Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-02


~.S
The evidence offered I'm the defence OF DIR.
E.ichols and bis management of the Gov
eminent Insane Asylum is creating a rapid
reaction here In the public mind, and IL
would not be surprising If the House COM
mittee conducting the Investigation were TO
acquit him Of all the charges against him,
or, at least, OF any dishonesty or tnteL tional
cruelty to H'asr. Or Springfield
Republicdn-
The above from a correspondent OF reputa-
ton for impartiality, and who has hereto
fore in his correspondence given full weight
TO the testimony against DIR. Nichols. prob
ably represents the views OF r large number
az candid people who were naturally i'm
pressed unfavOrably To that Official by the
opening testimony. But the utter unreli-
ability OF many of these witneSses-lUl
tics, mOnomoniacs, and discharged en-
ployes-has been now so fully established,
as illustrated by the case OF the witness Big
Sins, that a considerable change of feeling
has taken place. DIR Nichols came here
with a national reputation for skin I'm the
treatment OF the insane, and those who have
known him best have always believed that
he was specially fitted for his position by
evenEess OF temper and a c1lm, tranquil
bearing, calculated to sOOthe and impress
the disOrdered minds under his treatment.
1t has, therefore, been dlfficllt for them to
believe that any charges OF cruelty or wrong
doing could be brought home to him. 1t is
to be hoped, both In behalf OF DR.. Nichols
and OF the important Institution with which
he has been Identified from its foundation,
that these charges viii be fully disproved.
Mr.. Blaine seems TO make pretty thorough
work with the latest accusation set afiOat
concerning him, but he needn't think that
he has closed up the calumny mill. This is
the President making year, and the doctrine
that everything is fair in politics will be
fully maintained In the way OF tripping up
rival sspirsnts for the White House. Ii is
pretty good sign that BristOw and Blaine are
rather formidably ahead In the race that the
main attacks are made upon them.
The folly OF going TO law on frivolous pre-
texts is well illustrated by case lately tried
In the Baltimore court of common pleas.
Two Baltimore females recently INDUCED in
exper sive litigation growing out of the use
OF slang phrase. Some time ago a Mrs
Wilcox and her sister, while promenading,
passed Mrs. Douglass wearing hat some
what extensively decorated, when one OF the
former females. possible a trIie envlous, ex-
claimed derisively, sob, shoot that hat
Douglass" This naturally aroused the ire
OF Douglass, and she caused the arrest OF the
two women for insulting her, and they were
found over TO keep the peace. But the mat
ter did not rest there. Mrs. Wilcox. who
had given the gratuitous advice in regari 10
shooting Mr.. Douglass head covering, then
had Mrs. ID. arrested on the charge OF per-
Jury, OF which, however, she was acquitted.
1t was now Mrs. Douglass turn, aud she
brought suit against Mrs. Wilcox Tor false
and malicious prosecution, laying her dam
ages al high figure. The case was decided
on Friday last, the jury bringing IN a YER
dict OF $50 In favor OF the plaintiT. This is
moderately large sum to pay for the priv
ilege of using a slang expression.
General Sherman has emphsticalIy lie
cli1ed Presidential nomination, and yet
several western journals are urging his Sc
lection. Possibly, after all, the general might
De like Mr.. Seymour, who once upon time,
declaring that he'd neer consent, consented
His prospect of receiving a nomination,
however, is several degrees removed from
certainty.
The New York papers refer 10 the recent
appointment by Governor Tilden of Mrs.
Josephine Shaw Lowell to be a commits
sioner of state charities, in commendatory
terms, and say that this is the first public
Office ever conferred upon a woman in New
York. The fact that the state senate at once
confirmed the nomination shows that they
concurred with the Governor in believing
the nominee entirely worthy OF the honor
Thus II would seem that the example set by
the adjoining state of Massachusetts, In
electing female school officers has not been
lost In New York, and henceforth IL is to be
presumed women in the last named state |
win occasionally be called upon 10 al posi-
lions fr which they may be as well qualified
as men. In the case of Mrs. Lowell il Is said
she possesses every qualification necessary
to the faithful discharge of her duties
having long been a practical worker in
many benevolent organizations
The question Of jurisdiction, as applicable
in the Belknap Impeachment case, which
comes up IN the Senate on Thursday of this
week, IL an interesting and an important
one. Doubtless much can be said on both
sides Of the case, but there are not a few
eminent constitutional lawyers who enter
tain grave doubts as TO the authority of the
Senate to impeach any public officer who
resigns before articles OF impeachment are
adopted by the House. Mr.. Hoar, one OF the
managers on the part of the House. Just be-
fore the articles were adopted by the House,
expressed the same doubt, reaiiag from
kents commentaries in support OF his posi-
lion. Should the Senate affirm its jurisdic-
ton a precedent will be established which
may hereafter prove troublesome. II is well,
however, that the question should be def
nitely settled one way or the other.
GEE THOUSAND DOLLARS In GOLD will be
~ given TO any person Who will demon trate q
letter ard ches adv ertising medium IN the Dr.
tIfct ot Columoia tnan the APsa1stra4 bssIh.SS