taking the case as we find it
reported, we are free to say that even in these
days of judicial degeneracy, we have encoun-
tered no instance of such misplaced and mis-
chievous sympathy as this. Outside the great
and capital felonies, there is no crime greater
than the young man was proved to be guilty
of committing. Up to tho time when he began
to cry, the District-AttOrney had no doubt of
his guilt. The single fact that when he was
present in the office letters were stolen, and
that when he was absent no letters were stolen,
was almost enough to convict him. An able
detective investigates the case, and he has no
doubt of Williams's guilt. How much heart
will he have for the next investigation with
which he shall be intrusIed by the Govern
mentf
Let the reader just for moment consider
the loose way in which this case has been dis
posed of. Look at the statement of the Dis
trict-Attorney's motives. He doubts the guilt
of the defendant; but whether he is guilty or
not, "the terrible ordeal through which he and
"bis friends have passed is sufficient pun
"ishment." With all proper respect, we must
say that Mr.. Attorneys mind must have been
in miserably muddled mood. He pitied the
lad especially he pitied the lads friends; he
believed Williams guilty while he was trying
HIM, and he believed him not guilty alter he
had convicted him; it was "a vecy hard ease,
and so Williams is sent home to cheer hl3
parents, and perhaps to renew his intimacy with
the prostitute to supply whose wants he stole
remittances which were anxicusly looked for,
and the failure of which may have occa-
stoned not merely annoyance but distress. is
this the way to save the mails from violation
Perhaps we should add that since this Court
did what is constitutionally the business of
the United States, the District-AttOrney has
apparently authorized a statement that he
"had no doubt of the guilt of the prisoner"
He was first reported as saying something
very different, and we do not see that the
new version of his opinion helps the case nc
ALL On the contrary, we regard 1t rs an ag-
gravation.