The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-22
A MODEL LAW OFFICER.

A MODEL LAW OFFICER.
Only Saturday of last week, the country
was gratified with the intelligence that
Judge Fisher had been removed from the
office of United States district attorney for
the District of Columbia. For some time
the administration of his office had been a
disgrace to the administration of justice,
and the personnel thereof was an eye sore
not only to the capitol, but to the whole
country. Although there had been muir
murs of complaint for along time, the pub
lie indignation took form and shape at the
time of the conspiracy trial relative to the
alleged safe robbery, and Fisher was open
ly charged with corruption and with an en-
deavor, which unfortunately proved sue
cessful to shield VIGOROUSLY guilty parties
from Just punishment. We all remember
the manner in which that conspiracy trial
was conducted, how it ended, and with
how much of indignation the result was re-
ceved by the press and people OF the
country. There was then a demand for
his removal, but it was not needed. George
H. Williams being then attorney general it
was not expected. AS tine complaints and
charges rested upon suspicion, probably
well grounded but perhaps not susceptible
of proof, 1t may be as well that they were
not made cause of removal-athough
many good men have been removed from
office without cause or pretense OF cause
However proper it might have been to
have them removed or retained him, when
Attorney General Pierrepont finally deter
mined to make change in the office his
conduct in that trial did not enter into the
causes which led to that determination.
Neither were the charges upon it which it
was decided to act of such character as
to affect his integrity as man or an officer.
The attorney general especially DECLARED
that his integrity was in no wise affected
and let this be borne in mind. The causes
for his removal, or proposed removal, were
several. 1t was charged. and was true, that
he had appointed his son, "a VIGOROUSLY
bad character" his assistant district attor
ney that this son and assistant was the
friend and associate of criminals, who
openly boosted of their friendship and, as
openly, declared that the prosecuting Off
GERS of the district dare not pursue them
for their crimes or visit the punishment of
the law on their mlsdeeds. And the Grim
inal records of the district showed that the
boast was not without foundation in fact
:ol,n . <Ft la
friendship of his son for this class of men,
of the use they were making of it, and Of
their open boasts of it, seems hardly cred
ible, but it would seem that the attorney
general, while determined to rid the district
OF the disgrace, assumed the integrity of
the judge at he expense of his intelligence
When the attorney general had deter
mined to act, and had basis for action,
other complaints and charges were made.
each and all of which demanded attention
and afforded good grounds tor the removal
of the district attorney. The treasury de-
partment complained that there was not a
rigorous discharge of the duties of the
"office," and the postoflice department
made the same charge and pointed out in
evidence thereof the prosecutions for the
fraudulent obtaining of mail contracts and,
particularly, the cases of Kinds and the
clerks of the department. The secretary
of war Joined in and charged that property
had been purchased by that department on
the strength of an opinion given by Fisher
upon an abstract of title that the opinion
was erroneous, the title defective and that
the government lost the purchase money
1t was thus proved that his subordinates
were corrupt, that the administration OF
criminal justice was lax, and that Fisher
himself was incompetent, and he was called
upon to refute or explain. This he neg
lected to do, and in the mean time Other
charges were filed by members Of the bar
and prominent citizens of the district.
Judge Pierrepont determined to act and
therefore, informed Fisher that his resig
nation wouldlbe accepted. A week passed
by, but the resignation was not forthcom
ing, when Fisher was informed that hi
successor had been selected and that if hi
did not resign, he would be removed Fish
er left that night for Long Branch ant
sought the intervention of the president t.
compel his retention in office. Fisher re
turned and intimated that the president de
clined to interfere, but left the matter
solely with the attorney general. Although
this was a different course from that which
he had been in the habit of pursuing, there
was reason to believe that Fisher was tell
ing the truth, inasmuch as the presden
had allowed Bristow to proceed in his cru
SADIE against the whisky ring, and especial
ly as he was no longer candidate for re
election. But if the Washington Star il
to be believed, the president has disap
pointed the good opinions of his would b.
friends and has had the request for Fisher
resignation withdrawn, SO that he will con
tinue to be United States district attorney
for the District of Columbia, the country
to be disgraced by his acts, the adminstra
ton of justice to be further brought int,
disrepute. and notorious criminals go un
whipt of justice. And the president ha
once more rendered his administration
memorable. Dishonest and incompeten
officials can take courage again-Jewell
Bristow, and Pierrepont are not to be per
mltted to have their own way, not If tn
president understands himself
Washington Items.
RepOrts from the Black hills commission