New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-28
A PECULIAR DEBATE IN STAMFORD.

POINTED ARGUMENTS IN TIE TRIAL OF MIR. BUCK
LEY AND TIE DETECTIVES.
The legal proceedings which took place III
Stamford Saturday, against the Rev. j. NJ Buckley
and the three NewYOrk detectives charged with con
spracy 70 induce quordealers of that 10 break
the Law could hardly be called trial, although all The
elements of Judge. prisoners sheriff. high aud
low, deputies, COustable5 and lawyers, were present
upon the stage Of the nall The court Wascled to
order al 8 g. H.. and it soon evident that the trial
would prove be only opportunity for the t"o par
ties which for weeks have kept Stamford IN fever OF
excitement. to meet each other In public ana
TO engage i'll mortal combat OF words The
body OF the hail aud the stage were flied
with men, and the gallery and the boxes oyelhoWed
with ladies, VINO sat from ulne ia the morning until nlhe
at night to hear the clergyman defend himself ana Als
cause forMr Buckley conducted his assisted by
T. L. ScIofeid who attended 70 the very few legal points
at ISSUE The liquor dealers We're represented by s
Fessrn6eu and H. H. Barbour Justice G.. W Smith pre-
sided Although thesubiic sentiment of stamford is now
overwhelmingly Mr. Bucteys side, the audience eX-
cepug the feminine portion Of it, was app0aniiy about
evenly divided If the applause bestowed upon The speak
ers could be considered determine the matter Neither
party seemed wish that decorum should reign and tie
Judge only hoped for 1t.
The case Of J. NJ Ffss, charge OF perjury served
as a prelude MI. Fesscnden then announced that some
Of the evidence, and the authorities 10 be quoted III all
the cases. would be unit ladies to hear. Mr. 3coed
at no time anything said or read on either side that
could ne considered unpleasant 10 feminine ears d
rectly however Friss withdrew his plea OF not guilty,
entered demurrer, which 0vcrrulcd, AMI he was
required To give bonds Tor $1,000 to appear at the SUI
uerior Court IN February
Then came the conspiracy trial 1t was truly o cele-
braed case The evidence fr the prosecution thai Mr.
Buckley and the NewY0rk Witnesses lad entered INTO an
agreement 70 entrap The iiq1oT dealers Gy DECEPTION,
was introduced. The defence did not deny H. Inc only
testimony which seemed to be at ai unexpected was
thai of A. g. Weed, WHO testified that on the sunday
arrested Mr. Buckley had sale from his pul pit That he
had plenty evidence from citizens Of stamford to con
regular detectives. but that he had directed the New
York Il use any and all means TO entrap any
The arguments began half four and lasted until
attempt to cOnine themselves 10 comments upon the
IT. H. Barbour argued briefly that the evidence sus,
ned tie chaf re Of conspiracy, and that IT nattered
not that had been formed To carry out the law FROM
a moral point of view he would ask MI Buchley, a.
clergyman, say if hiring detectives TO entrap ms Iel-
lowctzcps was carrying out the precepts OF INN w99
had taught the prayer Lead us not mo 'eihptauoni
Would the closing of all the liquor shops III tae world
Justify anybody in breaking the commandment " Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy nelghDOi
E. L. scofe'd IN reply quoted hume Gus auinoles 10
show that had often been decided that todufca ilAu
10 sell liquor was not known 10 me law rs an ohenco
As moral argument, be urged that MI Buckley was
only the representative of the Society !0r the Suppression
OF the Illegal sale OF Intoxicating Liquors whlch com
pIiscd amiord's best citizens every one of whom was
Mr.. Fessenden denounced in the stronseg; language
the Use OF detectives He accused Mr. Buckley OF seek
pOstpcung the trials OF the liquor dealers saturday
until Monday. that lac might from his pulpit
on the Sunday night intervening inhame The
public sentiment OF the town He declared 5lat The
clergyman had injured the towns good name for peace
and order ana asked here why he had used the owl
deuce of citizens instead Of detectives a. Spies aud
hel-hounds" he called them) lie admitted that he
might not have read all the Scripture he Ought bat he
challenged Mr.. Buckley To quote single line OF Holy
Writ bT which the Almighty authorizes fallen man 10
tempt his fcliowmcn. Then be quoted DR.. Hollands
opinion against the VI spies ana niOrneTs aud de-
wOud take higher authority tnuu Mr.
Buckley 10 upset d. Holland.
Mr. Buckley, IN response attacked Inc lu9rdealcrs
most lmrassOned speech, ana defended himself and
society which he represents " am here, said he,
because there mrn IN stamford mean en0ugh 10
break the laws and not sharp enough % avOc ing
caught 1 admit all the facts regard b. the employ
matter is that crime buy liquor wish 1t
wish rho gentleman would carry this case mp 10
highest and get such decision. Tncu
selling in Stamford w0uid soon stop"
Mr.. Buckley reviewed the history OF the temperance
Stanford and told OF the action Of the EX
ccutve Committee which had chosen him 10 act its
agent He defended his detectives aud deception
and sd he could cite less than twenty-five cases from
the Old Testament, five from the New IN which God
detect but also 10 punish evil doors He repeated. at
Length, the narrative in the first book OF hlngs,
where tho Lord said. Who will deceive AhaDY ana
appl,cd il to the Stamford by paraphrase with
reference the prOpTety of clergyinans engaging IN
snch matter Mr. Buckley asked which clergyma acted
with more prOprety himself another minister in the
town VINO had gone and syinpathzed with arrested
the Law would be changed II Is understood that the