Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-11

FROM CHICAGO.

Correspondence Of the LEDGER
CHICAGO, March I, 1S79.-The YER
dict of guilty in the officer Race muir
der case is now the sensation here. 1t
was a surprise to the community, law
yers as well as others. Johnny Lamb,
the convicted, still asserts his limo
cence, and contends that asecond trial
will bring him out clear of murder.
The evidence, hat is anything oft
pertaining to reliability, was of pure
ly circumstantial nature, but not
strong enough to warrant such a YER
dict. Mrs. Chapman, a characterless
colored woman, swore positively that
it was Lamb that fired the fatal bull
let into the anatomy of officer Albert
Race. On the other hand, Mrs,
Friedberg, wife of the pawnbroker,
charged with being an accomp-
lice of Lamb ct al in the burglary
of Jeffreys & Co.'S store, swore
positively that Sheeney George
who turned States evidence, was the
man who committed the murder.
Taking all in all, the case was terribly
mixed up. 1t was neither denied nor
admitted by the defense hat Lamb
was one of the parties to the bur
glary; consequently the prosecution
cOntended hat V c if Lamb did not
fire the fatal shot, but was, as the de-
Tense tacitly admitted, one of the con-
spirators in the burglary, he was as
guilty OF the murder as the QUO Who
fred the fatal shOt-this being the
statute law. In instructing the Jury,
Judge Williams sustained prosecuting
attorney Mills Interpretation Of the
law. Of course a new trial viii be
granted. Then it is more than likely
the whole truth of the terrible murder
Will come out. | consider that the
jury were Influenced in their verdict
because Of the recent highway rob-
berries and murders. They believed
an example Of the laws vengeance
was necessary to send terror to the
hearts of the hordes Of villains that
invest the city at present. Life nor
property are safe a moment.
Talking of crime reminds me. TO
mention that the Times. the other
morning, gave Judge Williams q
scorehing. 1t will be remembered
that the judge, while sentencing that
unfortunate Angel. remarked that.
IN the interest Of law, justice and
morality, he was sorry he could not
infiet a greater punishment than 10
years in the %penitentiary. The reason
OF the Times ca~stigation Of his honor
was induced because OF the Judge
bad faith in moneyed transactions.
lie now owes money borrowed on his
promise to pay" Now, these prom
lSes are among the assets Of broken
banks in whose vaults, or in Whose
keeping, hundreds of poor working
women, men, girls and boys had placed
their hard earnings. and because of.
the loss of which have suffered dire
want the terrible winter just passing
away. The Times contended that his
honor procured the money BY false
pretenses.' or stating his ability 10 nay
Al a certain time. and his failure to do.
80 should brand him as an embegzier.
etc. 10 say the least, IL the Times
position is not borne out by law, il IS
by logic and equity. The Judge
receives seven thousand dollars per
annum salary; consequently should
pay what he owes the poor people WHO
trusted their ali to the banks. The
Times moral is, that Williams should
clean his own record before being so
very vlndictiye against a poor, evil
deutly demented, culprit.
Congressman Carter Harrison. Of
Illinois. whose term has Just expired.
was given a grand reception last night
by his Democratic friends. II is more
than likely the general friends of the
Democratic, Greenbaek and National
parties will put him forward for mayor
of Chicago. A person with such a
splendid record as anational legislator
ought to make a good mayor.
Americas Y. Dual, an erratic in
diyidual, is in the city. lie claims to
be Jesus Christ, and stands n public
places singing and preaching. The
police do not interfere with him. He
is a peculiar looking j. G.
The death at any moment of Sister
Mary, Of the Nativity, reverend
mother Of the Home ct The Good
Shepherd, may be expected. Last
Saturday she was attacked by ppep.
monia. AT / this evening she was an.
parently dying. She is a noble wo.
man.
Sarah L. Turnatt appeals to the
public in the evening papers for aiC
in her dire distress. She says she il
sick and dying without food, med
cine, warm clothing and a nurse L
It possible, you ask, that such can b.
the case III a great city like Chicago
Alas this is only one of the man,
terrible cases Of deshtntion to be me
with here, while Macy. not needing
charity, live out Of the charity fund
The National Butter, Cheese an
Egg Association is 10 session here
The attendance is large.
Excitement was furious 0R III
board Of trade floor to-day A suddei
fall Of six cents on wheat caused
.cOmmotion seldom witnessed. Th