The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-10
Packing JurIes in Washington.

tracking Jurtes IN washington
We have frequently been obliged to refer
to the scandalous manner In which profess
sional burglars, thieves, and rascals OF
every grade in Washington, who can COM
mand the influence of the District Ring,
have been shielded from punishment by
means which are well understood. So far
has this interference with the proper ad-
ministration of justice been carried, that
1t has become virtually impossible 10 Sc
cure the conviction OF any criminal who is
in favor with Boss SHEPHERD or Boss
GRANT, however strong the evidence may
be against him.
The public have not yet forgotten the
unblushiug performance of Marshal SHARP,
brother-in-law OF the President, In pack
ing the jury which tried DICK HARRINo-
TON for his participation In the safe burg
lFry conspiracy. That jury was filled with
personal friends OF the accused. and the
prosecution was failure; the packed jury
would not agree upon a verdict, while the
special counsel appointed to appear for the
Government was removed by LANDAULET
WILLIAMS, then Attorney q enerni, and
HARRINeToN was permitted TO go free. He
from custody TO fee the country, and he
still remains beyond the jurisdiction Of the
District Courts.
The indecent packing Of the jury in
HARRINoroN's case seems to have been re-
peated for the benefit of Measurer Bah
COCK. who is now under indictment for
being concerned in the same conspiracy.
We subjoin list Of the petit jurors drawn
for the June term of the District Criminal
Court, and from this list will be selected
the names Of those who are expected to
pass upon the question OF BABcocK's in
nocence or quilts
& gssws JoHN IEIT T hs1 rbyrs
y. u, H9NILLEn W IR.EmsS J9uT C; BscnErr'
q p HoPKISs, 7. W. RIIEY, yr., JANIS DuSs. JAcoB
x5sS p eensr alcac S0 AXLE I %a
JOHNSON, GEoRoE GRrEs. JoHs ROVER, JosEPH GAS
KIss, JosEPH s. sTETrisus.
OF the persons named In this list, III. A.
WILLARD was a member of Boss SHEr-
HERDS Board Of Public Works; JAMES
NoURsE has been a broker for Boss SHEP-
HERD, and G. =. HOPKINS is a partner OF
MuRTAuGH Of the National Republican,
whose transactions with SHEPHERD and
SEcoR robson are matters of notoriety.
| The names Of A. r. SHEPHERD and HENRY
d. COOKE, Jr., require no comment. As
for the rest, we are informed on good au-
| thority that there are but three of them
who have not in some way been connected
with the Ring OF which Boss SHEPHERD
and Mcasurer BABcocK are such distin-
gushed ornaments. OF course no jury
| composed OF such material will ever con-
Wet the Presidents late private secretary,
even though the evidence should be over
| whelming against him.
| In this instance, too, IL was Marshal
SHARP. the Presidents brother-in-law
who supervised the drawing which placed
so imposing an array of Ring men on the
| Jury; and IL will be difficult TO make sensi-
| BILE people believe that such a combination
| Of part isan friends Of BABcocR was the re-
suit Of accident. After the jurors were
| drawn, BILLY Cook, counsel for BABcoCK
rose in court and asked that an early day
might be set for the trial Of his client, who
doubtless anticipates q speedy vindication
under such favorable circumstances.
The American people are not in the hu-
NOR to submit longer to such mockeries OF
justice as have for the past few years dis
graced the courts OF Washington in case'
where public plunderers have been con
cerned. Judge TAFT, the new Attorney
General, has it In his power TO secure al
honest administration Of justice in tina
city il he will, and hitherto he has born,
the reputation OF an incorruptible man
To be sure, II he should interfere with tn,
plans Of the Ring rascals, he might brini
down upon his head the displeasure botl
OF Boss SPEPHERD and Boss GRANT; bu
neither he nor the Republican party can
at this critical moment, afford a repetitiol
Of the villainy enacted on the occasion o
the former trial of the safe burglary con
spirators.