The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-01

That's What the Jury said Of the Leading
Republican Editor in st. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 3l.-The Jurors 10 the
case of William Mckee, one Of the pro-
prietors of the Globe Democrat, charged
with completely in the whisky frauds, re.
ceived their instructions from Judge
Dillon, Judge Treat coincidiug, at half past
10 o'clock this morning, and retired at
half past IL. The charge was very long
[, commenced with review of the opera
tions OF the whisky ring, admitted as fact
by both sides, from 1871 to 1875. There
was no doubt the government had been
defrauded of millions in st. Louis alone,
and it seemed astonishing that the con
spiracy could exist so long. The explana-
ton lays in the admitted fact that informa
ton was received from Washington, and
that $35, 900 was spent in the buying of
revenue agents and investigations. There
was every reason to believe that the con-
spiracy here had its connections IN other
cities The government had laid its hand
upon these frauds, but the government
sustained duty to its citizens as well as its
revenue, and would not be benefited by the
conviction of single innocent man. The
jurors were warned to approach their deci
sion dispassionately, but to do their duty
tearlessly aud lmrartially Especially must
the jury be on their guard against feeling
the pressure Of public indignation against
these frauds. The only question before
them was whether the defendant was, and
had been fully proved to have been, in the
conspiracy. The only motive which the
government had advanced in the theory
tor the defendants connection with the
conspiracy was that of pecunlary gain.
The court then passed in review the
evidence, point by point for the govern.
ment, with that raised by the defense tc
contradict it, and then PASSED to the i'm
portant question of the weight to be at
tached in the testimony of CO conspirators
The ruling may be gathered from such
sentences as these LAS to the cocoon
Ispirators, they are competent witnesses
and, under the legislation of congress, ,mus
testify. Their testimony is always to bt
received with extreme caution, and to b,
weighed with great care by the jury. |
is proper for the jury to seek for materia
facts in support of this evidence. If an,
witness is shown to have sworn falsely
here or before the grand jury, in thi
matter, the jury are at liberty to reject al
of his testimony. The most importan
and delicate duty of the jury is to settl
the credibility OF these witnesses. To tn
jury, and to the jury alone, belongs tn
question of weighing and deciding tn
worth of this evidence. They should b
governed by the manner and conduct Q
the witness, his apparent motives, and th
strength or weakness of his recollection
The law clothes the defendant with tn
protection of innocence until his guilt i
r proven beyond reasonable doubt Th
; evidence of guilt must be clear. positiv
and abiding 1t is not sufficient that ther
: be strong probability, or prep Jnderanc
2 of testimony, but it must be such tha
r when it is all given to the jury they sha
feel clear, undoubting satisfaction Of tn
e defendants guilt.
: According to previous announcement
e the court re-convened at l0P NJ, Judg
Treat on the bench, to receive what th
jury in the Mckee case might have to pre-
sent. A quarter of an hour later, the jur
came in with the following verdict: Nv,
t the jury, fnd the defendant guilty" Til
: counsel for the defense asked that tn
d jury be poiled, which was done; and a
e responded af6rmatively, jude Ire,
stated in relation TO bonds, that the matte
should be decided by Judge Dillon.
was then agreed that the defendant shoul
: be called tomorrow morning upon tt
t opening of court, and the amount of bono
t be determined by full bench. Defendal
/ left the court room with counsel and mar
o sympathizing friends The verdict WI
unexpected, almost everybody antcipatir
e disagreement or acqulttal.