Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-12-06
THE U. s. COURT AT .1.SHE
VILE.

! The A Asheville Citizen of the 18th
inst. makes the following remarks
about the proceedings Of the U. S.
District Court in session at Asheville
last week. If President Hayes does
not interfere and see that corrupt and
incompetent officials are removed
from office, our members of Congress
should secure thorough inrestiga-
ton. The Citizen says:
The FEDRAL CoURT AS PRosECU-
TOR OF FRAUD.-As we have charged,
time and again, the evidence of the
most outrageous frauds on the part Of
the officers of Marshal Douglas' de-
parlment Is abundant and of easy
access. Indeed some have sworn
that such has been the fact since 1873.
In view o. these open charges and
| acknowledgements we did expect the
present term of the Court would be
conspicuous for its energy in investi-
CATION and in convictions of the guilty
and eXhoneratons OF the innocent.
But such is not the case. The first
act of the Court was to tie the hands
of the Grand Jury and deprive them
OF the power of investigating cases
and due presentment made of all
found to oc guilty. Judge Dick al
lows Mr.. Attorney Lusk TO docket
cases direct from Il Commissioners
Court, to try and punish them with
out ever going near Grand Jury +;
but the Grand Jury may have reason
to believe that certain Judge Dick 5
official household has been guilty of
fraud and corruption, indeed may
know where the evidence is, but can
not investigate and present them
unless the District Attorney shall send
a bill for their consI leration.
The Grand Jury were evidently
diss atis:ied with this, and wished the
Judge to be explicit. SO satisfied
were they of corruption, and desirous
of doing their duty as jurors. just as
far as the Court would permit them,
they proceeded in body Wednesday
morning to the Court room, and pro-
pounded the following question 10 the
Jadge: "If in the examination OF
witnesses they become satisfied tha,
there has been violation of law OF
malfeasance in office, by parties
against whom no bill was pending OF
presentment made, could they pursue
the investigation, and to that end
sen1 for persons and papers"
Judge Dick ruled they could not!
Joshua Franks has sworn that he
has perpetrated frauds on the govern.
ment as deputy marshal since 1873.
He was arranged last week before
this tribunal of terrific "intentioms'
but tllsgraceful performances. Franks
said he was not ready, and was sim
ply allowed to ''continuc' with 4 straw
bail for 81 900. The true iuwart,L es>
of this is apparent. If Dick remains
Oh this bench, this bond is just rs
good as any other, because Franks
will of course be on hand at every
Court, but never convicted and if All
other Judge should come Frank,
could carry out his threat made last
Spring, 90 off for his '.hcalth,' ant
the government be made none the
richer 10y means of his bond. One o
the principal witnesses, one Col. East
mond, of sweet-sceEted memory, wa;
taken to Washington last Spring by
Mr.. Lusk, after acknowled5 5ing he had
been aiding Franks in forging names
and making out false accounts, wa:
permitted to go "North" without bail
and TINS is the government saved the
expense of his prosecution and i'm
prisonment.
We expect to give further details
of this Court. We simply say that i,
is only too painfully apparent tina
those officers who have been robbins
the government and expressing the
people will not be permitted to b,
brought to justice by Judge Dick aut
Mr.. Lusk. They dared not permit the
Grand Jury in session this week te
have proper opportunity TO presen
} the friends, pess and relatives of the
Judge.
Somebody says: "Every failure
is a step to success" This Will cx