The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-10
The Government Trials.

The scene in tho United States Dis
trict Court yesterday, on the arraign-
ment OF the parties indicted for COM
pliciiy in deirauiing the government at
Evansville, was a peculiar one. The
affair, ~ some of lis aspects, had a (n-
neral tome. The attorneys, prisoners,
aud others present. listened to the pro-
ceedings with sober, thoughtful Curl
osiiy, sympathy for the offenders being
The more prominent manifestation OF
interest discoveiable. The absence of
those considered The chief offenders, the
Binghains, and the confession Of nearly
all the rest of those indicted, left the
court win IA single prisoner ~ the bar,
aud he not having secured legal advice,
The proceedings ended for the day.
/ remarkable feature of these trials
is The apparent uselcssness OF attorneys.
lAll The ordinary methods OF einbarrass-
ment aud delay seem 10 he entirely
+ fgnOrcd. The Gordon OF evidence is so
complete. tlc facts so undcniable, the
I rHud so plain. that the councillors ihpm-
sclye. seem 10 be al an utter loss how to
proceed. Ii is fortunate tor the country
ltnd the cause OF morality that no tcchni-
lcaiili,> binder the execution Of the law
aud The inhiciion of just penalties upon
the guilty. il Is fortunate. because II is
an nndeniabl" fact. however humiliating
% may bc ~ have 90 ronicss H. that in
Ithis country there is lacking n clear and
distinct apprehension that swindliAg
The government j. swiuding in iacf
CcItaIn men who have been engaged in
Jhese li,ky frauds have been recog-
ni1cd y Thoroughly honest men 10y the
community. aud would to-day be trust
eel ii ordinary hu-iurss transactions as
nonosi. yet conscience seems 20 have
lad ho sort of jurisdiction in the acccp-
nncc of money tlnt belonged "a the
/ government hy right. aud the frauds was
| 'onccalcd 10y au oath periodically made
md subscribed 10. Daring the prevA-
lrnce oi the war ihele somehow obtained
IA lax estimate upon The value of an oath.
nd without doubt the opportunities
/ hen afforded for defrnuding the gov
| rnmcmt impaired the comscirnces OF
men ~ to The nervousness OF this kind of
winding. There 10 no reas on why
government property should not be- a.
-acrea a. sny other. and. indeed. if there
H. ANY difference il would seem that
! hc guardian OF public trust should
eccive sorer punishment than y maraud-
r upon private right. The one par
| axes ~ The nature OF treason. which.
~ vii iviizcd nations, Is considered a
| apitnl oilrnse.
! II the puii>hmcnt of the offenders
who have bcen lately .rraigneh in this
cnnntiy is inflicted Will, firinaess il cal,
uol but have a whclesomc " effect. Ii it
,hall stir the popular conscience, and
,rouse public sentiment against these
orins ot crime, IL will not be undue
severity il mercy has 10 hearing IN the
-entcnceS. and Justice alone have full
sway. There arc hopeful indications
hat such will be the case here in the
pending trials. sympathy may go out
TO the offenders. but let this still deepen
lan impression OF the necessity of ex-
ample and precedeuts that shall IN the
future cause all men 10 understand that
fraud Ia fraud, and will be punished as
readily when committed against the
government as against individu ais
\ indianapolis Sentinel.