, 1877-10-16
THE .I'IT1SBUIlG RIOTS.
Appearance Of Attorney-Ocnern Lear
Ncforo The Criminal Court.
He Proclaims Himself Every Inch an
Acknowledgement.
Possibility that ThiaUi Loar Is Barking
Up the Wrong Tree.
Eptrtal I,,snatch Ia 1ae caic1yn 7risuut.


PiTrsnuno, fn., Oct. 1i-Attofncy-U General
Lear appeared before Judge Kirkpatrick III tho
Criminal Court this afternoon, md made m
argument On the application ot tho Grand Jury
to compel the attendance of the Governor and
other State officials before them, untl 10 certify
tn relation to the ra{iroad riot III pittn'Iurg IN
Ju1y last. f1o explained thai tic words State
secrecy we're to bu understood tn tho sense Of
privileged communications, hG using tho former
phrase for tho sake Of brevity. lie handed Tho
Court written answer to tho present
n,ent Of tho Grand Jnry, and made
IN oral argument to provo that that
body had acted without authority Of law. llc
concluded with the statement that the Grand
Jury had no right 10 subpoena witnesses that
were not present on the spot at the tfme OF tho
riots. IT, however, tho Court should, ut the in
stance OF tho Hrand Jury, Issue an attachment
for the arrest Of the Governor, tho Governor
could, II he desired,
DEct.ARE MARTIAL LAW.
lie did not w]ah to make any conflict Of nutl,or
ity. however. Tic Assistant Dlstrict-Attorncy,
pirate counsel for tho Grand Jury, then arosc
md spoke. lIe gave tho reasons, MS
he understood them, that n,pyc1 the
Grand Jury to n,nlo thc!s investigation and
tssuo the snbpmna for the appearance OF tho
Governor. lie forcIb,y related the necessity OF
carrying out tho investigation fully. 1Ie said
tint the Grantl Jnry did not wish to make tho
Governor reveal State secrets. lie thought 1t
was
ONLY THE nurr OF TnE 0ovEnSoH
Of the State to appear and throw what light OH
the matter hc could. The Governor owed this
to the citizens OF the county. Upon tho con-
cusfon Of thc argument, tic Court said this
was matter Of grave Importance, and needed
deep consideration, and the decision would,
thcforc. not be given at present, but at somo
future time.
THE LOFTY AIMS
assumcl by tho Attorney General before the
Court haye becn the subject Of considerable
rnfavornolc criticism BY lawyers an1 others.
lie commenced Ills argument by saying that ho
had Just learned ft.at there was an Assistant At
torncy here. lie supposed he was elected untler
so.ne special Law. Tic Court sold tlat tic As
ssstasit Dlstrict-Attorncy had 10 other powers
than were given him by statute.
Tho AttoFncy-Gcnera1-1 presume that he Is
not superior to tho Attorney OF the
statc, officially. mcau,-not personally,
Owing to
THE DIET FEELING,
on tho subject, md general desire for n thor
ouCll Investigation, 1t Is believed that tho at
tachn.cnt will Issue, and tho Governor be given
an opportunity to execute his threat to declare
marital law.
cAusB OF Tus A77onsE1-eEsznAL's APPEAR
ANCE.
To the fFfsttF1 d4soetnlt1 Irrss.
rtrrsnunn, Oct. 1h-Tllc Hon. Ucosge Lear,
Attorncy.tietcraI Ut tho Commonwealth, np.
peared t, tho Criminal Court here before Judge
kirkpatrick thls nlornltlg, tho hour OF 10
o'closk laving been fixed for hearing tho State
authorities TN tho Question wiutEer there nrc
anY State secrets which will Justify their rnfusnl
to appear before the Grand Jury, now BlttI,IT,
n1'll 10 whom tpcrial authority was granted ty
the Court 10 investigate fully the cnuAcs which
Among other w!tncsset. summoned wcrc Gov.
1iartranft,. Adi,tant-G General Latta, Major
General Drintou, and Mai. Norris, Of
tho, GaEcsnos's ssaN. These gcnffcmcn
neglected 4l. 70 rsspontl. wlereupon the Granl
stating their positi9f', and calling upon Tho
process, Tho Attaraey-ucnerai requested
hearlng before tho attachment should Issue,
power to compel them to appear. bcla,,tc
THEr wERa PRtviLsGhp
from llac1osng Stato secrets. In Mr. Lear's
answer to tho application Of tho Grand jury he
ret forth that Our. llartrantt ana otlers had no
ottcr than what thcy learned IN their military
and official capacity, and which were privileged
eo1nsn'lnieattons, and tho publication Of
which would lt detrimental to State interests,
Commonwealth examined seycraily sach officers,
he was satisfied that tho best interests pt the
state will lo suhservtl by their ahsence. IIu
nlso pointed out tho llsos1ercl condition OF TO-
ccty In the anthracite rcgtons
A. 4 Eul1TItEK REASON
why tho Governor should not bc called from tho
Capital. At tho conclusion Of Mr. I.ear's ro-
marks tho Court announced that IL would hold
the matter under adyscment for the prcsens.