Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-01
PUBLIC LEDGER.
III EN-
Tuesday Evening, Feb. 1. 1875.
one MoRE UNFORTUNATE.

VIM. Mckee, the principal proprietor
of the St. Louis Globe-D Democrat, was
found guilty yesterday of completely in
the whisky frauds. Alas that it should
be so; that q truly loyal editor, a stead
fast Republican, a heightened gentle
man, a personal and political friend
of Grant, and a bright and shin
ing light in the Radical church,
should, 10 his old days, have to
to 20 the way Of Colonel Joyce aud
General Mcdonald. Verify, the wind
goeth where it listeth and the lightning
striketh in high places. This conviction
was not made in a time Of high excite.
.ment. The defendant was respected for
his age and the money he had sccumu
lated by a life time Of industry, as well
as recent connection with the whisky
ring from 1871 to 1875. He had the
President on his side and nearly the en-
tire moral support Of the government
and the Republican party. 1t vas a
fair and exhaustive trial. The defend
ant had every possible advantage that
the law allows, and was defended by the
eloquent Dan Voorhees, and other able
counsel. The Court delivered a long
and carefully drawn charge, in which
these words occur:
The duty of the jury is to settle the
credibility Of these witnesses. To the
jury, and to the jury alone, belongs the
question of weighing and deciding the
worth Of this evidence. They should be
governed by the manner and conduct OF
the witness, his apparent motives and
the strength or weakness Of his recollec.
ton. The Law clothes the defendant with
the protection of innocence until lis
guilt Is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The evidence of guilt must be clear,
positive and abiding. II is not sufficient
that there be a strong probability or a
p~reponderance OF testimony, but il must
be such that when it is all given TO the
jury they will feel q clear, undoubting
satisfaction of the defendants guilt.
That Colonel Mckee had q fair trial,
With many extrsneous circumstances in
his favor, is apparent to the public. The
morning dispatches tell the conclusion
Of the seriojudiciO tragedy that rolls
another head in the basket, as follows:
According to previous announcement
the court ~recoAveped at 10 pm, Judge
Treat on the bench, to receive what the
Jury in the Mckee case might have to
present. A quarter Of IN hour later the
jury came in with the following verdict:
I'VE, the jury find the defendant guilty"
Counsel for defense asked that the jury
be polled, which was done, and all the
Jurors responded afirmstively. Judge
Treat then stated that in relation to
bonds be would prefer that matter be de-
eided BY Judge Dillon. 1t was agreed
that the defendant should be called to-
morrow morning on the opening Of the
court, and amount Of bonds determined
by a full bench. Defendant left the
courtroom with counsel and numerous
%sympathizlng friends. The verdict was
unexpected, almost everybody anticipat
ing disagreement or acquittal.
The dismissal Of Henderson was Of no
avail. All Of Grants direct and indirect
efforts to save his favorites passed for
uaught, and he must bite bis teeth in
despair. Babcock's time is next. Jurors
IN that .egion are no respectors OF per-
soma. Money and position count no
more with them than chat. The most
gigantic ring Of these corrupt times
has been shivered, and one by one it's
members are wheeled of from their
palaces to the cherries walls of the
penitentiary at Jefferson City, 1t is a
sad sight to see a man Of McKee's ven
cradle years and high standing convicted
Of corrupt practices to defraad the gov.
erBment. Thai his sentence is Just and
his fate we'll deserved no one a doubt.
His paper has been used to uphold 9
corrupt administration aud TO villify the
downtrOdden people Of the South. There
is justice in the land yet, and fearless
hands to execute its DEGREES. Let th,
wicked stand from under. The end il
not yet. Another pillar of the admins
tration is about to fall from its place
exposing further rottenness and corrup
ton. An aveDging Nemesis is about il
the land. and the tsx-burdened, debt
oppressed people from the bottom o
their hearts say amen.