Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-17
Jamss y. Rays Sentence for souster.
fetttua.

anu I'D HuDSVdnCe Stateu tDdN nt ndu
noticed from the newspapers that
James n. Ray had confessed his guilt
to the charge of counterfeiting pres
ferred against him by the Govern
ment He said that be arose 10 u
personal explanation. More than
twelve mouths since, at defendants
request, and in connection with other
counsel, and upon the observation by
defendant of his innocence, supported
by brief of the evidence, which he
assured us he would be able TO adduce
In his behalf, / cheerfully aud gratuit-
ously undertook TO defend him against
the charge of counterfeiting, imputed
to him by the Government Relying
on the evidence as sufficient To vindi-
cate him against the charge preferred,
we were ready for and urged defend>
ant to try. But through some infiu-
ences not known to us, the defendant
initiated and has since carried on ne
gotistions with the representatives of
the Government, which has resulted,
at the present term, in confession of
guilt. The defendant had the unques-
toned right to do this. and ] do not
complain at all. But l desire To- say
publicly, and to the Court, that have
had no participation in the negotia-
tons, which has lead to this result,
and that am in no way responsible
for it.
Mai. 4. &. Camp followed Colonel
Baxter, stating that he had appeared
for Mr.. Ray under the same circum-
stances IA those stated by Colonel Bax-
ter. He considered the relation of
counsel and client of such a character
that he desired TO protest against the
action of Mr.. Ray in assuring his
counsel of his innocence, while at the
same time he was negotiating with
the Government for terms, on oOndi-
ton be submitted his case. In one
other case of q similar character he
had commented severely upon wit
ness for the Government, but had fail
ed TO produce his proof to justify his
comments in that ease. because he eX.
pected in the case of Ray 10 develop
this testimony fully. But the defend
ant had confessed his guilt, and that
in face of his assurances to the con-
trary, and in the face of what seemed
proof enough 10 establish his limos
cence. He was not aware Of the char
acter of the negotiations with the
Government prosecutor, ana intended
no reflections upon him.
Col. A. Caldwell, one of Mr.. Rays
counsel, said that, at the request of
Mr.. Ray and Judge Andrews, he had
communicated with his Honor Judge
Trigg) in reference tn Mr.. Rays sub
mission, and what the Courts views
on the subject were, as Judge An
drews felt it would he improper in
him to approach the Judge on such a
subject. So far as he knew, the nego-
tiations to which the gentlemen had
referred in their remarks had been
honorable and fair.
MR.. RAYS STATEMENTS.
In reply to Col. Baxter's statement,
Mr.. Raw stated that il wns due his
counsel to say that they had acted up
on his statements of his innocence, and
that at the time he could have proved
that he was innocent, but that since
then two of his witnesses had been re-
moved, one by death and one by being
killed on the Cincinnati railroad. He
was anxious to get out of his present
position. so that he could make a liv-
ing. He thanked Col. Baxter, for he
had refused to charge him fee and
had always acted upon his assurances
Of innocence.
THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT.
The Judge remarked that the state
ment of counsel that they had believ-
ed the accused innocent strengthened
his opinion that there were mitigating
circumstances in the case. So far as
he knew anything about the case,
there was no ground for rejecting up
on any one. The law left the punish
ment to the discretion of the Court ia
make it either fine or imprisonment,
or both. He had thought good deal
about the case, and had concluded 10
sentence the prisoner to two months
imprisonment, and as Mr.. Ray had
expressed wish to go TO Scott county
he would send him two months to thai
county Jail. He would also fine him
81 500. He would further do what he
regretted to be compelled to do, strike
| his name from the roll of Attorneys oil
this Court. The Judge said he be.
lieved this punishment was sufficient
| for the prisoner under the circum.
Stances. He had thought over the
whole case, and this sentence, which
was little stronger than the Govern
ment seemed to think necessary, h,
had concluded would be about right
The prisoner was given over TO thC
custody of the Marshal.
This is the last of quite number o
cases of similar character, which
were notorious throughout Eastern
Tennessee. The indictments were
found upon information obtained by
Government detectives, acting in con,
junction with the Government officials
here. The fact that every one of the
parties have plead guilty TO q charge
is conclusive evidence of the thorough
ness and completeness with which
these officials performed their task
Nearly all of those implicated at the
same time with this defendant are
now in the penitentiary, aud there
was no little unfavorable comment
yesterday, on The light sentence passed
upon Ray. To say that it did no
meet with public expectation is wha
must have been apparent TO every ont
who was on the streets. The curren
criticism is that he of all others knew
he was committing grave crime anC
that his sentence should have been o
equal severity with his confederates.