National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-17
AGAIN AT THE BAR.
The slattsr-HusSsy Bomicide-The Accused
Pleads entity of KanslauRhter


Pleads Guilty of Kanslsughter.
The second trial of Hope H. Slater for the
murder of Michael Hussey at the Schuetzen Fest,
in 1873, which was fixed for yesterday, was made
unnecessary by the defendant entering a plea Of
guilty Of manslaughter, which was allowed by
the Court and accepted by the District Attorney.
At 10 o'clock the Criminal Court opened, and
Slater came in with his counsel.
Judge Macarthur, on the opening of the court,
said he was prepared to receive any suggestion as
Nj. Riddle said that there had been outside Of
the court some propositions made as to the final
would be satisfactory to the Government II the
defendant would withdraw the plea Of not guilty
and plead guilty to the minor ofense in the In
dIetment. They had advised the defendant as to
what course he should take.
Judge Fisher said that he had understood that
the proposition came from the defence. He had
said that he would accept on the part Of the Gov
eminent the plea indicated.
Mr.. Riddle said 1t was immaterial as to who
court and ready to withdraw the plea Of not
guilty and enter another.
Judge Macarthur said; The Court has ae,
having presided at the former trial; and perhaps
in so grave matter the plea which is now pro-
posed should not be accepted without his concur
reDce. At the former trial Of this case the Gov.
eminent pressed for
A CONVICTION OF MURDER,
and the defence was conducted mainly upon the
theory of justihable homicide, or at ali events
that the act Of which the defendant was accused
was committed in seh-defence, and the defence,
therefore, pressed for an acquittal Now, It oc-
in the case occupied one extreme and the defence
occupied the other extreme. 1t was very clear
that the defence was not sustained by the testi-
mopy-the defence as 1t was pressed by counsel
and was extremely doubtful upon reviewing the
facts in the case upon motion for new trial
whether the verdict was justified by the testi-
mony. The verdict was guilty Of murder as
charged in the indictment. deem II the duty Of
a court under such circumstances to interpose its
iva han ho SufFh
defeating the ends Of justice, and did SO upon
the occasion Of granting q new trial. l suppose
me GSVernment now 40 not e1PecL 70 at S Ine
trial; and, indeed, l do not see we'll how that
could be done, because all the witnesses that were
duced upon the stand. And If this case were
again tried upon the same state OF facts-and
that 1t cannot alter them or add to theu-I
should, think, feel 1t my duty to instruct the
jury that
THE HIGHEST GRADE OF CRIME
OF which the facts were sustained would be that
OF maDslaughter 1t is not a very clear case in
my own mind. J here is a distinction, however
between murder and manslaughter aud in a case
where it is doubtful whether the offence was the
one or the other, the inclination of the law would
he to give the defendant the benefit Of that doubt
The Jury in that case returned verdict OF guilty
of murder, after devoting considerable period to
the consideration, and no doubt arrived at their
conclusion cOnscentiously and with reluctance,
so that there is no disparsg upon their con-
duct in the views which are now being expressed
by myself.
with these views of the case, therefore, give
the concurrence Of the court to the course which
is now proposed to be taken, and shall there
fore permit the defendant to Withdraw his plea of
not guilty. and to interpose one in the qualified
form which is new proposed.
THE NEW PLEA.
The Court asked Slater to step forward, and
he did SO. The Court said that on the indictment
for murder he had plead not guilty, and asked II he
new desired to change that plea.
The Prisoner. ~ withdraw the plea of not
guilty, and enter one Of guilty of manslaughter,
sir"
Mr.. Riddle asked that the rendition of the judy
ment OF the court be delayed TO give the defend
ant time to settle up some business affairs, and
also to enable the counsel to present some evil
dence as to his previous good character.
Judge Fisher objected, and stated that If evil
dence was to be taken as to his good character he
desired TO present evidence as to the reverse.
After some discussion, the Court said that the
judgment would be rendered on Monday, 18th in
slant.
The action Of Skaters counsel caused consider
able comment about the courtroom, the general
opinion being that SLATER had acted in the mat
avoid the delay and trouble of a trial, had sug-
gested the plea, with the assurance that before
the sentence could take effect pardon would be
procured for him. The friends Of Hussey, when
they heard Of the proposition, tried to press q
trial, informing the District attorney that they
but as the bargain had been made between the
Court who tried the case previously the coun-
sci for the defence and the representative OF the
Government, their wishes in the premises were
disregarded, with the result as above stated. 1t
now remains to be seen whether the pardon can
be obtained as speedily as they expect IL, and
whether it will be recommended by Judge Mac
Arthur.