Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-11-26

ope and It's erasures before him; with
the city post-Ofioe and station stamps on its
back with the letter marked personal and
CONFIDENTIAL" and addressed to some person
whom he certainly did not know; with that
letter before him, the contents OF which, IL
true, would bo greatly injurious, and, II false,
would do a wrong TO his intimate friends as
base and wicked as an assassin's stab, should
have thought It just TO press aud cause It's pub
lioation without first removing all doubt US to
It's character.
However much the equitable division may
leave for others, upon Mr.. Hewitt must rest
the larger share Of the responsibility Of the
first publication Of the base and shameful
forgery, and his subsequent reation to the
forgery does not lift a single shadow from his
conduct He was a member Of the National
Committee. He doubtless knew the extent
and purposes for which II was taken and used
by that Committee, and that IL went forth to
the country with the sanction Of his indorse-
ment He knew beyond question that II met
speedily with an indignant denial OF General
Garfield, who denounced the letter as a base
and stupid forgery and Its sentiments as
brutal"
Under our statutes the utterer Of a forged in
strument, with knowledge Of its falsity, is
placed I'm the same rank Of criminality with
NAN A0AktIs AAuN NLt huuItDN OA AOIktIy III lnla
case been Instruments purpOrting TO be
obligations Of General Garfield and he had
publicly declared them to be forgeries, who
could thereafter send them forth and circulate
them throughout the Commonwealth with his
representation Of gcnuineness, without incur
ring the penalties of tho lawl The difference
Is purely statutory, and in a moral forum
wholly vanishes.
My mind has reached the clear conviction
that the so-callod Morey letter. in body, sigma
ture and all its parts, is not in the handwrit-
ing of General Garfield, but is altogether a
forgery pcrpetrated by some person or body
Of persons for the purpose of deceiving the
people and defrauding them and General Gar
field Of their votes. The evidence bearing
upon Philips guilt or innocence OF for
gerry IS voluminous, and would demand
careful analysis Taken I'm connection
with other evidence in the case, II tends TO es.
tablish conspiracy 70 accomplish a National
crime. The conspiracy points TO men in other
quarters, and of ar higher POSITIONS Of whom
he may have been the nccOmplice or only the
dupe and tool. 1t Is better, therefore, that the
question of the actual guilt of forgery be left
to the consideration of jury, before whom
additional, and perhaps more decisive, evi-
dence may be brought.
IT must be the wish of all honorable minds
covery and exposure of the guilty, but to
the enactment of laws which will prevent OF
severely punish Offenders Of this character
Whoever may be guilty in this case
rlRht-thinking men everywhere must look
upon the act as an appalling crime, wholly
at war with the safety and sanctity of popu.
lar government. Fortunately, no commit
tee, and no body Of men, hold in their hands
the conscience of the people, and no party
fealty is strong enough to interpret the sen
tenoe Of condemnation which honest men OF
all parties must pronounce upon such
guilt. The men most criminal in this case
may not be reached by the hand OF
Justice, but they will find no party will
ing 70 bear and share with them the Just
measure OF infamy and scorn that awaits
them. If they have failed in their guilty pur
pose, so they win fail in securing the approval
even of them for whose success they have
done the guilty work. IL will be small conso.
lation to know tnat they have gained by this d
few useless Electoral votes, melted an infufi-
ated mob TO the murder Of IA few unonendlng
human beings, and caused few of their own
agents TO suffer for poriuries and mlsde
meanors.
The defendant is held to answer upon the
charge of criminal libel, and must be commit
tod or give bail Tor his appearance to answer
any indictment that may be found against
him.
The Court said the bail could remain
as already fixed, $1,000, and the pres.
ent bondsmen would be accepted.