Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-18

cloth vas. He was allowed to TESTIFY. D"t
Judse Morton in delivering the opinion o.
the court said:
ruut that it il always to be looked upon wMs
suspiciou and jealousy. And 1t = deeme0
unsafe to rely upon il without connrmaiCn.
Hcnce the court have considered it to Pc
their dutv to ADVISE jury to acquit where
,here Il no evidence other than the uncorro-
hor.ted testimony of m accomplish.
That was case of larceny. And that was
q c.ae where the party had been offered an
;nancement to tell what he knew in relation
m the crime. subsequently the same matter
came before the Mass. courts in another form
in tn. case the Commonwealth vs. Downing
which will be found in the 4th Grays Re
mort. page %. In that case one barhalu
King testified that he purchased liquor at the
aefendant's shop for the express purpose OF
prosecuting the defendant for the sale there
IF The informant in that transaction was
undoubtedly actuatej by the high motive 10
preyent the commission OF crime BY partici
Mating in it. although he was obliged himseH
to furnish the testimony in order to 40 So
The presiding judge remarked tnat IL was
some times necessary in order TO detect Of
tenders. that this sort OF business should he
resorted TO. But Judge Thomas in deliver
inp the opinion of the court. after allud'ng
70 the case of Commonwealth VS.. Bosworth.
said: eve do not wish To be understood as
expressing any concurrence with the remarks
of the presiding Judge. We think he might
have we'll instructed the jury that
such testimony was to be received with inc
greatest caution and distrust."
Whv received with caution and diStrust:
Because, rs l said, the other day. the law
sets its seal of rcprobarion upon this sort OF
trickerv which undertakes. in order TO ac-
complish a given purpose, whether poiulca'
or otherwise, to induce another man to 40
that which is crime in the eyes OF the law
That is the reason for it. And however tins
matter may be looked upon, and whatever the
testimony in this case may be. still the hon.
est Judgment of honest men of honest minds,
men who hate trick and despise trickster.
will set its seal of condemnation upon this
kind of conspiracy which. in order to accom-
plish political ends and purposes resorts to
the holding out of inducements and tempta-
tons to inveigle other men into the commits
sion of crimes.
But, sir, am not so sure that when this
matter comes before the court, or when it
comes before the people of this State. the tri-
bunal before whom we must all stand or fall,
that it will not he found that this
gentleman assumed the role of
an accOmplice i'll this crime, it one was COM
mitted. am not 81 certain that the gentle
man from Minot will find himself in n posi-
ton to assert with much confidence that
he is an honest man. and that his course is to
be approved. Because. although it may be
true that this thousand dollars was deposited
in one of the banks of this city, for which he
took check upon IL bank in Boston, although
he declared in his place that that money be-
longed to and was ready for Wallace X. White
and was at his disposal if l am correctly in
formed, he may be caliedupOn to explain how
it was that subsequently, that same check has
been deposited by him in one of the banks at
Portland, one half to the credit of the town of
Minot, of which he is the treasurer. and the
other half. five hundred dollars, he has taken
and put in his own pocket. l do not think it
becomes him at this time to lecture the men,
bers of this house, orto impugn their motives
in relation to any matter of feeling towards
him, when these facts remain for him to ex-
plain before the proper tribunal aud at the
proper time. He is in error in re-
latiOn to this question of feeling. No
man has any feeling of revenge towards
him. He does not rise to the plane of re-
vengeful resentment. 1t is rather senti-
ment of disgust in relation to the whole af-
fair than any desire to make him the scape
goat of any party or raise him to the position
of political martyr.
And further than that, as understood the
gentleman from Minot he not only took occa-
sion to forestall the opinion of this House in
relation to his own matter, but he intimated
that this subject may fall in high places. and
upon high people holding public trusts
What does he mean by that? Does he wish
to echo the vituperation which has filled the
journals of the opposition, and to give color
a. L. H., .,,v> To-, ..,l.. -.
movement has been started! Does his eve
rest upon one who occupies position in the
councils of this nation, 20 high above him
that he can only stand and Took upward with
wishfnl and malevolent gaze? Let me assure
him and others that if it is their purpose to
assail those who are not members of this
body. but who are outside and in honored
stations of public trust, their purpose will
meet with SYNONYMOUS failure.
The object of the assaults of the opposition
brings before my mind the scene
IAN eagle soaring in his pride of place
was by housing owl hawked att
But here the comparison ends. No death
ensues. But with one sweep of his majestic
wing he beats to earth his puny assailants,
where disabled they lie uttering their shrill
cries of impotent rage and fury, unable to
reach or hurt the noble object of their wrath.
Sir, we have 10 time for any such ATTEMPTS
as that. If the gentleman from Minot has
any business to attend to, let him do so in
all soberness and with decorrm which
should become a man in his place. The
members Of this House are ready to accord 70
him a fair hearing and fair judgment. If
any man has been guilty of bribery, as I
have before said, let him suffer for his guilt.
If, upon the other hand. any man has been
guilty OF Matching conspiracy, a disgraceful
plot for political purposcs,-to draw himself
up from an obscuri,y which was respectable
into notoriety that is infamous.-let him
suffer for it the real punishment which he de.
serves The members of this House have
not the disposition to spend our time on these
minor matters. There are higher duties thai
require our attention, and when we have ner-
formed those duties then we shall be ready
and able to take charge of and to punish anv
trickcry or any other political misdemeanor
which may arise in this body But until that
time comes, hope we shall for the future ar
tend strictly to the matters which We have he
fore us. SO far as I am concerned. that il
my intention, whatever may arise after this
day. '
Mr.. PARKER from the Committee on Jeyal
Affairs, reported in new draft and ought 10
pass on bill an act to incorporate the Water.