National Republican., 1880-03-16
REvIVINs OLD ANIMosIrIEs.
The wriHht-Delano Case in tho Criminal
Court--A Coniuma cious Defendant.

The wrght-Delano Case in the Criminal
Court--A Contuma oious Defendant.
| When tho Criminal court, Justice James pre-
siding, convened yesterday morning, the first
case sailed was that of Mr. John w Wright,
charged with assault with intent to kill Hon.
Columbus Delano on October 12 1877.
Mr., Wright said his counsel was not present,
and he was not ready to 80 to trial. He
thought that Dolsno was such q coward that
he would not meet him oven in u courtroom.
The Court-That will do.
Mr. Wright--But l see they have cornorod
him and got him here.
His Honor-ThC Court docs not want to
hear any more of that kind of language.
Mr.. Wright have been sick for four
months and am not able to go on with this
| trial. If / was In good health ! would not wait
for my counsel, but go ahead and try it my
self
Colonel Corlihill-This case has been pend.
| ing now for over two years, and tho defendant
has been given abundant time to prepare. The
Government has been to considerable trouble
and some expense to got its witnesses present
and shall now insist upon the trial proceed.
| ing.
Mr.. Perry to the clcrk-IIas hc been ar
raigned2
| Tho clork-No, sir.
Mr.. Wright am not ready to DO arraigned.
have got some pleas wish 10 put in as to the
! jurisdiction of the court.
| His HonOr-lIavo they been filed?
Mr.. Wright-No, sir they will be to-day.
| Mr.. Perry-I think lie should DO arraigned.
Mr.. Wright shall be mute and say moth
ing.
His Honor-Arraign him.
Mr.. Wright continued to sit still in his
chair.
Mr.. Perry-Isn't it customary, Your Honor,
for tho defendant to stand up when called
upon to plead
Mr.. Wright am sick and cannot stand.
His Honor-Thcu let him sit while the
indictment is read to him.
| The clerk proceeded to read the indictment,
and at the conclusion inquired of the accused
how he pleaded, but Mr. Wright refused to
open his mouth.
| Tho Court directed plea of not guilty to be
entered, which was done.
Ills Honor said that this case would be
treated no different from any other coming
before tho court. He was not disposed to
compel the defendant to go to trial without
the presence of his counsel, so if the Govern
ment could find another case to temporarily
occupy tho attention of the court no would
allow that time for the accused to secure the
presence of his attorney. Another case was
| then taken up.
Later Dlstrict.Attorney Corkhill announced
that Colonel william A. Cook had informed
him that he had just been called into the case
and would be ready to so to trial tomorrow
morning. With that understanding, and that
there would be no more delays he was content
to let tho hearing be set for Wednesday.
The trial was set for tho time agreed upon.
The assault for which Mr.. Wright is now to he
put on trial occurred nj the time above stated.
| He had been on the lookout for Mr. Delano for
several days, and pretty strongly intmatel to
friends what he should do in case they met.
| 1t was near l O'clock that he aScertained that
| Mr.. Delano had entered one of the banks on
Fttoonth between + and G streets, and
awaited that gentleman's return to the street.
When ho did again come OH tho street Mr.
Wright pounced upon him and belabOrcd him
rather severely with heavy walking-siick.
Friends finally went to the rescue of Mr..
Deano and he was taken into another bank
ing house on street, while Mr.. Wright ap.
parently satisfied with the work performed,
passed on down the street, and later in the
day went to the City Hall, where he related
what had happened, and threatened 10 repeat
the act il the cause for it was repeated.
Mr.. Wrights wrath was aroused over what
he charged were false statements that Mr..
Delano made about him while Secretary of
tho Interor. He said that this official while
u Cabinet officer said that he (AIr. W. while
acting rs an agent for certain Indians cheated
both tho Government and the red men and
made u fortune for himself. The circulation
of this story made Mr.. Wright indignant and
led to tho aflray between him and the ex.
Secretary. Another link in this chain of cir
CUlHSlHOCes CNH ycJ Dc IOuuN : On january
o, 1850, shortly before Dstrict.Attorney Wells
retired from office, he entered nOle prosegui
in each of twenty-six indictments for for.
gerry, found in September, 1873, against John
w. Wright the defendant in this suit. on the
testimony of Joseph A. Williamson.
Mr.. Wright WAS a claim agent aud EN-.
ployed by Il large number of Indians of the
Cherokee nation to collect for them $35 due
each for second bounty and back pay as mem.
bCrs of the First regiment, Indian Horse
Guards. The amount involved was in the
, nei shborhood Of S50000O. Wright collected
this turning over vouchers purporting to havo
been signed by the Cherokee bcnciciaries at
Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, October /, 1872.
The signatures were made by marks in most
cases, the men having in most cases Indian
, names and being unable to write. Such
, names ms OClaC Clee Oc.Saw-Wa and Wat Ro-
, Ah-HO.Law appear, besides James David,
John Smith and others, borrowed from the
2 whites, The Government went to trial on one
! of the indictments aud was defeated-tlc in
! dictment describing him as an agent of the
. United States and the proof showing that he
, acted for the Indians only. This trial con-
tinued for eight days, was very expensive and
another was not attempted.
:, 1t was oat Of the negotiations on which
. these indictments We're said to be based that
q originated the trouble finally cventulting
' in the assault that has brought Judge
G Wright as defendant into the Criminal
. court.
ANNUAL sale Of ladies underwear at Doug,
lass.
olp trin nl,op ,ief