National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-23
THE SAFE BURGLARY TRIAL.
MR.. HARRlNGToN'S ELOQUENT d.
FENCE-HOw IT WAS RECEIVED

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Mr.. HARRlNGToN'S ELOQUENT De
FENCE-HOW IT WAS RECEIVED IN
COURT AND IN THE CITY.
The heightened trial the consiprators so-ealled
is rapidly drawing to close. The testimony has
all been given, and but two speeches remain TO be
made, and then the case goes to the jury and
with them rests the fearful responsibility Of aver
dict The central figure in this trio Of "cOnspira-
torsn is Richard Harrington. His history since
his arrival in this city is TOO we'll known to need
repetition. Young, talented, Of generous phys
ique, he has about him all the elements Of per
sOnal popularity, and from HIS entrance into the
city until to-day he has made friends By the score
a fact which the crowded court room on Saturday
last demonstrated. He had determined that
in his own defence from the spot in which he had
so often been the prosecutor. Some of his friends
doubted the result, but MI, Harrington was hrm,
arose, took his place, and with an air Of conscious
innocence wioh manner which impressed every
necton with tSe affair, and told It too with an
eloQuence born of the occasion. His opening
words were the keynote Of the whole speech.
There was no appeal for sympathy, ne rant, but
brave, manly demand for Justice.
Gentlemen Of the jury: / an not unmindful of
the trite saying that has almost grown to be an
axiom in our profession, that he who appeareth
for himself hath fool for client trust that
you will believe that in any OF the remarks may
make upon this case am speaking to you not so
much as lawyer as q man; for distinctly dis
claim any purpose to argue fully the questions Of
fact, No one can DC more deSir0uS than am for
the speedy termination Of this cause It has
been about me like pail since the 22d of April
last, and during the days and the weeks and the
months that have followed have passed almost
through the darkness Of death; beside me. she
whom love, and next to her the brigkt-eyed boy,
and then the figure OF one, shadoEy and indis-
tfnct, whose footsteps yet make sad masic in my
ears. But through it all kindly eyes have peered
upon me, and strong arms have reached out to
help me, and through
THE BLAoKNEss OF THESE DAYS.
but unfelt hands have pointed out the path that
la y before me; and have rested upon that some
thing which God has planted in the breast Of
every honest man-the consciousness Of his per
sOnal rectitude and the dignity of his personal
manhood. From the day that the Star Chamber
report sent me forth to the community blaekened
and detained, up to this minute, have asked
no indulgencei from the prosecution, and have
received none. have been
HUNTED LIKE THE PARTRIDGE ON THE MOUNTAIN
and back Of the gentlemen who represented the
dignity Of the Government Of the United States
have been hatreds, envies, and malices. There
have been their "GIbsons" and their detectives,
there have been their Woods and their DoWnes.
that envy and malice and hatred are playing. 1
have asked no indulgence and l ask none from
the Government; and have to remind my learned
comes to strike me back OF the citadel Of my life
down to grapple with my honor, to do 1t with
strong arm and brave eye. and not 70 dishOnOr
me by his sympathy, or disgrace me with his
tears.
He then passed rapidly on, reviewing the testi-
mOny Of the witnesses, aToWtng boldly what he
had done, and declaring that, under the clrcum-
stances, he would do it again. Probably the
most brilliant effort of the argument was where
he denounced the action Of the prosecution in
seiZing the kilograms Of the Western Union Off &c
as illegal, indecent and infamous" Next came
the defiant announcement that he should not fail.
81 SHALL NOT FAIL.
To my friends, whose faith has been taxed; to
my enemies. who hoped herein to see me fail 1
say shall not fail. In this courtroom, where l
have won some success, / shall pursue the pro-
fession love. erect and manly, as have hereto
fore been in the full stature that God gave me,
turning aside for no mans opinion, following the
path Of duty as God gives me to see that duty,
and by pure life to wipe out even the shadow of
your case. shall not fail. The stars have said
1t, and the voices OF my Own prophetic and oracu-
lar soul confirm the shining sybils.'"
His defence of his friendship for Mr.. Williams,
and the bold avowal that he would not swap one
good true friend for the whole prosecution" was
In good taste, and had q marked effect. He dis
missed Hayes with
A FoRGIvING WORD,
and then passed from fact to fact until he closed,
as follows:
"And so, gentlemen Of the jury, leave you
this case. l leave With you more than the per-
sonal matters which may come to me. leave to
you my life; / leave to you my reputation; and l
say to you as / say to this court, as say to the
world, that during the whole OF these proceed
inRs i have not sullied the personal dignity Of
my character nor furnished my professional repu-
tatiOn, so help me God"
Hero the Pent-up feelings of the audience found
expression in applause, and, as Indicative Of the
result, the sun, which had been during the morn
ing hidden behind the clouds, hurst forth in full
splendOr. Taken all in all 1t was an effort in
which Mr.. Harrington did credit TO himself as a
lawyer, and justice to himself as q man and
Citizen,