New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-22
WASHINGTON.

WHY JUSTICE WAS so LONG BAFFLED
AT THE CAPITAL.
THE BLACK CORRUPTION IN THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
JUDGE FISHERS son COMMITTED TO JAIL FOR
STEALING PUBLIC RECORDs-THE PAPERS RI
COvERED-YOUNG FISHER A PARTNER or BUR-
GLARS AND RUFFIASs AND sHARER OF sT0IEN
GOODs-JUDGE FIsHPR's DELIBERATE PROTEC-
TON OF THE SAFE BURGLARS AND BOUNTY
BROKERS.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUS,I
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-The suspicion that
the DstTct-AttOrney' office i'll Washington
might possibly be responsible for the theft OF
court records, discovered last week, turns out
to have been we'll founded. Late last evening
Charles G. Fisher, son Of the late Dstrct-Attorney
and himself late Assistant Dstrct-Attorney,
rested at of the variety thcaters, on the com
plant of Mr.. A. A. Birney theme Assistant District
Attorney, as being the thief of the missing papers.
This morning. he was arraigned, waived exanina-
tiOn and was committed in default of $1,000 bail.
forty-two of the missing papers have been recoy-
ered and it is supposed that eight ten more are
still missing. The papers were mostly informations
and appeal bonds, but among them were three in
dictments, one against accused Of body
snatchng, and two against a man for receiving
stolen goods. The loss of these papers would. Of
course, put stop to judicial proceedings in all the
cases affected and the supposed object Of their all
straction was TO extOrt money from the persons in
tcrested.
Papers like those are always jealousy guarded
Only III rare cases did the proper officers ever take
them from.the room in which the are fled During
the recess of the Court it noticed that Charles
G. Fisher spent considerable time looking the
the forelock to prepare business. The clerks had
suspicion that he attending to any other than
his legitimate business Since he went ont of office,
however, and the papers were missed. the above
mentioned circumstance caused suspicion to be
directed TO him.
Yesterday. in the police investigation, WilliamJ.
Martin salOOn-keeper testified that the goth Of
August Charles G.. Fisher told him that he Il sherl
had put up Of the best jobs put up in this
town." He got a man to represent Mr.. Edes or
Georgetown, an old and particular friend of hls
father and that the man was a fne-lookng man,
nicely dressed. They got Mr.. Billy Eyanss watch
and chain and put them and diamond pin on him,
making him appear very nicely. Taking him before
the Clerk of the Court, he was received as bail.
Fisher said further that he and Billy Evans were
going to Baltimore the Baltimore and Potomac
Road, and Snyner, the burglar who was released
and his wife were going over the Bal more and
Ohio Road. When they reached Baltimore. there
was 3d. 900 worth of goods belonging to Air. Perry,
stolen from his store in this city that were 10 be
Sold and he said he did not think he would realize
but about half the amount. Evans and he were to
get that for releasing this man.
To such men as Harrington, this young Fisher.
and Darlington, who has been accused of approprl-
ating to his own use fees due to poor negro boy,
who had remained in Jail 100 days as witness, has
been intrlstcd the important and responsible duty
of representing the United states III all criminal and
civil suits in this city. This corruption seems to
have begun simultaneously with the denoralizing
rule of the District Ring No man, member of Con-
gress or not who was friendly to the Ring. has been
successfully prosecuted for any crime in the District
Courts. Il. r. Butler of Tennessee, arr Igncd for
dcfrauding widow in q pension case was allowed
to go free, although it is said that the DsirctAt-
torney had in his possession but withheld per-
fectly convincing proof Stokes of Tennessee. con-
vctei of collecting bounty for fictitious company
of scouts. was prosecuted mildly and inally allowed
TO escape the penitentary. In the trial OF me safe
burglary conspiratOTs, witnesses whose whereabouts
were known 10 the representatives OF The Govern
nient cOnd not be produced and it is believed that
they were kept away through influences proceeding
from the District-Attorneys Office. II is more than
suspected that thieves, gamblers, keepers of dsIep-
utablc houses and other criminals, have been able
to purchase immunity from prosecution b. paying
persons in the District-Attorncy's office OF late.
this partnership with criminals has been 50 open
that very little effort seems 10 have been made to
conceal it and Charles G. Fisher was heard to re-
mark in public place, soon after President Grant
determined to remove his father, that this removal
was a. outrage for the old man never allowed
any of the boys to be hurt in the conrIs.' II ~
hoped that Gov Wells the new District-Attorney,
will not only thoroughly reform the Office, bni thdt
he will follow with sharp prosecutions those who
have for several years past made justice in the DIS
trict Courts mockery.