The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-24
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
WHEELING REGISTER.
Associated Press Report. by Western
Union Line, Office Northwest cor.
of Main and 18th Sts.
3 a 3.
3 A 3
The Closing Argument in His
Case.
The Jury to be Charged
to-day.

argument in the Bsbcock case at 1890
this morning. At the outset he referred
To his conduct of the office since he assun-
ed il some months ego, and entered upon
the discharge of the duties as prosecutor
of the whisky ring. He discarded the idea
that he had been led into the prosecution
of any innocent man, and told the jury
that he appeared without malice or other
intention than as the representative of
the whole people to prosecute
great wrongs. This case he
characterized as g most remarkable one,
and the course OF defence rs still more re-
markable. lie accused Judge Porter OF
trying 10 drag the President into the
case, needlessly and ground!essly, and
said the Presidents deposition Is before
this jury. lie has been examined, and |
shall comment on his testimony as l
would on that of any other witness, but
when the gentleman, for a purpose OF
his own, represents the President as on
trial, / don't intend that the red flag
which he has hounted in my face shall
he followed to battle. As well might he
have said the President WAS on
trial when John Mcdonald was
being teied, or as when any
other OF these conspirators were
before the Court. AT some length,
Col, Dyer attempted to show that this
point was used by the defense to inhu-
ence the Republicans on the jury and
then continued: IL don't intend that
the adroitue,s OF the gentleman shall
hurl me in the attitude OF asSalling the
administration. intend to bring this
defendant from behind the back OF the
President, where they have tried toplace
him, and l intend that he shall stand on
his own merit in this case and that they
shall not wiring veadict from this jury
by pretending the President is on trial.
When or by whom OF the prosecution
has the President been. assal-
ed? Judge Porter stood up
here and defended the President. Cen
eral Grant will not thank the gentleman
for dragging him into this case in this
manner What motive should actuate
me in attacking the President. There is
not u man on that jury or within sound
ol nv voice who doesn't know that |
am a Republican. Why should assault
General Grant, voted in both National
Conventions tor hIm tor the Presidency.
Nine months ago he signed the cOmmls-
sion which entities me to speak here to-
dsv. but don't intend General Babcock
the private secretary OF the President
shall escape because he is
private secretary. would try
him as | would try Bassett
or McFall or Mcdonald or Joyce. The
gentleman knows there is no malice in
me towards the defendant. never
spoke to him until last October, but when
| saw the evidence against him, was |
to smuggle it, to smother it. because he
WAS Republican and | was Republi-
can. ami the President and Secretary
were Repu5licansI
Col. Dyer then drew n comparison be.
twtsn the manner in which the defense
seemed TO assail the gaugers and under.
lings, and the manner in which thos" in
whose hands Jay the remaining power,
were protected Noticing Judge Porters
remarks on the press and public opinion,
the speaker said: They are terribly
afraid OF public clamor, but what have
YOU to do with that? They abuse the
newspapers, but what is that to your
Who are here TO try this case
on the evidence which has been presented
to you. Proceeding TO his next point
the district attorney said; 1t is an anus
Ing defence. Judge Porter applauds the
President for an hour and then eulegizes
Andrew johnson, who IS dead and gone.
lie applauds General Grant. thinking to
strike some of you who are Republicans,
and then he turns round and praises
Andrew johnson, thinking to please some
Of YOU who didn't believe Mr. johnson
should be impesched. Now don't know
from the speech of the gentleman from
New York. whether he was for Mr..
Grant or FOR Mr johnson. II reminds
OF the old rhyme:
"He cried in and he cried cut,
Leaving the jury still in doubt
whether the man who made the track
Was going north or coming BACK.
Now, l don't know what the gen.
tleman thinks, but when the
President reads what Col. Broad
head has said, and when he reads
what said in my opening speech, and
finally what the gentleman for the de-
Tense sail he will not thank the gentle
man for bringing him to the front of the
prosecution, and putting General Bah.
cock. unable To meet the evidence, be-
hind. lie starts out TO defend General
Grant when no word has been said
against him, promising that |
intend no disrespect 10 the Pres
ident. for some OF his friends
seem to think he must be taken care OF,
while | think he Is able to take care OF
himself. | will say this: The defense re-
minds me of an eminent doctor who,
having been called to attend lady in
confinement, met reighbor the next
day and was asked how the patient was
doing. The child is dead, the mother
will die, but Wi the aid Of the Lord l..
think can save the Old man The
whole defense has been - impress You
with the idea that the President was on
trial.
Col. DYER then dwelt on other matters.
which he claimed had been dragged into
the case in the argument for the defense
but which were foreign 20 il. The jury
had nothing 10 do with the opinions OF
counsel as 10 the causes OF Joyce, Nc
Donald, Avery and Mckee. He assert.
ed ths, he was acting with the Repuhli-
can party in attempting to crush out the
wrongs and frauds and quoted the Presi-
dents language to show thst be wss act
ing in harmony with the administration,
nle, no guilty msu escape" Col. Dye
them passed to an examination Of the
evidence in reply to Mr.. StoFrs srgu-
ment.
Mr.. Storrs had congratulated the jury
that
Sex Era OF Justice MAS Dawning.
and the speaker took occasion to repeat