The Portland daily press., 1878-08-31
The Release OF Jenny Hope.

Nrrom the Bangor Whig)
During the progress of the recent trial we
refrained from comment, but the rem arkable
issue seems to justify some briei remarks.
With the verdict of the Jury it is not our
province to deal, as they were bound to con-
slider the evidence under oath, and we did not
hear it. There is no doubt, however. that
the result was nexpected by counsel on either
side or by the majority of those who had
attended the proceedings. But upon that, as
we have said, it is not our purpose to comment.
Some of the bearings of this affair and some
OF the circumstances attending the trial, do
seem to call for few words of notice.
Whatever may have been the strength or
weakness OF the evidence of completely in the
particular crime specified in the recent :ndict-
ment, we do not understand that there Is any
dispute that this man was tried and convicted
tor burglary not long ago 10 the State of New
York and sentenced to ten years in prison; that
before that sentence had been nearly served he
turned up in Delaware on Indictment for
another burglary for which he was convicted
and sentenced to another term of years in
prison in that State; and that while the latter
Term was still unexpired he was again arrested
on charge OF similar crime in Connecticut.
IN the face OF such record we do not wonder
that we have received so many earnest letters
from thoughtful: citizens of this community,
deprecating the public manifestation of SYM
pathy with such character in the Court room
and elsewhere, by people who have an interest
in the maintenance of law and the punishment
OF crime. We regret to feel called upon to
note such distortion of sentiment as that
which invests notorious criminal with NOR
bid interest approaching to admiration, so that
the officers of the law in the discharge of their
duty for the protection of society felt
the atmosphere of the court room chilled
with hostility to them and glowing with
sympathy for fugitive from two state prisons,
on trial on fourth indictment for high crime
within brief period. The solicitude with
which the "hero'' of these proceedings has
been supplied with bouquets of delicate flow
ers; the manner in which his wife has been
escorted to and fro, and ionized on our streets;
the zeal manifested In exagge rating the ability
and eloquence of the lawyer brought here to
defend Jenny Hope alias James Watson, -
these things can hardly be regarded with graft
fication by those who measure their baneful
influence upon public morals.
For many years the State of Maine has been
looked upon by burglars and robbers as danger
GUS ground for their operations; and the GER
tainty of punishment and the security with
which criminals have been held when once
behind the bars of Maine prison, have been
worth more than can be estimated to the secur-
ity of life and property. We hope that the
triumphant release of this man amid the ap-
plause of sympathizing and admiring crowd,
may prove less encouraging than we fear it
will, to the desperate characters who have
hitherto dreaded the certainty and inexorability
of Maine justice.
We are not sufficiently intimate with all the
facts to arraign the authorities of Kennebec
county, as we feel inclined to do, for their
failure to put this man on trial In their court;
but the interest they manifested in q prosecu-
ton here would seem to have indicated the
duty of making an equal effort to vindcate the
laws.