The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-02-19
THE BABCOCK TRIAL.

Although other whisky trials are in pro-
gress-(at Chicago, Springfield, New Orleans,
&c. besides the Ba6cock trial at st. Louis,
the latter, On account of the position OF the
main parties involved, absorbs so much at
tention that the others are measuraDly ignor
ed. The trial of Babcock has proceeded all
the week, with various ups and downs and
incidents of no small interest. On Tuesday
the prosecution felt jubllant on the court de-
Gliding to let in most of the telegraph dis
matches by which the connection OF Babcock
with the ring is so clearly indicated; but on
Wednesday, just as the prosecution were clos
ing their case, the judges, apparently on their
own motion, ruled out some OF the most i'm
porrant evidence offered in the case--"thc
finishing link, in fact, in the strong chain OF
testimony that had been forged around the
defendant. The ruling was delivered so EN-.
phatically, and in phrases so peculiar, that
an impression seems to have been conveyed
that it was intended TO upset The whole work
Of the prosecution on the minds of the jury
And in so ruling, "thc court dwelt upon the
dangerous character of such evidence, and
limited the shocking thought that even the
regulations of such mortals OF superior mold
as Judges of the United States courts might
possibly be assailed, il this doubtful kind Of
proof were tolerated. The remark was so
singulary far.fetched, SO palpally dragged
in neck and heels without cause OF provoca
ton, that it naturally pIovokes criticism by
those who make study OF the unconscious
revelations of mems inner thoughts from Ian
guage they select for other and Numerically
opposite purposes" The incident naturally
recalls an article which appeared week ago
IN the WestljcAe Post, the German paper IN
ST. Louis of which Carl Schurz and DR.. Pre-.
tor,ous stand as the responsible editors, and
beth of whom from their high position, may
naturally be supposed not likely to speak on
so grave a subject at random. The article re.
ferred to makes among others these charges
I. That Judge Treat of the United States
district court sympathizes With The whisky
ring. :.
3. That Judge Dillon Of the United States
district court sympa.hiZes still more with the
whisky ring
3. That his charge to the jury in the Nc
Kee case was inspired, if not dictated, by
President Grant.
4. That the whisky frauds themselves were
carried on if not IN the name, at leastdirectly
by order of President Grant himself.
But this aside, the prosecution at last &C
counts were rather depressed, and no doubt
in secret have about given up the hope of
Babcock's conviction. though if untrammel.
ed they felt confident they hal clear case
against him.
In reference to the Presidents deposition,
the prosecution were rather pleased with it,
because at elected the fact that the Presl-
dent knew nothing Of Babcock's clandestine
correspondence with Mcdonald, from which
they were able to argue that Gen. Babcock
was IN communication with the conspirators
concerning business which could not have
been of an official nature else there had been
no necessity for conccalment from the Presi
dent. On the contrary, had the subject OF
the correspondence been OF an official ma.
ture, the President must have been made cog
infant of it,
Ex.Attorney General Williams opened the
case for the defense on Thursday, and his adj
dress is remarked upon as singularly mai
adroit and bungling, so that Storrs couldn't
help swearing about 1t all evening.