The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-05
BRooYLYN,s BRITTON.

entry Of a nolIe proseqm by District Attor-
ucy Brttun, WILL VIC presume. surprise no
one who has kept himself advised of the
progress Of the Brooklyn scandal. 1t was
announced some months ago, although de-
MED by MIR. Beecher's friends as an inven-
ton of bis enemies, that the opportunity
would never be afforded Of taking the testi-
mony of Joseph II. Richards-the brother OF
Mrs. Tillon-and his wife, as to confessions
or statemento said 10 have been made by
Mrs, Tilton even if the prosecution against
Loader and Price had to be abandoned to
prevent II. The commission was issued,
he time for taking testimony was at hand,
the alleged confessions were about to be
made public, and Mr. Attorney Britton
steps in and the prosecution is abandoned.
THE reason assigned for entering noHe
prose9m s thu, the aflldavits, in the max
ing of which the alleged perjury consisted,
were no, made in connection with the
Tlton-B eecher case, or any other case in
court. II such is the fact, 1t ia evident
that the indictments could not have been
sustained, nor could Loader or Price have
been convicted thereon for perjury-nn-
less there is special statute providing for
a particular cese--can only be predicated
on false swearing as to some material point
in cause pending in court or in an aflida-
Wit or deposition connected with such
carse. District Attorney Britton knew,
or should have known, of this when the
inoictmenls were found. The facts were
lha tame then as now. There has not been
any change either in the law or facts dur
iug tho past six months, yet during
that time Loader and Price have
been closely imprisoned, with no prospect,
if with any expectation, of their convic-
tiup. II the ailidavits were taken for the
purpose Of opening the Tilton-BeecheI
case, or for obtaining new trial therein,
then an indictment for perjury could be
predicated thereon, and the reason assigned
for abandoning the prosecution is false. 1r
either event, winchester Britton has showr
himself grossly ignorant of the law an6
manifestly incompetent for his office, OIL
be has lent himself and his Office and pros
tituted the law and the process of the cour
to aid in crushing out tho opponents O
Henry Ward Beecher. His friends car
take either horn of the dilemma thel
please.
Notwithstanding the implied confession
) we must be permitted to doubt his ignor
ance, although, unfortunately, he has to-
often proven his incompetency but
that same, incompetency has shown sub
tie knowledge Of the manner in which tn
law and evidence could be used to shiel
) guilty criminals whom it was his swor
duty to prosecute with energy and convic
If possible. He now stands charged befor
Governor Tilden-twelve, being a major
ity, of the grand jurors of the Brookly
court of sessions uniting in the charge
with interfering with the due administrt
ton of criminal justice. The grand juror
- say that their Investigations developed, b
Il tut sworn tcs,inOn> ~ I-Iaoiu "i.nVssO
= ' a most startling system Of fraud and co
= ruption on the part Of certain prominel
q " officials j. that indictments should ha,
o been found and vigorously prosecuted
, that the indictments were not found b
cause of Britton's determination "to shiel
4 " his political friends he claiming TIL
-. there was not time in which to draw IL
indictments, and that he did not know no
r. to draft them and they, therefore chart
:, that his action was dictated ''by desire
~, +" shield the guilty at the expense OF Il
a weliaIe of the public, and appeal to Il
= governor TO take such steps as may relie'
the community "lrom the distractions
:, - justice which have been so outrageous
" nterposed by the district Attorney
It will be seen that Britton is exceeding
., ly handy with his plea of ignorance uslr
~ it Unfortunately whether as an excu
e for the unlawful imprisonment of innoce
u men, the sitting of investigation, or Il
d shielding of guilty criminals, as his polii
Is csl or other sympathies may determine
J. is but fair to say that Britton denies Il
IL charges made by the grand jnrors, but
considering the force 10 be given to his
r NAL it is proper to remember the TACT tn
n he has been once removed from the san
y office for a similar mafessance Son
10 two years ago, the COMMITTEE of fifty
B" as it was known, preferred charg'
gainst him for corruptly neglectiI
y TO prosecute indictments against II
u Collector Badeau and other city of
II Gals charged with embezzling the city
W money, that the charges were sustaine
!, and that Governor Dix removed him.
W November, 1874, he was nominated by Il
- democracy for election to the same ofllc
A. and was reelected on the cry tba. SHE d
mocracy should vindicate him." becau
~ he had been sacrificed by republican go
- ernor. AT that time he received the sll
~ port of all the suspected officials and 4
10 other dlsreputable and criminal classt
~ and now we presume that 10 catering to
y new element-as he has in the Loader al
10 Price, as well as in the Moulton al
70 Beecher, cases-he has simply made his p
w litical position impregnable. 1t will
40 worse than useless TO expect any success
politics, or, we fear, through the cour
against these two elements combined.
a. will There be Rum Shop There
On We can allay the anxieties of G. w.