Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-11-18
Philip Held for Trial.

Philip Held for Trial.
The preliminary examination of Keunart
Philip, charged with criminal libel, has beer
completed, in New York. and Saturda,
morning Judge Davis. before whom the case
was tried, gave his decision;
The accused, his Honor said, is charged
| with two offences. First. that he wrote the
so called Morey letter, countsrfeiting the
signature of Gen. Garfield thereto; and sec
ond, that after Garfield made a public denial
of having written the letter, the accused
wrote an editorial, "lying and sticking to it,
and asserted that Carried was the liar in de-
nying the authorship of it.
1t is apparent. his honor says, that no
such person a. Henry l.. Morey existed at
Lynn Mass The letter, he also holds. is
unquestionably a forgery and not in the
handwriting OF Garfield. The question of the
guilt or innocence of Philip must be left to a
jury to determine. The defendant is held
to answer to the charge of criminal libel
and must be committed or give bail.
In his decision Judge Davis dwelt on the
question of the genuineness of the Morey let
ter as OF great importance in considering
the case. He decided that the accused
should be held TO answer unless he could
show that Garfield wrote the letter and in
fact was held to be a liar when he denied
having written it. but the evidence be held.
showed the letter to be forgery and the non
existence of such a person as Henry l..
Morc,.
According to the testimony Of Hart, when
he received the letter in the very singular
manner in which i, reached him, his suspi-
ciuns we're aroused. lie saw the import
anoe Of the genuineness of the letter as
weapon Of deadly power IN the hands Of
General Garfeld's political foes.
He was not satisfied to publish /, upon the
examination which he and his editorial staff
could make and he therefore took the letter
and envelope TO the Democratic National
Committee for inspection.
lie there saw Messrs Hewitt, Barnum
and Randall with several Others. Hart
showed them the papers and said in sub
stance that he did not want to publish the
letter if il vas forgery but II genuine he
did and wanted no other paper to get ahead
Of him in its publication.
He said il was examined by ali the per
sons be named, but Hesitt made the closest
and most careful examination and spent
fully a half hour over cit, and then pro-
nounced the letter. both body and signature,
TO be in the handwriting Of General Garfield.
But Hari's mind vas not fully satisfied and
late in the evening he found Hewitt again
and was assured that be iiiewittl had ex
amined a large number Of Garield's letters
and that the Morcy letter was genuine. and
this Was a olHohcr. by impressing Mr.. Hart's
mind with the idea tina, he would have made
It out forgery If he could
However much equitable division may
leave for the others, upon Nj Hewitt mus,
rest large share Of the responsibility for
the first publication OF this base and shame
ful forgery. and his subsequent relations to
the forgery do not lift single shadow from
his conduct He was q member of the ma
tional committee; He doubtless knew the
extent and purposes to and for which it was
taken and used by tina; committee. and that
II went forth To the country with the sane
ton Of his endorsement. He. beyond ques-
ton knew. that It met speedily with the in
dlgnani denial Of Gen. Garfield.
Philip was held in the sum of 5000.
The remarks Of Judge Davis relative to Mr.
Hewitt, vii leave an unpleasant impression
on the minds cf those who have been &C
cusiomed To regard that gentleman as above
the tricks and questionable practices Of his
party. but the close relation which he has
borne to the management Of this most das
tardly outrage on an opposing political can
didate viii leave little doubt in the minds
Of candid people that his connection with
il was something more than an error Of
Judgment /, will be remembered also. that
Mr. Hewitt was Chairman Of the National
Democratic Committee in 1876, when the
cipher dispatches Of Mr. Tilden were re
ccived at the Committee rooms, on their
way 10 Mr.. Tilden. And yet. the positive
denial Of Mr.. Hewitt tina; he knew the char
acier Of their contents vas generally ac-
cepicd and believed. In the present case.
however. his denial will hardly carry the
same weight. and honest men all over the
countr, will ask the question. whether the
dIshones, practices Of the Democratic party
have so blunted the sensihiliiies Of its lead
ers that not one honest man can be found
among them