Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-24
BABCOCK.
Col. Dyer Makes the Closing
Speech.

zSr. Louis, F'tL.-,22;3. 3.-District At
torney Dyer commenced the closing
argument in. the Babcocli case at half
past ten this morning, before a crowd
ed court room. At the outset he re-
ferred to his conduct of the Office
since lie assumed it nine months ago,
and entered upon the discharge of his
duties as the prosecutor of the whisky
ring. He disclaimed the idea that he
had beeE1=1ed1= to55ttiIc=Prusrt.t1ttiu
any innocent men and told !hc jury
that he appeared without malice or
other intention; but as the represcn-
lat!ye q the whole peoele to prose
cute a great wrong. The case, he.
characterized as a most remarkable
one, and the course of the defense as
more remarkable. He accused Judge
Porter of trying to drag the prc.i.
den, into the case ncedlessly and
groundtcssffy, and said tie presidents
Opposition is before this jury, he has
been examined and shall comment
on his testimony as | would on that
of any other witness, but when the
gentleman, for purpose of his OWL,
represents that the president is on
trial, | don't intend that the red flag
which he has nus haunlcd inmy face,
shall be followed TO BATHS. AS well
might he have said the president was
on trial when Mcdonald was being
tried, or as well when any other Of
these conspirators were before the
court. He intended to show that this
point was used by the. defense TO In
Aucncc the republicans on the jury.
He did not intend to assume the at,i-
,ude of assailing the administration,
but intended to bring this deiendent
ffeas- behind -pfesident,s4b#eh,
where the defense tried to place him
He must stand on his own merits
The defense should not wrlng a yer.
dict from the jury by pretending :he
president was on trial.
J Noticing Judge Porter's remarks
on the press on public opinion, the
speaker said they are terribly afraid
Of public clamor, but what you to do
with that. They abuse newspapers
everywhere, but this case is on tho
evidence. Dyer said Porter's speccl
was largely devoted to cnlogy O
Grant and johnson in order to please
; those who were republicans on ths
/. jury, and those who believed johnson
) ought not to be impeached. Presi
dent Grant will not thank the gentle
t men for dragging him into thc-case
: Col. Dyer then passed to an ex
/, animation Of the evidence, in reply t
J, Mr.. Storrs argument. Neither he o
G Colonel Broadhcad had assailed tn
} president, and Potter defended tn
d president for an hour yesterday
Dyer asked, why he should attac
n General Grant. Dyer was repnbl
= caI,,Yoted in both national conver
b tions for his nomination and twice g
e the polls for his election. Min
r mouths ago Grant signed a ccmmi!
sion which entitled him to ospcak her
n but Babcock must not escape bccaus
1t he is his private secretary. He boz
,e no malice towards BabcocA, but Ii
i. would not because he was republica
S, smother the evidence against this ma
rs The gentlemen had gone to gre'
length to declare that they had ne
Of been treated well'in their defense I
n. tile prosecution and in support of tn
i'll they instanced two objecsioes mat
rs by the latter. One OF these was,
ar THE INTRODUCTION OF TIE uoAG
1t LITTER.
ry That objection was not intended
lis exclude letters but 10 compel them
rs they we'll knew to-pat tin-the stand :