New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-21
WASHINGTON.
JUDGE FISHERS CASE.

SHEPHERD AT THE BOTTOM or TIA REVIEW OF
THE CAsf--JrDGE SPENCE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE FAILURE or CONSPIRACY TRIALS
JUDGE FISHERS SATIRE on Mr.. JEWELL.
WASHINGTON July 2O.-AttOrney-General Pierre
pont received letter from the President this morn
ing requesting him to suspend for the present all
proceedings looking to the removal OF Judge FISHER,
Dstrct-Attomey for this District This letter Is
understood to have been secured by the direct per-
sona solicitation of Alexander r. Shepherd, who
went to Long Branch for the purpose. 1t is well
known in Washington that long before Judge
Fishers resignation asked for the President was
fully acquainted with all the facts in the case, and
was SO thoroughly convinced that Judge Fisher
Ought to be removed that he expressed in writing
his desire that no delay should occur in making tho
change. But while the President knew Of no reason
why an officer who by his neglect worse, instead
Of bringing criminals to punishment, actually
shielded them from justice whenever they had nhu-
entail political friends, should be- retained, some OF
his nearest friends and trusted advisers did. They
could not afford to have a change in the DstrctAt-
torney's Office and especially to have Judge Fisher
removed and new man of unquestioned integrity
put in his place.
Judge Fishers friends say that Postmastcr-Gen-
eral JEWELS complaints, in regard TO the manner in
which the contract conspira.ors prosecuted,
the Department. assisted in the prosecution and he
is as much to blame for the failure to convict any
one. The trnth is that although Judge Spence was
engaged in the case he went into it not at the in
stance of the iostmaster-Geueral, but Of Judge
Fisher himself. The was shametully managed
from the start Ii was not due to the efforts OF tho
District-AttOrney that an indictment of the con-
spraors was found by the Grand Jury, and from tho
very first Mr.. Jewell felt certain that I'M
less some able lawyer employed to assist
The Dstrct-Attorney the would fall through.
The President approved of the Postaaster-Gcnerals
plans, and the name Of one OF the most successful
criminal lawyers in the District was suggested to
Judge Fisher. He peremptonly refused TO be
assisted by thai gentleman. lie was then requested
TO name some one himself. He would not do it, and
finally refused to allow ext;ov. Wells tn be assc-
ciated with him in the ease. The ground on which
he refused aid was. that il unnecessary; that no
would secure a conviction himself, because he knew
the juries and the iuries knew him WELL that he
could manage the case better alone lie himself
suggested the milcyment of Judge Spence. But
this was not what Mr.. Jewell wanted. Judge spence
is not a criminal lawyer, and his duties in the De-
partment prevented him from working mp the case
properly OF course, he did his best under the cir
cumstances. The evidence which the Department
had was not properly used, through Judge Fishers
neglect. He said that he did not need to know much
about case before going into court. The case was
tried under circumstances very adverse to the Gov
ernment. Mr.. Jewell and Mr. Woodward were in
Detroit when the Department was informed on Fri
day that the case would come on the following Mon
day. All requests for postpouement were refused,
and the result was as the Postmaster-Gencra antci
pated.
The complaint of Mr. Jewell is therefore simply.
that Judge Fisher, by neglect of duty, has allowed
men who were engaged in defrauding the Govern
ment to escape punishment. The effect of Judge
Fishers administration has been 10 discourage all
attempts to punish men who detected in fraud in
Washington. The only way i'll which a reform can
he secured is by change in the head of the office.
No amount of reorganization among the sub
ordinates though some of them have been
VIGOROUSLY bad enough, will restore con-
fdence, encourage Government officials to fer
ret out corruption, and inspire healthy
dread of prosecution among those engaged
in defraudng the Government. 1t is widely be-
hevcd tonight that Judge Fishers resignation
not be postponed, bat the fact that ex-Gov. Shep-
herd Mr. Harrington, and their associates stand by
him. is likely to have more weight with the Presi-
dent than any arguments for his removal, based on
his neglect of duty, even accusations of more
serious character.
reporter of The Erening Critic interviewed Mr..
Shepherd on the subject of Judge Fishers removal
to-day When asked to the position held by the
Secretaries Of the Treasury and War, and by the
Attorney General the Boss said " IL is all lie;
there is truth in it; the opposition did not
come from Attorney-Gencral Picrrepont, for Gen.
Pierrepont is warm friend of Judge Fisher; the
opposition came from that little bobai clam Yankee
over here in the Post-Ofiicc."
LABORING WITH THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
WAsmINGToN, July 2J-Judge Fisher had per-
sonal interview with the Attorney-General to-day.
an hour long. His purpose was the presentation Ut
replies to the complaints which have been made
against his administration. No conclusions
were reached. Another interview will
take place tomorrow, when the District
Attorney will be accompanied by Judge Macarthur
of the Supreme Court for the District of Columbia.
He hopes to make such explanations MS will be sat
In tLe ,eneral and indnce him