The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-23
BY TELEGRAPH
The Babcock Trial.

Judge Porter opened his remarks this
morning in the closing argument for Gen.
Babcook with complimentary references to
the attention the jury had given TO the
case An intercourse of two weeks, he
said, in the discharge of our duties and the
kindness and marked attention with which
you have listened 10 the evidence make us
prejudiced in the case. We believe that
had the evidence been such that you must
have found verdict of guilty which would
have blasted this young mans future, you
would have done 80 with sorrow, but now
that the testimony enables you to pro-
nounce him innocent you cannot but re-
| joice at such conclusion. Judge Porter re-
ferred to his personal relations with Gen.
Babcock, saying that he had known him
long and intimately, and appeared as his
friend rather than his lawyer. He re-
minded the jury that the defendant WAS
son of an American yeoman, and had
earned, not sought, the positions he had
occupied. In delicate way the govern
ment counsel were complimented for
their ability but, said the speaker, they
have tried this case with bitterness
toward this defendant which never saw
equally in state prosecution. They evil
IDENTIFY felt that every stab they gave this
defendant is really thrust through him at
the president himself Why they should
strike at General Grant we don't know un-
less they think his testimony stands be-
tween these two eminent gentlemen and
new professional victory. Judge Porter
then in strong language condemned the
course pursued by the press ward Gen.
Babcock. He has had, he said, the ms
fortune of the preiudgment of his case by
the press. 1t has been charged in the pa
pers boldly that for years he was in week
ly receipt of this blood money from the st.
Louis ring That he received it by pack
ages through the express hy registered let
tiers and by checks. that he acknowledged
the receipt in letters and kilograms. The
country has been told that upon this money
General Babcock grew suddenly rich, that
he lived in luxury and moved about in
palatial style; that with this money he
built blocks of buildings in in Washington,
and has others in process Of construction
Every enemy of Gen. Grant within and
without the republican party, accepted
these stories as true aud Gen. Babcock has
been condemned unheard. Passing from
what lie termed the dangers of accepting
verdict from newspapers, Judge Porter
said the merest vagabond 10 the reigbbor-
hood o. one of you has only to invent or
find floating the vlest scandal about you
and send it to the newspaper it will not
only be published but copied far and wide
by all scandal loving sheets in the country,
and wherever you go this calumny will
rise up to meet you. You may send your
denial to the papers and it will be publish
ed but with it the statement that since the
first publication further information OF
more reliable character has been received
which seems to confirm the truth OF the
SANDER. To illustrate this point Judge
Porter referred to the tiill of Andrew
johnson who, he said, was tried and CON-
demned by the whole press Of the county,
almost without An exception He became
presi lent without Il party and he was
not elected by the democratic party, and
when right or wrong lie cut loose from his
odd affiliations he wa. denounced as a
traitor and surrounded by enemies who
threatened bis life and bis character Ar
liclea OF impeachment were prepared
against lin by the h0ute of representatives
and he WAS tried before the highest tribunal
Of Tie land. The S majors were presided
over by Chief justice Chase. They were
many Of them his enemies, but dropping
their characters as senators they became
sworn jurors. Andrew johnson was ac-
quilted and the newspaper judgment was
reversed. The lesson to be learned is, let
no man be convicted of crime without
the legal evidence of guilt. Judge Por-
ter next called attention to the differ
cnce between the case as the newspapers
made it out and as the district attorney
Dyer laid it down upon his opening.
AuesS etittmculs uIdlttu lIOIl newspaper
to newspaper dwin lied down into two or
three kilograms in five years. The district
attorney alleged no act to connect General
Babcock with the conspiracy. He admit
ted that no money had ever been paid to
the defendant directly, but he promised TO
prove that money had been RENTED him
by mail. The papers were astounded the
weakness of the case, as the district attor-
ney represented it, but they consoled them
| selves with the statements of fabricating
interviewer Of New York paper, that
this was piece of strategy on the part of
Col, Dyer, intended to conceal the real
strength of bis case, but afterwards, when
the evidence was in, the papers were
puzzled they could not understand how
the district attorney had proved his case,
and they are now waiting to see how he
will do it in his argument.