, 1877-10-18
THE RINGSTERS.

featefday's Proceedings In tho Commls-
sloners' Cases.
Tho arguments in the County Ring cases be-
gan In the Crimtna! Court yesterday morning,
and 1t would seem from tho attendance that
more Interest Is felt In solid talk than In qucs-
tIons and answers.
MI. W, +. pcddrick OPENED for the prosect-
tton, and spoke for two hours. deyotIng the
tln,c mainly to tho law points. lie frat referred
to the general character of a conspiracy, then to
the evidence a to accompliccs, especially as to
Carpenters connection, claiming that he
need not have had any connection
With Pcriolat. Next camc tho statute
OF l!mltattons, Mr.. PcdaEtck urging that tho
crime WIS continuous, and not ilylstble. IIis
presentation Of the Law Tas q clear One, aud
drew from the defense the acknowledgment
that 1t was fair. Taken altogether, Ills argyll
ment WAS an able onc,-as good ~ hls excellent
opening Ia the Mcdonald case,
State 's-AttoEney AtllIa followed. making at
arst lev remarks ~ reference to the duty Of
truth. The sptr!s OF tho prosecution WIS de-
sire to PRESENT the facts. liMl the snme spirit
characterized tho defensel The truth was to
bo got by indications and occurrences,-hy
The detunaants had violated their important
trust. Fur Just auch betrayals wAs tia CON-
spiraey statute enacted. Mi. Mills then COM
nensod et considerable ionRsh upon the evt-
aaass I'D Psa,sa ": W. ss1ls @
queer that all the contractors should bo conecn-
trated !n one placel Was there any doubt that
Klmee,ly % sna pert9lat agreed to hoid back
former, saying, that he hal been trium phantiY
ylnlteateu by thu trial. lie lad acted ttks q
man In do!ug what he could 10 right the wrong
no had committed. and Mr.. Mills expressed
greater part Of The ''K +" account WIS destroyed
anout the time Of the first Grand jury inyesti-
cation. Did not that show beyond question
,hat property bad been stolen from the county,
there be any doubt about liz KaIiti ie admit. It.
TED that he kept back goods. SHcetzer, too,
HAD ACKNOWLEDGED Ais CHlXR
~ to johnson, he got goods from Forsythe &
he make lolnson > presentt There was no
reason for It except that he was subsidized, and
knew Of the frauds. The highest, motive for
committing perjury appsa.ea s n .ho sase Of
fesise. tbs payment of $500 10 MeCsfIrey by
Pcrlolat was also dweat upon. aud the Rttcmpt
to show that $zol OF It wtnt to ltqnidato the
Hose account was eharastettzed - absurd.
clemency, or forgiveness In the caau Of tho de-
fentants. II convinced from tho evidence of
their gullt, the Jury should say SO mauful!y..
As, Reed =, t'tI opsned t1r tbe defense. reminding
theY were not ptejudleed against thes defend-
ants, aud that they would not care for the COM
msut4 Of the press, whatever their verdict
.sh: might BE-; e sa!a a1y attempt 70 influence
would bs infamous. liz shen took up the trstt-
noug against the accused. This faet that
CARPENTER kept the book Of shortages showed
that hs dlI'pt think he wa doing anything
wrong. 1t Was unreasonable and fncredible IL
beieYs otherwIse. and being 10 was 10. criu,-
inal. Besides, intention wa laCklpg, no evt-
dence showing that he knew Ut any conspiracy, II
there WIS one. Tic fact that his uame wus in.
dossed on the book VI the Indictment proved that
tbs uranl Jury did not iutcnl to brand btm ss
criminal. A. TO sweetxer, he said, whtle It was
true that, under the law, \ uiau luight b. cun-
accomptte, ha'ip't they @ sworn tlat hey MSul..n.
convict upeu the testimony OF a nlatl Who had
sWosu one way one tlulo aud another way At