The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-11-26
A. 8. IIeuItt's RejoIndcr 10 Judge
Davis.

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In his opinion In the case Of kcnward
Philip, charged with having forged the
Garield-Mor letter and thus crimi-
nally libeling General Garfield. Judge
Davis characterized the conduct Of MIR.
Hewitt in severe and unjudicial and
partisan terms. MIR. Hewitt makes the
following reply:
The Judge who sits upon the bench IA sup
posed 10 know the evidence which has been
given hy a witness. Certainly he should ex-
rnirc I; hef,se h. undertakes % make state
ments as a. rs nature and "a draw conclusions
from II. That judge Davis has not performed
this duty the following comparison ~ his
statement with my testimony VIII serve 20
prove:
The passage Is quoted from the orin-
ion in which it Is made 10 appear thet
the Morey letter was NOT published un-
iii after Mr.. Hart had il examined by
Hewitt. Mr.. Hewitt makes this re-
joinier:
Now. the simple and unans wcrahie reply TO
ali his statement. the extraordinary com-
ments in which Judge Davis has seen NJ "a
indulge, Is that the letter had already been
published in Truth before | had ever seen Mr..
Hart or the original letter. or any cop OF it.
This fact Judge Davis must eknoN an !
be pcnncd the above lines. because | had
sworn. In his presence. and after the cfo -
examination BY Mr.. Stougnton. in watch Mr.
Bliss interycrei 10 verify the dGcs. that the
interview with MIR Hart and the examination
Of the letter took place on the Nih OF octo-
Der. after its publication IN TT1tfh. and not be-
fore. DO not know whether Mr.. Hart made
q mistake in his testimony a. 20 date. but II
he. did there l. no pos sihlc Justification for
- Tl..4- - ln., =. $50 q hia m -
take in order 20 attack from the Bench the
character Of 4 citizen after the date had
been nxcd beyond the possibility OF all con-
srovcrsy.
While writing this statement | sent a mes
scnger 20 Mr.. Hart to ascertain whether he
had ever made any declaration az variance
with the facrs a l have stated them. Mr..
Hart replies he never said. testified. or thought
that Mr.. Hewitt, or any one connected with
the National saw the letter In ADJ
vance of the publication Of the text OF the tot
ter ia Truth on the ath Of October. Incvcr
pronounced the body and signature Of the let
&c. X be M the handwriting Of Gen rraI Gar
field. On the contrary. in the pre- seace of
Mr.. Hart, and all the gentlemen present l
declared the body of the letter not 20 be in
the handwriting ofGenera Gariie.d. but that
j believed the signature 70 be his autograph
A. TO the second interview in the evening. II
took place after my speech az Chlckering Hall.
when | was exhausted, and took no other part
in tho discussion bur 90 roafirm my belief in
the Qenuineness OF the signature. 1 did not
tell Mr.. Hart that l would have made II a
forgery If | could, nor has ne or any one else
testified l ever used the expression.
To Judge Davis assertion that Hewitt
event on with his associates scattering
the forgery broadcast throughout the
country" Hewitt replies:
So far rs l am concerned. IL would. perhaps.
be sufficient answer 10 say that never circsf-
lated any autographs or fac-Simics OF either
kind. but, IN o-icr TO show with what reckless
cagcrness the charge is made. l state that arm
assured by the person who did send out the
fac-simiies that only the FIRST or accurate ones
were circulated. and that the second or
amended fac-similcs were only published i'm
Truth. over which il Is not pretended the COM
miftce had any control. | forbear 60
make any commentary whatever upon
the extraordinary character Of the opin-
ion produced by Judge Davis II Is
enough tor me 10 point out that
the foundation upon which he has built up an
attack upon my character Is false In fact, and
with this denomination the consequence can
only be damaging u himself was prepared
for this attack BY the evidently prearrangcd
preliminary statement OF Mr.. Stoughtonin the
Times OF yesterday, and I am now forced TO
believe that there Is a concerted scheme to Mt
tempt 10 break me down In this community
where I have lived for fifty years, and TO which
] can more safely trust for just iudgmcntthan
70 a Judge % the supreme Court who forgcts
that wncn ne becomes a Judge he should cease
10 be a PARTISAN.