The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-24
GEN. 0. E,BABCOCK'S TRIAL.
Cor. DYER'S MASTERLY PRESENTI-
TION OF THE EVIDENCE.
An Amusing Criticism OF Judge Portcr's
| Speech Tho Evidence all Pointing to Bsb.
| cocks Guilt Betting on the Verdict.


An Amusing Criticism of Judge Porter's
Speech Tho Evidence all Pointing to Bab.
cocks Guilt Betting on the Verdict.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 23.-The concluding ar
gument made to-day in the Dabcock case by
District Attorney Dyer has produced surprise,
inasmuch as 1t varied In every respect from
what was anticipated. Col. Dyer has hereto
fore had reputation rather as platform speak
er than as an advocate. but his argument to-day
was distinguished by close reasoning from H.
evidence, and was masterly presentatic
the case against B1bcock. There was 40 at
tempt to produce emotional effects, such as
we're made by Storrs and Porter. Several points
not heretofore considered were made In upset
ting the theory OF Babcock's Innocence. The
attempt Of the defence to make a scapegoat Of
Hoge was shown especially to bo a failure, at
tenton being called to the fact that Hoco was
not In league with the Ring here until Novem-
ber, when he received his bribe, although he
had previously been sending information to the
Blnghams. He and Joyce were then enemies,
and nothing that he impaired to the Bnghams
was allowed to be used for Joyce's benefit.
His reference to the sylph despatch was also
neat. Porter says Sylph means a woman. but
why the signaturc2 Does J. mean woman
Does u. neon woman2 No; there was
probably only one woman In this thing.
The plain, honest opinion OF the plain,
honest people Of this plain, honest country will
be that he signed this despatch "svph" bo-
cause he didn't want TO sign ito. Il. Babcock."
The testimony OF The letter CARRIER McGill. was
well handled, aud the failure OF the defence
| IN explaining away the kilograms and the
| Grimes correspondence was made evident. The
argument, as whole, Ia considered to have
| been likely to prove most effective with the
,ny anu was pt9noumeeu py o,a ~ ,n ., o,
| specimons Of backwoOds' oratory since Lincoln.
Tonight the Blbcock party appears less hope
ful than AZ any previous time curtng the pro.
gress OF the case. sporting men have improved
the opportunity In awaiting thcmselyes of the
popular excitement over the trial, and tonight
pool selling Is taking place on the result at
eral places. bets are made at odds on hung
| jury and a few on conviction. Bets are also
| made at odds that the jury Will be out - hours
| The Judges charge, which will be delivered IN
| stated that it will not so tend toward acquittal
as has been asserted differing from other
| somewhat at length upon the jury the rules Of
| evidence to be observed in the conslderation II
| the telegrans.
COZ. DYER's CLOSING ARGUMENT.
District Attorney Dyer began hia closing argu-
| meut by referring to bis conduct OF the ofilce
| since he assumed Il nine months ago, and en-
| cutor OF the Whskey Ring. lie disclamcd the
| notion that he had been ted into the prosecution
OF any innocent man. and told the Jury that he
| appeared without malice or other intention than
| IA the representative OF the whole people to
| prosecute great wrongs, The case be character
| OF the defence as still more remarkable. He
accused Judge Porter Of trying TO DRAG the
| President into the case needlessly and ground
| lessly, and said
The Presidents deposition s before the jury he has
pesh ekanhen as anl Otner witness mas pecn failn a.
OF any other witness. but when selicman Tor rpr:
i;' a:s
be have said !he President on trial when John Me
SrHs Seo Sa a the sS u sn'n . other
| Col Dyer argued that this point was used nv
the defence to influence the Republicans on the
| jury, and then continued:
Is THE PRESIDENT ON TRIAL1
| don't intend that the sdroitness Of the gentleman
10 ns to r,ps & Of af 9s from
place him, and Intend tha, shall .tsni on hi. own
Die, from sh. jury Oy prS;endns the Prcsiden, on
Or % 81 s S'a ioa
a. S GSs go Fde ny Ss & sS
hS % aos enSs aD ;ps @ s.s:y Ssy sy %
.sau ~. p'0 e case s n t n
fTe.iGcn,' There Is no, man on that jury S
yi % i@a Of ny WAY yGiSs should fG0 " sS; s1
Grantl voted in both national conventions for MS
hs montSs ago he edi the
Sse sn'Ss % to :peaE here today but
President mali escape because he the private secre
FAX FRH' or ScboHsId Or joyce the seRsisnep k6ow
spe 10 No S m qs % ocde b cs
evidence against him was to struggle TO smother II
and the President and Secretary were Repubcans1
cRITICIsISo JUDGE PoRTERs SPEECH.
It IS an amusing dstsns. SscR Judge Porter made made
s0S ,hsa TIoSfss Andy JShIsS2 who % I: eead an.
OF you who are Republicans and thenhe turns rount
and praises AndTe% mHsog e pSas
Nw DOM hnSy IRON the sPsees e OF The @
my life.
he wired in aud wired out,
| Leaving the jury still In doubt,
Whether the lawyer VINO made the track.
| Was going north or going back"
Now don't know what the gentleman thinks, bu
when ne P.eslden, resds wha. A. On Rr0adhesd ha
n0a What the gentleman M iof tho defence ne, Sd ne WI
& ses sna as gem %
unable 70 meet the evidence he stands out 70 deient
Tcmsns @ Sa Ss I" % no a.rcspse %
car care sSa While hE he sva - take % care % % q ~
will say TINS defence reminds me OF an eminent doctor
who having been called to attend a lacy IN cOnnnc
mept, met neghbor next day and was asked now tn
Psd THE mother viii DE but Win The help q tS h
Gla nS hdr eaa ~ sSyS .hS o ou % the e wn0.s 1
President was on trial.
REPLYING TO sToRRs.
In repy to Mr.. Storrs, Col. Dyer said hat gen
tleman had congratulated the jury that new
era Of justice was dawning, and the speake
took occasion to repeat the eonRratulation, III
was proud that an era had dawned through tn
sunorings OF the public, when men Of position
high or low, could be brought before twelv
good and honorable men and made to answe
for their wrong-doinGs. The gentleman ha,
pleaded most touchngy the home association
Of the defendant In his behalf, but the gentle
man had forgotten that Ftzroy ard the rest ha'
associations just as dear to them that arounI
| their hearthstones clustered their little children
| praying the Great Being to save their fathe
from the ineXorable law. Let the rule be uni
versally applied or not at all. But these cOnsid
erations were not for the Jury. The vindcatoi
OF the law was the only protection for thei
hearthstones and those of their neighbors. III
Q gentleman had gone to great length to decar
that they had not been technical I'm their de
fence, but that II was the prosecution whic
v was technical, and In support OF this they IN
= stanced two objections made by the latter Onl
= OF these was TO the introduction of the Hog'
letters That objection was not Intended to ex
0 clude the letters, but to compel them, as the
well knew, 10 put upon the stand the man VIII
cot these letters from bingham, for he was a
4 that very time sitting in the room. The objeC
h ton TO the introduction Of the letters fror
A Babcock TO Joyce was not to exclude them, bu
was to compel them to place upon the stan
, Gov Fletcher, counsel for Joyce, that bis test
y mony might show that the intimacy which el
: isted between Babcock and Joyce In 1871, 1877
: 1873, and 1874 was not sundered by the latter
II conviction, and that Joyce still took the intere'
!, OF a friend In him, and sent to his counsel thos
" | 81 data. IL "A ate