, 1880-08-30

party schemes looking to their own po-
lit,cal advancement We grant that
they are both amiabls gentlemen of at
/ tractive social qualities; but the public
interests demand higher respect for
law in official position and sterner stuff
in public prosecutor. 1t is f"rtunats
for this community that personal or par
ty considerations have no access to the
bench else our laws would be admins
tered exclusively in the interest of per-
sonal and party rings.
A portion of the Grand Jury presented
the complaint OF Mr. Damon to the Court
for instructions. Judge Greene appoints
ed W. H. White, Esq, to represent the
Territory in this case, in place of the
Prosecuting Attorney, declined, and gave
the Grand Jury written instructions, a
true copy of which will he found in
another column of this paper. 1t will be
seen that the law and the instructions Of
the Court are specific and positive, leav>
ing the members Of the Grand Jury no
alternative but to find true bill of in
dictment, or to utterly disregard their
official oath, the law and the instructions
of the Court, all Of which they were
bound to observe by every consideration
of moral obligation and public duty. 1t
is lamentahle fact that five Of the jury>
men, following the example and precept
of the regular Prosecuting Attorney, act-
| ed upon the latter ALTERNATIVES, subordi-
mating a clear public duty to personal
considerations, thus defeating by single
vote the findings Of law and fact. The
proceedings in the case corresponded in
character with the result. The oath Of
secrecy pertaining to the grand inquest
was as shamelessly diregarded by some
of the members as were the law and the
instructions of the Court. Every incident
transpiring in the jury room-what was
said and how each member voted were
Immediately thereafter subject of public
discussion upon the streets, in its politi
cal and personal bearings, as if it was
party caucus, discussing the merits of a
candidate.
The failure of the Grand Jury to find
an indictment, by no means strengthens
tho tenure by which Capt. Hill holds the
office of Treasurer Of King County. The
instructions of the Court and the citations
of law therein, clearly show that he has
held and enjoyed the emouments of two
offices for nearly six years, not lawfully.
hut by suffersnce. A legal contest would
certainly deprive him of one-psrhaps of
both. We sincerely hope that Captain
Hill will have the good sense to grace>
FULLY submit to the inevitable and retire
from the contes, before he is stricken
from the pay roll A the army. which
everv member Of this community would
regret. The Worlds Washington special
SAYS it has been decided to drop Consul
General Badeau from the army roll, on
the ground that he does not come within
the construction of tie law which per-
mits an officer OF the army 10 hold II civil
position and draw the pay "i the latter
office. Badeau's rank in the army is that
OF Captain. Captain Hill is liable to be
dropped whenever the attention of the
Department is called to his case.
While deprecating the morality of Mr.
Billiards. recreancy to his official trust,
we are constrained to acknowledge his
generosity in sacrificing himself and his
official position to shield friend against
lawful process. But surely, he will not
have the sham less audacity to ask the
voters of this district to re-eect him to
to an official position which he has so
openly prostitnted to private purp 'ses.
The voters would stultify themselves by
doing so. Lazy and justice are stubborn
| principles, not sentimental ancirs.
Mr. BALLARD EXPLAINs-Atter the
foregoing was put in type, Mr.. Ballard
called on us and said that the report that
he had advised or attempted to influence
the Grand Jury to ignore the complaint
against Capt Hill, is false. He said he
declined to prosecute because his name
was associated with that of Capt. Hill in
the complaint, and he asked for an inves
tigatien of the charge under the direc-
ton of disinte rested Attorney; hence
the appointment of Mr.. White. That is
right as far as it goes. The affidavit,