Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-11-06
The Federal Court at Greens
DOrO.
THE Character Of Some Of the Deputy
Marshats and United States W.T.
aesses-Ihe High Character
ofJudge Dick.
Correspondence of the observer.I

Correspondence of the Observer
| GREENSBORO, n. c., Oct. 16, 179.
EDITOR OBSERVER The Feder~
al Court, now in session, despite
the blunders and stupidity of its
subordinate officials, promises to be
of much interest to the public in
general, and very important to the
| United States government in par
ticular. The ignorance, careless
ness and Indifference of the leading
officers of the government will at
once attract the attention Of the
most casual observer. The clerk
of the court, although a function
ary of eight years standing, draws a
Jury Of sixteen men when he should
have taken from the hat eighteen
names and when the serious mis-
take is ascertained after the charge
OF his Honor, he attempts to ho.d
a deputy marshal accountable. lie
can't administer the oath to the
foreman OF the jury without his
book, and when he hunts for his
book, like everything else, it is out
Of place. The Judge wants list
of the grand jury, he bas no record
of it, and so the thing works. The
clerk has not only grown rotnnd,
fat and sleek collecting fees tor
eight years, but excessively lazy
Yet he will compare most favora-
bly, as an official with the District
Attorney. The law officer, how
ever, has the advantage as to merit:
The clerk could do better if lie
would, while the attorney does no
doubt the best he can considering
the chronic case of ilnbeciiity from
which he has been long and patient
sufferer. he is slow, rlodding
lawyer, with no astuteness in the
management of case and utterly
without force and influence before
Jury. 1t is perfectly evident that
he is Of no assistance to the mar
shal, Colonel Douglas, in the Sc
lection of deputy marshals, and
gives no aid to secure the removal
of Objectionable men. Mr.. Lusk
for years has held courts, as at
torney for the government, from
Ashevllle to Greensboro, and il
doubtless acquainted with the gen
eral character of the governmen
officials, and especially of the
deputy marshals. He knows, il
) every case, that some of these mel
will be his only witnesses anC
f that their characters, in nine case
out of ten, will be riddled by coun
sci for the defense. This has beel
done in his courts time after time
Why has he not said, and why doe
n he not say to the collectors and t
:, Mr.. Douglass, that he will not as
a jury to convict Il respectable ma
upon the evidence of an office
whose character, if not bad for trut
and honesty, is tainted with revcnu
!, corruption 1t is often, howeve
bad for truth and honesty n
lawyer wants to examine a man Q
the witness stand more than or
time to ascertain his Intelligent
and honesty. These men ha,
shown their unfitness for their bus
$ ness in open court moro than one
and there is no excuse for the pro
titntion of the public service
h. them There are honorable e!
ar, ceptions, as to the matter Of cours
= but they arc few. LII almost eve
Id case the government witness,
revenue officer, proved to be
49, grander rascal than the defenda
or trial, and the jury say ''n
guilty" The next day anotl
trial, same witness, same evider
Of as to reputation and conduct a
,od the same verdict-''not guilty
re: II the District Attorney exert
of of that supervision and inffnet
pc which are lnseparable from
'es, position over the United Sta
o., or Commissioners and minor reveI
positions and officials, he would
and only render efficient service to
'O Judge, marshal and collectors,
fa- would do something towards CO
! ! T.. Is mending his court to public este
and clcvating TIE revenue dep;