The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-07
This Davis-Lynn Case.

To the Editors Of the Baltimore Gazette -
The appearance in your columns on the 9th
of January Of the following parassaph--
+ Perhaps Il may not Be improper 70 add another
word Whilst cannot suppose that the opinions J.,
q saS os Rs ra X asps IN
. have anything 10 DO wiz bis case, or can, or
ought 70 influence the action 81 any person In the
Been rspcrisd 70 Judge Nanlsby Is my opinion on
this subject 10 not correct. never held any COM
muriicaton with Judge Maulsby himself on the sub.
tect and never entertained any such opinions 10
the Innocence Of Davis the force and effect Of the
evidence in the case Is ascrbed 10 me in the me-
mortal before the General Assembly,
Haosaowz. January q. ISL.
Imposes on me the unpleasant duty Of asking
you to publish the following Mr.. Syester
held with me, at his own instance, and Of his
own motion, three several communications, at
the least, on three several days, in relation to
the guilt or innocence of Joseph w. Davis.
On the first occasion, which was during the
trial, he addressed me, and said that the pros
ecution of Davis was gross outrage, that
there was no evidence whatever, 70 sustain
the charge against him, and that the prosecu.
ton ought to be abandoned. replied BY
asking II those were his opinions, why be did
not abandon the prosecution, to which he re-
joined that the States Attorney for the county
denied his authority To control the case- and
refused n allow him 10 abandon Il and sdjed
that be intended 10 make further efforts 10
that end. On a subseouent day he aeain said
q me that he had endeayored ID indnce the
States Attorney 10 visit with him the room az
two Of the Judges ON the preceding evening
IN the expectation that the Judges mioht al
him in obtaining the assent az he state's Al
torney to the Abandonment Of the prosecution.
but that he had found the latter utterly i'm,
practicable. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT enstbets
which he applied 10 the States ATTORNEY / 40
not repeat. He also said that he had no an.
thority from the Judges q, saw that he would
aid, or would have aided him--that he idea
Of getting the Judges to aid him, by their sun
posed influence with the States Attorney. N
having the prosecution abandoned. was his
own.
Many days afferward and on the last day Of
the trial, after the Jury had retired TO make
up verdict, Mr.. Syester said 10 me in yery
emphatic terms, that he had a most exalted
regard for my good opinion, and that he
hoped that he had not forfeited it by the char
acser Of the Concluding speech which he had
made, and on NV rcplyinr that i had NO right.
and made no claim. to prescribe To him 4
standard for the discharge Of his official or.
professional duties, and begging TO Be- excns.
"a from discussing the subject. IL held me 90
that could moi leave without rudeness and
insisted on my expressing an opinion. i 4.
nally said. .sWell. Mr.. STester. since Won in.
sist on my saying something. will ask YOU
how you would feel, in view Of YOUR strongly
expressed opinions Of Davis Innocence iftbe
Jury were TO come in with verdict Of Guiltv?
Would Il mot make YOU very uncomfortableJi
10 which he replied: .Oh, that i impossible
there is no evidence to convict him tbs
Jury must acouit without any hesitation u
reioined that / agreed with him that there was
not part,cle Of evidence az eu;lt- and / suy,-
posed the iury would aeouit' but sill there
we're soust,ms. verv stra,,.s varJ;ess anJ
he iury had then been M some time /, wo,IJ
seem that there was some hesitation Al least
y;fh some ~ shsr, ,cd -. ~, - ,,,;,,.Is
I, a,r c,,;,;ans \. 4, ,hss - ..s1
=. NJ svester renl;ed th.t 4 vas ;,,nos";s
Il. ~, 60 49, y. ~. vas 'mPossrs
ma The ;urv would II dawn \, !, Co. ,,.;,.,,,ss
r;th 4 verdict ~ sccn;tssI RsIe.s;,r ,, ,assslf
n fh;s lime frar, n cve.tar,s L;r5ls -.
brsce' w;thd,@w -', e'''
Wben NJ svsst.r an, w.,. t,,t ,,.,.s,,,
before he Goysr,or In ,r.st - s.,lt. -.
~. I s,atea ~ he Gore,ror ~, sba a.,;..
;crs ~ ~ xt,arn.s Co.., IA ~ -. JPN.
sboxe s,afed' wher n 4 sr,;,s5 - ,s 800 n
ma renl;ed that he conIJ moi nnSarsssnd
sub;sct AZ ouiekly as some others. and ~,
wbsr IL INA ~ rressa5 ,hoss a,,;,';oa ~ Ia
nj fully arasped he subject Tbe ,r;al r ,r'
tinue3 nearly two weeks The above on;n.
ions exuressed Nv The Attorney General 1srs
not reported to me by any one. tboash similar
expressions Of his opinions have been.
A. u. A. ss