New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-22
POLITICAL MURDERS.

The recent trial in New York OF enc
Richard Croker. Tammany Hall poll
tician. and otice-holder, for the alleged
murder Of ono sIcKenra. though it se'
suited in disagreement Of the jury. never
thcless will be productive Of good results
aud should afford to other parts o: our
country an example worthy of imitation.
The murder Of McKenna occurred at one
Of the election polls IN New York on the
day OF the last election. and the deed was
alleged to have been committed by Croker.
a bitter Tammany Hal! partisan. while
engaged in sn alteration with James
O'crien. az opposition candidate Tor Con-
gress. After the act had been perpe:rated.
a charge was made against Croker before
a police captain. and subsequently before
Coroner Wo!tman. also Tammany Office
holder. and after & mock Investigation
and under tha fear inspiring influence OF
John Kelly. the Tammany Hall leader,
the coroner's jury acquitted Croker.
This. however. did no: satisfy the public.
and Distric. Attorney Phelps. one Of the
best criminal prosecutors New York has
had, obtained al Indictment fos murder
against Croker. Upon tina: i.dic.,nen.
Croker was arraigned. brought to trial
before Justice G. G. Barrett. ors o: the
Supreme Cour. judges Of shat city. few
days since. The trial occupied one week.
and resulted as before stated
The evidence on that trial showed tna:
Croker and three associates went from
another part Of the congressional dis;gic:
where the election was progressing TO the
place where the murder was committed,
as self-constituted regulators Of the elee.
tiou. each one being armed with weapons
to enforce :heir behests upon any who
should object 20 their interference in thus
controlling the elective franchise Brier.
the candidate opposed TO the Tammany
Hall nominee, coming 20 the place wkere
these armed regulators were, was nae.. in.
suited and assaulted by Croker, and doubt.
less intending 10 kill O'Brien, as was
alleged. sho. McKenra instead. The
counsel for Croker. IN summing up 20 the
jury, claimed that he had a right to go about
from place 70 place and &C. as he did, as
citizen in the exercise OF his privilege
as an elector, though it was denied that
he flied the shot which killed McKenna,
but the presiding judge. in his charge to
the jury, stated that the right OF citizens
peaceably assembled for the exercise Of
the elective franchise was OF 900 sacred a
character 20 permit any man or Sc: OF men
TO interfere with, or modest .heia under
any pretense whatever. lie denounced
the practice of carrying deadly o. con-
cealed weapons Oh such occasions as with
out the authority of law, and deserving Of
the severest punishment. The effect and
result of this trial in New York can not
but be salutary and beneficial upon the
disorderly elements which have been in
the practice OF attending the elections in
that city to intirnidate those who do not
belong to or work in the interest of their
party.
The Jurors in that case, discharging a
faithful and responsible duty, honestly
disagreed as to finding q verdict but there
they will not be bounded and molested,
as we learn some Of those jurymen who
sat in the Grant parish case have been
because they found verdict against some