The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-05-27


Correspondence Of The Pos, and Tribune
MARQUETTE, May lT.-There are
many features OF an important case in
court that do not and cannot be made
to appear TO the public in the necessa-
rily brief telegram sent from day 10
day. This is emphatically true in the
case OF the United States against Will
lion l.. Healy, who was to-day convict
ed ia the United States District Of for
cibly seizing and carrying away certain
books then and there being used in
connection with the taking Of certain
depositions to be nsed in the District
Court for the Southern District Of the
State OF New York in case there pend
ing against Samuel J. Tilden, on the
charge OF defrsuding the government
in the matter OF his income tax, and
thereby obstructing the due admins
tration OF justice.
The defendant said hs had been very
anxious 10 get a chance 10 replevy the
books in question. aud when they were
brought before the notary he saw his
chance. The court told him that such
a course Of proceedings was wholly IN.
necessary, as they could have reached
them any day by bill In chancery.
A true statement of the case is Just
this: Samuel j. Tilden is charged with
defrauding the United States by false
income return. During the same time
the income tax Law was ia force,
and TO the present time. Mr. Til
den has been the principal owner Of
the New York mine. situated near Neg.
aunee. in the upper peninsula. In
July, 1877, Wm. l.. Wctmore. formerly
a partner with Mr.. Tilden in the New
York mine, severed his connection with
the company, keeping is his possession.
however, four books OF accounts, ms he
says, for his own protection. He said
upon the stand, that Mr.. Tilden had
duplicates OF them in New York. Mr..
Tilden and his agents knew that these
books in the hands of the government
would materially aid IL in making n
case against him, and through his
agent Healy, who is the attorney OF the
New York mine. assisted by Harland,
counsel in the case pending against
him ia New York, their capture was
planned and carried into execution, -
Notwithstanding Healy claims, in
rather a boastful manner, the entire
credit in the disreputable transaction,
vet sufficient evidence leaked ont on the
trial TO show that the execution, IL not
the planning. WAS under the direction
OF the New York mine, which is equiv
ulent to saying that it was directly or.
dered by Mr.. Tilden. Mr.. Healy testi.
fed that no suggested to Mr.. McClos-
key. the general manager OF the New
York mine, that the seizure be made,
but that McCloskey gave him no en-
couragement whatever. He said Nc
Closkey didn't wish to act in the mat
ter without definite authority from the
company. few days later, however,
McClosky came TO him and told him TO
go ahead He had taken time enough
10 enable him 10 consult Mr.. Tlden,
aud the project had been approved
This /, certainly a legitimate ference
to be drawn from the testimony. Mr..
Tilden knew the importance OF these
books aud evidently sought to deprive
the Government OF them. The parties
on trial here were simply his agents
and nothing more, having no personal
interest in the matter whatever.
On the witness stand Healy gave a
glowing account Of their flight with the
books. At one of the street corners he
narrowly escaped capture by q crowd
who supposed Il was a runaway team.
On the other hand, supposing Il was
company who sought 10 waylsy him
aud recover the books, he passed
through them st the highest possible
rate Of speed to which he could urge
his team. He volunteered to say on the
witness stand that he Was attorney for
all OF the large mining companies here,
with one exception, and also OF the
railroad companies, and that he was a
bachelor didn't state his age, but for
the benefit your lady readers it may
safely be put down at 40)
TIE connection of the authorities
will be clearly shown up in the case OF
Harland, in which il is understood that
certain cipher dispatches will be intro
duced.
The case has been ably managed on
both sides, the district attorney and his
displaying more than ordi-
nary care in the preparation and skill
IN the conduct OF the case throughout.