The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-01
PRICE TWO CENTS.
PIE RR Ep0NT ANSWERED.
THE LAW ~ RELATION To ACCOM-
PLICIS' TESTIUONY

The Letter TO the District ATTORNEYS re.
viewed by the Judiciary Committee Cons
trarv TO Law and Subversive of Justice.
WAsH1NGroN, March 31.-Mr. Scott Lord
6f New York. from the Committee on the judi
ciary, to-day submitted report on the resolu-
ton referred to that committee with reference
to the letter sent by Attorney General Pierre
pont to the District Attorneys In 81. Louis, Chi
cago. and Milwaukee. After quoting the letter
and the reasons given by the Attorney 0enerd
for wrltln! II, the report continues:
The AZ irney.Gencral, to prevent bargains with
criminals nkey "a he SAYS 10 bring great scandal on
against am Sch Do.sb wro5 r1ts ths aSs
assrts that cautious crcum ipection and Judgment
fnl combine to sicd hcrnsl Ives 6y chirslns their
ecessaryto nofy bis sp Tlnass T T S
ton tnst the prosecutions should be so conducted that
wren they were over II Oud sDpcar that no guilty
one wno had been prov gui " or confessed hnsclf
The question therefore arises whetacr ths Attorney.
ns.! IN 20 insdruetlng ni. sueordnstes, acted Ia
Rs I ,e,iiaany Of S SoscomDlises IN criminal aeilons
their associates from te cary eges OF JGrispru
denee. T.. evii,hCe oi accolp.ce, n.s AZ III times
or from judicial ucccsi " or from bolh. The general
rule IT, that person who nfe-scs himself guilty is
bOur's Criminal Law, i2i) hrch1ald, f. his inia 4
pce may give evidence avansI those j5iniy gully
wlth HIM, hut although IN point of law they may 10
- not usual to convict on tie icstT6nv u an accom-.
cs" Ss RST ss s iSi% Of II .eS 9s 0TSS S.
Ir 'SP'iaI as ecacr S Teac S'S ai S
ore sen- 70 their existence. When each piratoi
gain Immunity Dy revealing tue conspiracy. leads him
the crime ior when they combine il is very dim ut II
not nI osslne un!li one or more q their lumber sci
the Immunity given witness for the state " bring
But tile Attorney .Ucaera answers that he Intended
-
l nensseiyyes Dy ehhgng tntlr crimes upon innocent
point. WHO are Innocent mon? Does he ja1gc IRON
m ner sppsren. or high official positi,nI
tigh oihcia many have cont sscd tier guilt and
Sss aas sr' pSiSe l.s p1 as' 'ag . aS SsSr Of
yGcners. dia the secrctar, Of ihe Trcasary
allow some ui,crcton to his suoordnates2 why az
thal he allowed % cacapc punlshm mt ~hen oy tht
Gu uledP ~
The report then quotes tho rrles Of law in an
swer to the Attorney Il cnerai's position. and
slls:
the ie0l adviser Of the President based upon alegS
tons mao 20 the Pee idct and hiulsc thcsu ru,oi
are OF no ivan. The tuOOrIiuIics OF tIe Attorney
General Wo ~ De gulty Of rAiy unglosn TO an
TO tesuiy without Informing them could
pect no iyor ATM bo.n !he Court and Jlry snoud
has shosn tna with ut suca cxDectalon ucc0mplices
VIA not tesiii, and existing cOnspiraces to Commit
crimes nay not only On VITA imp mpunity. bu con
sprlci,s ma, be org nIed WIN comgaralive safety
had tae effect o. suppressirg estinonJ ia recent
IoftaIt case. That the defendant tha under.
stood would ie that effect appears from The fsct
stated uy tne Attorney General tat such deieadAnt
cistrusng, perhaps. the Attorney q enrra, BuTreptt
t.ously u.a1e II pubic.
The committee recommend the adoption Of
the following:
ResOirsd Thlt in the JUDGMENT OF this House, tho
loi Rcstabished rule relating 20 the te tnlOny Of
somgi.ee, IN criminal setioas rs necessary 70 prevent
The disclosure Of cOnspirScles to commit crime. aud
that the letter the Attorney General the Disric
Attorneys OF the United Sta resi- ing In 81. LOuiA
MI wau~ee ana Chicago dated the Goth day OF January
a. ID. 1870 staUng tae determination o.. the tOruey
e. nera that no confcs Ing him eli guilty shOu q
escape puusEnent Is IN uirsvcniluA VI such rula
aud that the AttOriei-Gcn raj should Immediately re
Noee the instruction, covered aud mp.ieI " tue an
uouaceIn nj % sucn determination.