The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-28
The regular circulation of The sun for
Lie ueck ending Feb 20, 1870, ,pas:
Meaning of the Verdict.


While the jury in BADcocK's case render
oil Scotch verdict OF not proven, there
was probably no man on 1t who was not
morally convinced of his guilt. He goes
out to the world technically acquitted, but
with brand which even time cannot re-
move. The charge of Judge DILLON, who
h strong Republican, was entirely on
the side of DtBcocK. 1t could not be bet
Ter described than in the words of a tele-
gram from MIR. SToRRs to the President:
"Long, strong, and favorable charge from
Judge"
conspiracy like that of the whiskey
Ring Is one of the most difficult crimes to
establish without the testimony of con-
federates, which is always exposed to
suspicion, no matter how truthful il may
be. Circumstantial evidence has neccssa-
rly to be relied upon. Judge DILLON
charged that the proof must be "clear,
positive, and abiding" ana instructed the
Jury to give BABCocK the benefit of every
reasonable doubt, without requiring him
10 remove whatever doubt the testimony
had caused in their minds.
Under these rulings, and with the con-
fusion artfully created by the defence, il
Is perhaps not surprising that jury of
plain farmers, unaccustomed to subtle
distinctions, should have been overawed
and led into an acquittal. higher tribu-
nal than that jury has rendered its verdict
Also and BABcocK is pronounced guilty by
public opinion.
From the manner In which the st. Louis
verdict was received in Washington. il
might be supposed the President, the Ad-
minstration, and the Republican party
were on trial. They all seemed 10 breathe
treer when the result was announced In
Iced there never was trial in this coun-
Try before in which the whole power and
machinery of the Government were both
openly and secretly employed TO defeat
prosecution conducted in its own name,
and ostensibly in behalf of the public in-
terest, as in the case which has just closed
10 ruinously for the Presidents confiden-
tial friend and illegal secretary.
The President publicly threw himself
into the breach, proclaimed the inno-
rence OF BABCocR while the trial was
going on, accepted his false Interpretation
Of the eliminating kilograms. and in de
position which will yet return to plague
The inventor, did not scruple to make
natements which are fatty contradicted
by the official records. Word went out
from the White House, that BABcocK
must be saved at any cost, because 10 con-
Wet him would be to condemn the Admin
stration and TO destroy the party.
Mr.. PIERREPoNT's letter to the Distri ct
Attorneys to reject States evidence, was
dictated by the President in order to ex-
clude the testimony of MCKEE and MA
CURE against BABcocK, ana TO stop inves-
tieations and indictments that would
strike down some of the foremost Repub-
hcan leaders in the Northwest. Every in
nuence, political, social, and professional,
was exerted in the same direction. Ennis
nries were sent under official pretexts to
Spy out the secrets of the prosecution, to
Buborn witnesses, and TO aid the defence.
Testimony was fabricated at Washington,
but not used Mt st. Louis, because il would
have contradicted McGTLI, who sought to
overcome EVEREsr's testimony, in regard
70 the $500 bill which JOYCE sent ito BAB-
COCK. Boss SHEPHERD, KILBoURN, and
other chiefs of the Washington Ring went
70 st. Louis, well provided TO look after
BABoocKs Interests, with whose fate their
own was linked.
Besides the important cipher and telo-
grams excluded by Judge DILLON, which
on their face proved BABcooK to be a cor
Tupt tool of the whskey conspiracy, and
all knowledge of which the President de-
MED, the prosecution was weakened in
other respects. A number Of witnesses de-
pendent on GRANTS favor for preferment
and holding office by his appointment were
taken to st. Louis 10 swear TO the previous
good character OF BABoooK. One of them,
bERREr testified that his "integrity was
unquestioned" when 1t is notorious that
Tor tho past three years he has been con-
Itantly charged with completely in the
Washington Ring, and is commonly known
rs Measurer BABcoCK, because of the
monstrous frauds in measurements Of Ring
work Tor which he officially Vouched
IL Mr.. BRIsrow had been put upon the
stAhu' he would have denied TurToN's
story about the order changing Superyi-
sors' ana would have been compelled To
oontradicr GRANTS deposition on the somo
subject. To avoid that scandal he was
kept away, and an Issue OF yeraoity was