Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-12
The Returning Board
SECRETARY SHERMAN INDIGNANT
AT THE ANDERSON TRIAL.
The Letter of Sherman and Others to
Anderson.
EXCEPTIONS FILED IN THE An
DERSON CASE.

WASHINGTON, February II. Secretary Sher-
man being asked if it was true that ne Matthews
Garfield and White had sent a despatch to Ander-
son, he said it is true, ane as the facts had been
made public he would furnish copy of the des-
patch, aud they meant all they said.
MI. sherman then stated that he regarded the
arrest, trial and conviction Of Anderson as great
outrage under color OF law. Anderson was not
indicted. The grand jury had refused to indict
hin.
The proceedings against him were called on
"intormauon' anu Is expressly prob ihied in cases
Of teouy by the constitution OF the United States
aud Of most Of the States, but is provided for by
the law of Louisiana.
The ''iuformation" was signed AMI filed by a
man who officer of the White League, and
Identified with all the numerous crimes of that o.
ganlzition. The judge who tined tue case is a
public deiaulter lot over S6O0.t0 20.
When Anderson was arrested be was acting col
lector Of the port OF New Orleans, and their ar
rest was made while he was in discharge OF his
duty at the custom house, which stands, MIR.
sherman thinks, on ground under cole jutsdic-
lion Of the L nited states by cesson from Louis
lana.
lie was hurried to prison, requested to give ev-
cessive bal and failed to do SO, Kept in custody,
deted al posipontmcnt, forced to RIAL convicted
and is now held Tor sentence, without benefit of
bail.
The jury was packed to convict. The panel
had been carefully selected amost exclusively Of
one polli al party an one race. Their examina
ton so called IA wed the deepest and strongest
PIE JUDGE against the deIeudaut in any tribunal.
lie (ohernau) knew nearly every one weuld
have been rejected on bis oath, and yet, though
challeng ed, tucv were sworn IN
" lth such a jury am prepared to believe the
story eiegiaphed TINS morning that the two color
ed Jurors were trcked in o agreeing to this ven
dict by an empty appeal to the mercy of the
court.
Nothing has been done pending the trial to in
teIiere IN with the course OF judicial pro-
ceeding but # Anderson is imprisoned under this
sentence, il " III be a mockery of public justice,
and will hiing into contempt all choits for peace
and Cancellation.
1t Is an unlocked for and terrible commentary
upon the ct1r' OF the PRECEDENT TO quiet the tur-
bulence aud violence OF Louisiana politics, and
seems t. me all act of io'ly and Madness.
The following i, the despatch sent by Sherman,
Matthews, Garfield, Hale aad White
Washn4 ton, February 4th.
To General Thomas &. Anderson, New Orleans:
The undersigned feel it due to YOU under pres
ent circumstances to assure you of our unhesI tat
ing belief that 10 the matter wherein YOU are
charged. you alog ther guiltless of any Of
fence against law that you falsely accused
and maicIously prosecuted; that proceeding,
against you, though In form OF law, Is without
ubstsnce ald jisuce; and we heaItily tender our
earnest sympathy and express our hope that a
sense OF Justice auC love of peace of the people of
Louisiana will otcct you and not permit the best
interests Of the whole country to be disturbed by
revival of sectional animosues. In any event
we ar conf tent the American people vii! react
any ~ justice of which you may be made the VIC
tim.
(Sgned) John sherman,
Stanlty Matthews,
j. A. Garfield,
Eugene Hale,
Harry White.
New ORLEANS, February II. In addition to
the exceptions already file, the attorney gener-
al is ordered to show cause on Wednesday, why a
new Trial should not be granted Anderson, Oh the
ground:
Fist, That James Prince of the jurors who Or
der9d the verdict IN this case, Notwithstanding the
fact that he stated under oath 10 his vuir dine ex-
am nation that he wa, over the age ,f twenty zone
years. aud Is IN fact MINOR under the age OF
tw, MY -one aud such wholly incompetent and
declared by law from acting IN the capacity Of a
juror.
Second, That Thomas c. Anderson was tried
by eleven jurors aud not in the mode provided by
the Constitution.
hind, That notwithstanding the fact that Jer
eniah Lincoln, jnIor herein had sworn his
vor dire examination that he was competent
juror and had formed expressed no opinion
calculated t. affect honest verdict yet it is sus-
cepuole Of proof that such Is tue fact that a few
days before tie day OF the trlal he openly stated
that Anderson as guilty tfat he had no doubt
oi tue TACT and that sand Anderson should be
hanged Tor IT, or words to tnat effect.